Chapter 40: Outings

"I’m free if June can come with us."

June blinked, her heart raced for a different reason. She already appreciated the fact that Chris had helped her get into the mansion, organized the female staff for her to question, and now this.

She shook her head. "No. No." While moving her hand simultaneously. "I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family outing."

Amie beamed with delight, at least she knows where she’s not welcome. "That’s true. It wouldn’t be polite for you to hang out with us, especially since it’s our first outing as family." She emphasised on the word ’family.’

Serena paused from eating. "Amie, darling, there’s nothing wrong with June coming with us. She’s friend with Chris and he’s inviting her personally."

Amie turned towards her, pouting even though Serena couldn’t see her. "Mum!" She held her hand tight. "This is the first time I am going out with you both. Do we have to bring a stranger with us?" She turned back at June with an obvious glare.

Chris turned towards her with a forced smile, his blood boiling inside.

There was definitely something between them. It was the reason she must have wanted June out of the way as soon as she could.

But he didn’t say a word.

He was waiting for Serena’s decision.

Serena fondled Amie’s hand with hers. "Well, this is not for me to decide, darling. It’s Chris’s decision. He invited June and if he decides she won’t be going with us anymore. It’s all up to him."

Amie smiled.

Handling Chris was easier than Serena. After all, he had given her a black card to buy things without her requesting for it.

He was certainly those defensive elder older that would do anything for their younger sister. Especially, a long lost younger sister.

She just needed to play right by him.

She turned towards him. "Chris, what do you say? You can always go out with her later. But this should be just for us as family."

Chris stared at her, the smile still fixed on his lips.

The audacity of her to keep throwing the word family like it meant anything to her.

June chose that moment to speak. "It’s fine, Chris. I have to go back to work anyway." She said, standing up from her chair.

But before she could leave the dining room, Chris held her hand stopping her from moving. "June is going with us, I insist." He said, without looking away from Amie.

Amie’s eyes moved from Chris to his hand that was holding June’s tightly.

What did the bitch do to seduce Chris?

Then she bit her lower lip, blinking her eyes repeatedly at him. She knew guys always say yes to their cute little sister.

"Are you saying you would choose your girlfriend over your sister?"

Chris ignored her.

Then she turned away from him with feigned anger. "Fine. If you want to go out with her, you can. I’m not interested in going out with that." She stormed out of the room.

"Amie..." Serena called after her. She tried standing up in haste, only for her to hit her leg on the table.

Before Chris could get to her, June ran towards her. She was the closest to Serena. She held her hand, carefully helping her back to her seat. "You don’t need to rush yourself, ma. I’m not going with you guys if it annoys Amie that much."

Serena pressed her leg. "Thank you, June." Her other hand moved into June’s hair. "Don’t be angry with Amie. She must be going through some difficult time and I think she just wants to speak time with her family because we just found her."

June loved the feel of her hand on hers, and before she could stop herself, she asked. "I’m sorry to ask this, but how did you guys find her? It must have been really difficult."

Chris was settled back in his seat, watching them carefully.

Serena and June might not look like each other, but they were little resemblance in them that he couldn’t ignore. Especially seeing them close like that made it more obvious.

Excited to finally tell someone the story, Serena told June about how one of her longtime friends had helped her traced her ex-husband and was able to find her daughter after a long time.

Once she was done, she pushed her plate. "Let me go appease Amie. I’m really sorry about that, Chris." She said, before walking out of the room with her stick.

"Are you sure she is okay?" June asked Chris, watching Serena leave the room.

"She knows her way around this place. She’s fine."

"I’m sorry about that, but you don’t have to insist I go with you to a family outing. I hate to intrude on your family bonding time."

Chris stared at her.

How could two people be so different?

"It’s fine. There’s no family outing without you. I meant that."

June opened her mouth.

Closed it back.

"And you’re welcome to the mansion anytime you want. I’ll give you an access card. We can always brainstorm together on more ways to find your mother."

June stared at Chris.

He was godsent.

There was no other way for her to describe him than that.

"Thank you."

Chris nodded. "Come on, I’ll drive you back to your place."

June nodded. "Again, I’m sorry about your family outing."

Chris waved her off. "It’s not family outing without you. Come on, let’s leave."

Just as they were about to leave the dining room, Serena came back with Amie right behind her.

Her smile was vibrant, it was almost blinding. "Chris, Amie wants to apologize for being rude to your guest."

June stopped, surprised by those words. Ever since she had known Amie, she had never apologized for anything in her life.

Amie stepped forward, biting down on her lips. "I’m sorry, Chris. I just thought it would be nice to have a family outing without her." She finished with her gaze trailing off to June.

Chris looked at June. "You don’t have to apologize to me. If there’s anyone you need to apologize to, it’s June."

Amie’s eyes flared with anger. "Chris, I am your sister, not June. How could you?"

Chris stared at her.

With the DNA result sitting in his pocket, he couldn’t care less about the words Amie was throwing his way.

When she saw her words didn’t move Chris, she turned towards Serena. "Mother?"

"Amie, darling, remember what you promised me inside. Just do as I said inside."

She turned towards June. "I’m sorry for being rude to you."

Even though she sounded nothing like she was sorry.

Serena smiled. "Now that everyone is okay with it. How about we go get prepared for the outing?"

June looked at Chris and mouthed. "Do I have to?"

"Of course! I insist." Chris smiled at her. "This will be my payment for what I have done for you."

Putting it that way, she couldn’t reject his invitation. "Fine. This is a one time payment though."

Chris nodded at her. "Anything you say."

Amie stormed off to her room. Once she got into the bedroom she threw herself on the bed, wiggling her leg.

She had never been this embarrassed in her life.

She kept reminding herself that she needed to call her father to let him know June was in the mansion, but she needed to get changed before leaving the mansion.

Since June had insisted on going with them, there were other ways to punish her.

After a few minutes, everyone had reassemble in the living room.

Chris was still in the same suit he had worn and June had changed into the other outfit she had brought with her.

Seeing June in a simple sundress with flats, Amie moved back. "Don’t tell me she’s going with us in that?" Amie asked, looking her up and down.

June touched her clothes.

She had beautiful clothes too, but she had left everything she had in Rauf’s house. It was the only thing she could afford from her wages.

Chris stared at them both. Amie was dressed in one of the outfit Serena had bought in the room for her daughter. It was a long purple dress with gold trimmings, which she paired with a matching shoe. Everything she wore would cost no less than three hundred thousand.

But looking at June, he couldn’t guess how much her clothes could cost, probably a hundred, but. "Of course, she is."

Amie looked like she would rather eat shit than go with June in that outfit.

"I’m taking a different car." She said, storming out of their presence for the second time that day.

Serena smiled. "Did she leave in anger again?"

Chris smiled. "It’s okay, mother. She just has a lot to learn and I’m willing to teach her."

Serena nodded. "Thank you, Chris. You’re the best brother any girl could ask for." Then she leaned closer to him and whispered. "I’m ready for my eyes surgery. I want to see everything that’s happening around me, including my baby."