Chapter 259: Recognition Banquet

Chapter 259: Recognition Banquet

(Sophia POV)

When Chloe told me this, I hugged her with a heavy heart, then said nothing and just kept listening.

She said she stared at the ceiling for a while before finally answering William.

"I'm going to do whatever I need to do." She turned over, pulling her face out of the pillow, her hair a complete mess.

"William, don't think I'm just being stubborn. I've thought this through."

William didn't respond, waiting for her to finish.

"He said he sees me as a sister." She laughed a little, her voice slightly hoarse. "He already has a sister, Sophia. One is enough, he doesn't need a second one."

William looked into her eyes, making sure she wasn't just putting on a brave face. She wasn't the type to hide her feelings. If she was sad, she was sad, but she wouldn't let herself get stuck in it.

"So what do you want to do?"

"Don't you know a lot of people?" She sat up, hugging her knees. "Help me arrange some blind dates."

William raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Seriously." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm twenty-four years old, I can't just keep waiting around. I already wasted six years on David, and now I almost repeated the same mistake with Noah. I don't want to do that anymore."

William was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Okay, I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Don't pick anyone who looks like they wear a lot of makeup." She added.

"Got it."

When she finished telling me all this, she let out a deep breath, as if she'd finally let something go. But I couldn't be sure if she really had.

But I didn't say anything, just quietly stayed with her, giving her the warmest and most comforting embrace.

A week later, I officially moved into my new home.

The new house was a standalone villa in the east district of Midland. Noah bought it—three floors, with a yard, a fifteen-minute drive from the Brooks family main residence.

When I pushed open the front door, Mom was already standing in the living room. Fresh flowers sat on the coffee table, the smell of soup drifted from the kitchen, and a wind chime hung at the foot of the stairs—Mom had picked it out herself.

"Fiona, go check out your room. If there's anything you don't like, I'll have them change it."

I went upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door.

The room was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing a ginkgo tree in the yard.

The walk-in closet door was open, filled with clothes—all bought by Mom. She hadn't asked me, just picked them out one by one herself.

I stood in the doorway for a long time. I'd never lived in such a big room in my life.

Mom stood downstairs, looking up toward the staircase.

I could feel her gaze. She was waiting. Waiting for me to say I liked it, waiting for me to say thank you, waiting for me to say "Mom, you're so good to me."

I couldn't get the words out. Not because I didn't want to, but because it had been so long since anyone had been this good to me, my throat felt blocked by something.

"Mom." My voice was a bit hoarse. "The room looks really nice."

Her eyes welled up, but she didn't cry. She held it back.

At three in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.

William, Chloe, and Owen came together.

Chloe carried a huge shopping bag full of snacks.

Owen held an insulated bag with specially prepared meal plans from the hospital's nutrition department.

William came empty-handed.

"Me being here is the gift," he said.

Chloe kicked him.

Everyone sat in the living room chatting.

Mom brought out some fruit, chatted with Chloe for a bit, then went upstairs, leaving us space. She was always like that, worried we wouldn't feel comfortable with her there.

She didn't know that I felt more comfortable when she was around. But I couldn't say it.

Owen sat across from me, pushing the insulated bag over. "From the nutrition department, breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week."

I opened it and looked inside. Everything was neatly organized, each portion labeled. He'd handwritten the labels on sticky notes, with neat handwriting, even the label positions were all the same.

"Owen, thank you."

He smiled, didn't say much. He never said much. He never would.

Chloe curled up in the corner of the sofa peeling an orange.

She wore a pale yellow knit sweater, her hair loose, looking much better than last week. She didn't avoid any topics, and didn't seem unhappy.

It was just that when Noah came downstairs to say hello, her eyes calmly swept over him, then looked away. No dodging, but no lingering either.

4:20 PM. The intercom outside the yard rang. Robinson answered it, listened for a few seconds, then walked to the living room doorway and knocked twice on the door frame.

"Mr. Brooks. There's someone outside, says he's Jack from the Cooper Group, wants to deliver something to Ms. Parker."

The atmosphere in the living room instantly changed.

Chloe's hand stopped on the orange, Owen put down his cup, William's gaze landed on Noah's face.

I sat on the sofa, didn't move.

The Cooper Group. Jack. He'd brought Daniel's things here.

"What did he bring?" Noah's voice was calm.

"A gift box, and also a letter. Says Daniel asked him to deliver it."

Noah glanced at me. I shook my head.

"I won't accept it."

He nodded, then turned to Robinson. "Go out and tell him to take the things back."

Robinson turned to leave.

"Wait." Noah stopped him. "I'll go myself."

Outside the yard gate, Jack stood at the entrance, holding a dark blue gift box, with a bouquet of white lilies beside him.

He wore a suit, his hair neatly combed, but fine sweat beaded on his forehead. He'd been waiting for almost ten minutes.

The gate opened from inside, and Noah walked out. When Jack saw him, his spine unconsciously straightened.

"Mr. Brooks, this is what Daniel asked me to deliver."

"Jack." Noah interrupted him. His tone wasn't harsh, but Jack's mouth automatically closed.

He stopped in front of him, hands in his pockets.

"First, take the things back."

Jack nodded.

"Second, tell Daniel that Fiona's recognition banquet is set for the fifteenth of next month. The Brooks family will officially announce her identity then. Before that, any people, things, or news related to the Cooper family should not appear in front of her."

Jack's expression froze.

"Third." Noah took half a step forward, lowering his voice slightly. "Don't come here again either. This is the last time."

Jack held the gift box, his fingers tightening. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.

"I understand."

He turned and left. The lilies swayed in his hands, a water droplet fell from a petal and hit the ground.

I stood by the second-floor window, watching his figure disappear outside the gate. The lilies were white, the gift box was dark blue.

Daniel never used to pick gifts for me himself. These things, Daniel probably picked them himself. Too late.

Evening. William and Owen left first. Chloe stayed until the end, helping me organize the snacks into the kitchen cabinets.

The two of us leaned against the kitchen counter, sunlight streaming through the window, casting two long shadows.

"Sophia, you know what? When your brother came downstairs to say hello today, I felt like I didn't feel anything at all."

I looked at her.

She smiled, stuffing the last pack of cookies into the cabinet. "I asked my brother to arrange some blind dates for me."

I paused for a second. "Are you sure?"

"Sure." She dusted the crumbs off her hands. "I don't want to like someone who sees me as a sister anymore. One brother is enough of a headache, I don't need another one."

I looked at her, and after a moment, reached out to ruffle her hair. "Okay, then I'll wait to attend your wedding."

She hooked her arm through mine as we walked out, and when we reached the door, she suddenly turned back.

"Sophia, that recognition banquet your brother is throwing for you—everyone in Midland will know you're the Brooks family heiress, right?"