Chapter 56 Does She Know My Real Parents?
BELLA
I stared out of the car window, my fingers tapping against the screen of my phone. I’m on my way home. I sent the message, but my thoughts drifted elsewhere. Elowen’s sudden change in behavior gnawed at me. She was hiding something I could feel it.
“Ma’am, we’re home,” the driver’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I stepped out of the car and paused. The maids were lined up outside the mansion, their heads slightly bowed, with Jasper standing proudly in the center. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and before I could process what was happening, he sprinted toward me, wrapping his small arms around my waist.
“I missed you!” he said, his voice muffled against my coat.
Warmth spread through me. “I missed you too, my little popcorn,” I said, lifting him off the ground.
As we walked inside, I glanced back at the line of maids. “Why are they all standing there like that?”
Jasper grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I arranged it. I wanted to give you a grand welcome home.”
I blinked, taken aback. “You did this?”
He nodded. “You deserved it.”
The maids’ voices chimed in unison, “Welcome home, ma’am.” I smiled and thanked them softly before stepping into the warmth of the house.
“Dad said you were sick, and that’s why you couldn’t come home,” Jasper continued as we made our way to the living room. His tiny voice carried a hint of worry. “I wanted to visit, but he said you weren’t seeing anyone.”
I knelt to his level, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “Don’t worry about that. We have all the time in the world now.”
Before he could respond, a familiar presence filled the room. David descended the staircase, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. My heart skipped just for a second but I quickly tucked the feeling away.
“Carrying him isn’t the best idea when you’re still recovering,” David said as he gently lifted Jasper from my arms and placed him on the floor. “Go play, Jasper. Bella and I need to talk.”
Jasper gave us a sly smile. “Uh-huh,” he said, nodding like he knew a secret before dashing off.
What is that little popcorn up to? I wondered.
David’s hand brushed against my cheek, pulling me from my thoughts. “What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice low and soothing.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, stepping back.
“The necklace,” he prompted.
I reached into my bag and handed it over. His fingers traced the strange symbol engraved on it. “I’ve seen something like this before. A museum exhibit.”
“Which museum?” I asked, leaning in.
“Patience,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll take you there. We can start piecing things together from there.”
I watched him carefully. “Why did you leave the hospital so abruptly?” I asked, knowing he’d dodge the question.
“Just a company issue,” he said nonchalantly. “Nothing to worry about.”
“You usually ask Elowen to handle things like that,” I said, narrowing my eyes.
His gaze sharpened. “Why didn’t you?”
“Elowen’s... different lately. She doesn’t want me looking for my biological parents.” I hesitated. “She says she’s protecting me from getting hurt.”
David’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “And you believe her?”
“She’s my best friend. We’ve been through everything together. I trust her.”
He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “Tell me about her. How did you two meet?”
I hesitated. Why is he so curious?
“We met in secondary school,” I began slowly. “I wasn’t exactly social back then. After school, I’d rush home to help my father on the farm. I didn’t have time for friends.”
David’s eyes stayed on me, unwavering.
“Elowen transferred to our school, but we didn’t talk for a year. Then one day, a group of boys tried to bully me. She stepped in and stood up for me.” A soft smile tugged at my lips. “We’ve been inseparable ever since. Her father is Mr. Western a wealthy man. One day, after school, she took me to her house. I saw her fight with him. It was... intense. She cut all ties with him after that.”
David tilted his head. “Did you ever ask why she cut ties?”
“I did, but she never wanted to talk about it. I figured it was personal.”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “What if she knows something about your parents? What if that’s why she’s afraid of you finding out?”
A chill ran through me. “Elowen wouldn’t keep something like that from me… would she?”