Chapter 51: At the Mansion.

June turned on the bed. It was just three a.m. Her insides were in a twist. She wanted to sleep, but she couldn’t.

Yesterday felt nothing less than a dream.

Not only had she found a mother, but also a brother. And not just any brother, but one who was very interested in getting to know her.

"Are you still awake?" Ellie’s voice floated in the room.

In the darkness, she could hardly make out Ellie’s eyes. But what was rare was the fact that Ellie was awake by this time. She was the one who was mostly deep asleep between them.

"I am. Everything feels surreal."

"I know. If I suddenly found out I am related to a mafia queen, I would also find it difficult to sleep."

June’s response was a light chuckle. In the midst of the excitement, she hadn’t really thought of the mafia throne. It was difficult enough withdrawing herself from one mafia family, only to be sucked into another.

"Why are you awake? It’s unusual for you."

Ellie shuffled on the bed.

"I’m going to miss you."

June stiffened. She was too, and because of that, she had invited Ellie to come with her. Ellie had refused.

"Let’s look at the brighter side. I’ll be coming to the pet clinic. We can see each other occasionally. I can spend some time here before returning to the mansion. And more importantly, you can always come visiting at the mansion, too."

Silence.

Then, "I’ll surely love to. I’d love to see Amie’s face."

Soon, instead of sleeping, they found themselves reminiscing about old things and taking lightly the past they wouldn’t have joked about at other times.

But at that moment, they talked about anything to fill the void.

When the light finally spilled into the room, indicating it was morning, they were forced to sit up on the bed. Even though all they wanted at that moment was to sleep.

Having gotten only a few new clothes and shoes after arriving in the New Central State, there wasn’t much for June to pack.

Her whole luggage didn’t fill a big bag.

"When Grandma Evelyn comes back, let her know I will be missing her."

Ellie nodded.

Chris arrived earlier than expected, as if he couldn’t sleep either at the hope of taking June home.

The two friends hugged one another goodbye as if they wouldn’t see each other anymore.

When June lifted the bag that contained her belongings, Chris smiled.

"You don’t need this, dear sister. Everything you’ll need has been prepared for you at the mansion."

June clutched the bag, shaking her head.

"No. I can’t leave this behind."

It was the things she had bought with her hard-earned money, and somehow represented her identity.

She wasn’t ready to lose it so suddenly.

When Chris saw she made no effort to let go of the bag, he nodded.

"Fine. You are bringing it along."

The ride to the mansion made her insides twist with anxiety. The last time she went to the mansion, it was to look for her mother.

She had gone with only hope.

But today, she knew exactly who her mother was, even if the woman had no idea who she was. And she couldn’t help but think, what if Serena didn’t like her?

It all made sense to her. She had come out of nowhere and started contending as the real daughter in place of the daughter her ex-husband had shown her.

She felt like an imposter.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked. Though he was driving, his attention was clearly on her.

June nodded.

"I’m fine."

But Chris wouldn’t have it.

"You’re unusually quiet, and you look as if you want the chair to swallow you."

How someone could get her feeling perfectly in one gaze, she couldn’t tell.

The more the mansion gate appeared, the sweatier and wetter her palms became.

Without asking for an access card, the gate was opened to allow them in.

June got down, clutching her bag as if it was life support.

Chris glanced at it, then called a maid.

"I need you to take this bag to the young lady’s room."

The maid collected the bag from her, bowed to her, and then disappeared through a corridor.

"You already prepared a room for me?"

Chris nodded.

"I told you everything is prepared."

Then, with a look of guilt, he continued.

"I’m sorry it’s not the best room in the mansion, but that will be rectified soon."

June didn’t mind.

She followed after him.

On getting to the room, Serena sat in there, her hand moving over a paper as if she was reading the words on it.

Suddenly, she stopped.

"Is that you, Chris?"

June almost asked how she knew it was them. They hadn’t even made any noise while coming in.

"Is June with you?"

June responded with a nod, her throat too tight to respond.

It was hard to believe the woman before her was her mother.

Her biological mother.

She swallowed the lump that had gathered in her throat.

"Is someone crying there?" Serena asked. "Is that you, June?"

"I’m fine," June responded, and before she could stop herself, she pulled Serena into a hug.

She couldn’t help herself.

She had rehearsed thousands of things she would ask her mother when she finally found her. But at the moment, she couldn’t think of any of the things she had rehearsed.

She expected Serena to pull away, but instead, she patted her back and pulled her into a hug.

"Poor child. You’re welcome here as much as you want to stay."

Her body felt warm against June’s. It took her a while before she finally pulled away from Serena.

The tears had stubbornly rolled down her cheeks, and she made no effort to wipe them off.

"Thank you for accepting me into your..." She couldn’t possibly call something this big a house. She thought of it for a while before concluding. "...place."

Serena waved her hand.

"Any friend of Chris is family. You’re like a daughter to me."

Then she turned as if she hadn’t just sent a rocket into June’s stomach.

"Come on. I already asked the kitchen to prepare something delicious to welcome you."

Chris nodded in encouragement as he led her back to the dining room.

As soon as they settled, Serena cleared her throat.

"Chris, tell someone to inform Amie that we’re about to have breakfast."

Chris frowned.

He loved the fact that it was just the three of them. No Amie, no stranger.

But as if she had been summoned, Amie appeared wearing one of those dresses June had seen the last time they went shopping. She paired it with beautiful flats.

To anyone, it would seem like she was going out, but as soon as her eyes zeroed in on June, she froze.

"What are you doing here?" Amie screamed, her voice vibrating in the room as she glared at June.

June remained seated but didn’t utter a word.

Annoyed, she closed the distance between them in a hurry. Then turned towards Chris.

"What’s she doing here? Is she here for another holiday?"

Serena sighed.

"No, darling."

Amie almost let out a sigh of relief.

Then Serena continued.

"June will be staying with us from now. Chris invited her."

Amie glared at her with so much hatred that it was comical to June.

"But I don’t want her here. Shouldn’t my thoughts also count? I’m also a member of this family."

She knew Chris wouldn’t blink an eye. He had been acting strange towards her all of a sudden. She had informed her father, and he had promised to do something about him, but he still hadn’t done anything about it.

"Mother, say something," Amie urged, knowing Serena had a soft spot for her.

But Serena only pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Amie, darling, your brother isn’t the type to invite just anyone home. If he says June needs help, then it must be urgent. And doesn’t it feel more lively now that June’s here with us? I think you two would make good friends."

But Amie only stared at her as if she was telling a bad joke.

Then, without another word, she turned and left the dining room in anger.

June watched her go.

Serena sighed.

"I’m sorry about that, June. Amie isn’t always angry. There must be something she wants that she hasn’t gotten. I’m sure she would come around soon."

But this time, she made no move to stand and follow Amie.

It brought strange relief to June that she cared about her. Even if she hadn’t known that June was her real daughter.

To her, staying with her made her feel like Serena had chosen her over Amie, and that brought her more joy than any other words could.

Serena hit the plate lightly with her spoon.

"Well, let’s start eating."

Then she added, "Once again, June, welcome home. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask any of the maids."

June smiled.

Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as she imagined at the mansion.