Chapter 50: Getting prepared.

"I want you to come and live at the mansion."

The words landed on June with such a heavy impact that the chicken fell from her hand, making a sound on the plate.

June didn’t look at it.

She kept her eyes on Chris.

"You want me to move into the mansion to live with you and Mother?"

Chris nodded.

The invitation was clear enough.

"What about Mother? Wouldn’t she find out I am her daughter if I come to live in the mansion?"

Chris shrugged.

"I plan on telling her sooner than later."

"But... then, what about Amie? Are you ready to let her know too?"

Chris smirked. The look made June’s already racing heart move faster.

"Of course not. I need to let her and her father know you don’t mess with a Vassari."

But that didn’t clear up anything for June.

Yet, apart from Amie staying at the mansion, and regardless of how tempting it was to move in with her real family, she just couldn’t bring herself to impose on others suddenly.

"I’m sorry, but I am okay where I stay now."

Chris’s brow furrowed.

He had expected her to say yes immediately.

When Amie was asked to move into the mansion, she had immediately agreed. But this just went a long way to show how different she was from Amie.

"If I recall, you stay in that small room together with your friend. And you have to go work in that small clinic. You’re a Vassari. Mother and I can provide everything you want. You don’t need to go through this stress anymore."

She could hear the sincerity in his voice, but June wasn’t used to being taken care of.

She shook her head again, picking up her chicken and resuming eating.

"I can take care of myself. I promise," she responded.

Her other hand touched her stomach under the table.

She had promised to be strong for her baby, and that was what she was going to do.

But just like her, Chris wouldn’t take no for an answer.

"How about you continue working at the clinic, but you’ll live in the mansion?"

No response.

"If you want, you can bring your friend and her grandmother."

June stared at him.

He was ready to do anything to bring her to the mansion.

Having no excuse, she said, "But the mansion is far from the clinic."

Chris could tell he was already getting her to change her mind.

"I’ll assign a driver to bring you to the clinic daily."

"But I don’t want him parking in front of the clinic."

Chris nodded.

"Of course. He would park somewhere far. No one would know a car brought you to work."

The exchange was becoming more fun than she expected. With a sigh of defeat, June smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with a rare kind of happiness.

"Fine. I’ll think about it."

"I’ll come and pick you tomorrow," Chris concluded.

Before June could argue more, he took a spoonful of pasta and placed it in her mouth.

"You’ve only been eating chicken. Try the other things on the table. I got it all for you."

June chewed on it slowly before swallowing.

"Aren’t you going to also eat?"

Chris leaned on the table.

"Just looking at you eat alone made me okay."

"Stop it."

But she continued eating.

By the time they left the restaurant, June was full and could hardly lift her leg. She felt ready to collapse on her bed and sleep. But she dragged herself to the car.

Chris drove slowly back to Ellie’s house. He moved at a slow pace that June was convinced a snail would be faster than them.

"I just don’t want to part from you soon," he said when he finally dropped her in front of the house.

June stood on her toes, but didn’t say a word. Inwardly, she felt the same way Chris did.

"See you tomorrow."

She watched his car drive off.

As soon as the car left her presence, June turned back to see Ellie glaring at her.

Before she could take a step, Ellie had started pulling her into the living room. She placed her carefully on a chair before commanding her,

"Spill it out. Spill everything out."

"Spill what?" June asked, clearly confused.

But Ellie had no time for games.

"Are you dating Chris Vassari?"

June jumped up.

"What?"

How could she come up with such a theory?

"I mean, you came back with him with lots of gifts. And then you both went out, probably to lunch. You even skipped work to be with him. And now, you just declared you want to see him tomorrow."

June went over everything she had just listed in her head. It was plausible for her to conclude that she was dating Chris.

But before Ellie could overthink it, June said, "No. I’m not dating Chris."

Still impatient, Ellie asked again.

"Then what’s he doing with you? I’m sure he’s not just a friend."

June sighed, pulling Ellie in front of her before she continued speculating.

"Chris is my brother."

No words left Ellie’s mouth.

She opened her mouth.

She closed it.

"Let me tell you how it happened."

And then June narrated everything to her.

When she was done, Ellie was already on her feet.

"Amie again. Fuck Amie. She’s bent on stealing your position everywhere. The truth is, she wants your life. She’s one greedy little bitch."

Ellie didn’t stop ranting, and June didn’t care to stop her. She loved hearing the insults she threw Amie’s way.

Satisfied with the insults she had thrown at Amie, Ellie stopped, breathing hard.

"So, what do you want to do now?"

And that was when June told her about Chris asking them to move into the mansion with him.

Stunned, Ellie could barely say a word for two minutes, and when she recovered, she pulled June into a hug.

"I’m so happy for you." Her voice sounded excited and shaky, like she was about to tear up. "And what did you say?"

"I told him I will think about it."

Ellie grabbed her shoulder lightly.

"There’s nothing to think about. If anyone deserves to live at the mansion, it’s you. You’re the real daughter and not Amie parading as one."

"I know," June responded. "But I just found my family. I don’t want them thinking I came because of the money."

Ellie hissed.

"That’s rubbish. I’m certain Chris will never think that way, and neither will your mother. I mean, Chris knew the effort you have put into finding your mother even before you realized who she is. He knows you’re sincere about connecting back with your family." 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

"Then what about Amie? She thinks they have no idea she’s a fake."

"Well, that’s what makes it most interesting. You finally let her have a taste of what she had put you through in life."

But June didn’t think it would be wise to be battling with Amie, not especially since she was pregnant and the doctor had recommended that she needed rest.

Yet, both Chris and Ellie were right. She had spent so much time looking for her mother only to be deprived of the joy of staying with her.

"You’re right," she declared. "I’m ready to go to the mansion."

Ellie yelled again, pulling her into a hug.

"When you get there, show Amie who is real and who is fake."

At the statement, June frowned.

"Are you not going with me?"

Ellie shook her head sadly.

"I’m sorry. I want to go. I really want to. But I think it’s better I stay back here with Grandma Evelyn. I can always come visit you at the mansion. And I think you deserve enough private time with your family."

Ellie was attacked in a hug that threw her backwards, while June buried her eyes on her shoulder.

"What did I do to deserve you, Ellie?"

Ellie’s response was a slow pat on her back.

"I can ask you the same, June. You’re no longer a friend. You’re my sister."

June nodded.

"Yeah, you’re my sister, Ellie."

After crying and weeping their tears, they finally went into the room to start unboxing the gifts she had collected earlier.

Most of the gifts were filled with luxury goods. Designer clothes.

Ellie pointed at the one she loved out of the gifts.

"I want that."

She pointed to a bag.

With the smile still wide on her face, June threw it at her.

"You can pick whatever you want."

"Really?" Ellie asked in surprise.

"Of course. You have no idea how helpful you have been to me. You and Grandma Evelyn deserve the best of everything."

"Shh..." Ellie said. "That is what family does for each other. And I told you, you are family."

They continued unwrapping the rest of the gifts. There were different things, varying from shoes and bags to even a new phone.

But none of what June had unwrapped got her attention, not in the same way the last gift did.

It was a picture of Serena and Chris.

He had added a small note.

’Just wanted you to remember us daily.’

She picked up the picture.

As if she was ever going to forget them.