Chapter 446
“Are you ready?” Mom’s voice is soft as she stands by the doorway watching me.
I slowly lift my gaze to meet hers through the mirror.
My makeup is done perfectly, soft and elegant with warm tones that make my eyes stand out. My hair falls down my back in loose curls, pinned on one side with a diamond clip Aunt Harper insisted would “complete the look.” The dress hugging my body is a deep emerald green satin gown with a fitted bodice and a slit running up one leg, the fabric flowing around me every time I move.
I should feel beautiful. I should feel excited. Instead, I feel numb.
I slowly stand from the vanity chair and smooth my hands down the dress before looking back at Mom.
“I’m not,” I admit honestly. “But there’s no backing down now p>
She gives me a small understanding smile just as the bedroom door swings open and Lilly walks in first, followed by Aunt Harper. Both women stop dead in their tracks as they stare at me in what I can almost describe as awe.
“Oh my God,” Lilly breathes dramatically. “Look at you p>
Aunt Harper presses a hand to her chest. “You look beautiful, sweetheart p>
I smile politely, but it doesn’t fully reach my face. Mom notices immediately and her expression softens as she steps closer.
“You’re thinking about your baby, aren’t you p>
My chest tightens as I think about everything. Brook still hasn’t confessed to anything despite days of interrogation. She’s remained silent through everything while waiting for trial, and every second that passes without answers feels like another second farther away from my daughter.
I slowly nod and Lilly immediately reaches for my hand and squeezes it tightly.
“Just get through today,” she says gently. “Just a few hours. Then afterward we’ll go back to figuring everything out p>
I release a slow breath before nodding slightly. “Okay p>
Aunt Harper claps her hands together brightly like she’s refusing to let the mood sink further. “Then let’s go… It’s time to introduce you to the world, my dear p>
We all follow her out shortly afterward and the moment we arrive at the hall hosting the event, chaos immediately erupts around me.
Everyone surrounds me. Aunts. They all hug me and congratulate me, telling me how happy they are while still admitting they can barely believe any of this is real.
I smile politely through all of it, but mentally I’m somewhere else entirely. My eyes continuously scan the crowd looking for Noah and Adrian. I haven’t heard from either of them since that morning in Lilly’s apartment and anxiety has been building into dangerous levels inside me ever since.
Just as I’m about to ask Aunt Ava if she’s seen either of them, when the hall doors open and Noah walks in first followed by Adrian and behind them is Gunner.
Relief washes over me so hard that I immediately excuse myself mid-conversation and rush toward them with Lilly hurrying behind me.
Gunner grins the second he sees me before immediately pulling me into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” he says warmly, then pulls back slightly. “You finally know who your father is… And now you and Lilly are officially blood relatives. I know you two wished for that forever p>
“Thank you, Gun.” I whisper, then immediately turn towards Noah.
“Did you find anything p>
His expression changes and that alone tells me enough.
“No,” he says quietly. “Every lead was a dead end p>
Adrian sighs beside him. “Elena used fake credentials for everything. The address she gave the center doesn’t exist, the workplace she listed was fake and according to the manager, she always paid in cash p>
Disappointment crashes through me immediately; I feel myself deflate completely.
“So, there’s no way to find her?” I ask quietly.
Noah steps slightly closer. “We can’t say that for sure, but we are still looking p>
“But she knows something,” I whisper desperately. “I know she does p>
“I know, and we will find her. I promise you that,” Noah says gently.
Adrian suddenly frowns thoughtfully. “You mentioned her husband always picked her up p>
I nod immediately. “Yeah p>