JUNE'S POV
"June, please come downstairs!" Aunt Julie's urgent voice pierced through the tranquility of my room, jolting me from my exhaustion. The impending return to the house tonight weighed heavy on me as the sun's setting rays painted the room in a warm, orange glow, casting long shadows that danced across the walls.
In the little  corner, Lily's intense focus on her video game provided a stark contrast to the impending departure right back home.
With a deep sigh, I reluctantly rose from the bed, my steps heavy with weariness as I descended the stairs to meet Aunt Julie's summons.
"Yes, aunty?" I replied wearily, slouching into the couch, eager to hear her purpose for calling me. The passage of days had blurred together, and Lily's recovery marked the impending return to the routine of school for her and work for me, the uncertainty of Monty's acceptance lingering in the air.
Aunt Julie's voice cut through my thoughts, drawing my attention and straightening my posture on the couch, “I want to tell you the reason I summoned you.”
"It's about time!" I quipped, adjusting my position to give her my full focus. The sudden ring of the doorbell startled Aunt Julie, prompting her to answer the door with a hint of nervousness.
As she welcomed Mr. Stanford inside, the air seemed charged with unspoken tension. His warm greeting and firm handshake were met with a polite smile from me as he settled beside me, mirroring Aunt Julie's composed demeanor.
"Hello, June," he greeted, his eyes meeting mine with a familiarity that hinted at more than a casual acquaintance.
"Nice to see you again Mr Stanford," I responded to his greeting, politely. My mind raced with possibilities, a premonition that he wants to marry her, stirred within me as I considered the unspoken words hanging in the air, waiting to be revealed. I tried to swallow my excitement and wait for her to tell me herself.
"What is he doing here?" I questioned, my tone calm yet laced with a tinge of curiosity, my breaths measured, barely betraying the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
"I'm cutting straight to the chase, no beating around the bush," Aunt Julie declared, prompting a chuckle to escape my lips involuntarily.
"Auntie, if you wanted to skip the bush-beating, you'd have gone straight to the point," I teased, a soft wave of giggles rippling through the room.
"Stanford is your father," Aunt Julie dropped the bombshell, leaving me momentarily speechless, my laughter bubbling up unexpectedly. I doubled over, clutching my ribs, tears of mirth dancing in my eyes.
"You're quite the jester, auntie. If you want to marry Stanford, go for it," I quipped, amusement coloring my words. Yet, the silence from Aunt Julie and Stanford's wry smile hinted at a different reality.
Memories flashed before me - the old house, Miguel, and the adoption papers - flooding my mind with uncertainty. The possibility of this man being my father loomed large, sending a shiver down my spine.
"You're not kidding, are you?" I stammered, my voice trembling, eyes locked on Aunt Julie, searching for the truth.
"No, June. Stanford is indeed your biological father," Aunt Julie's voice quivered, her concern palpable. Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned to face Stanford, a mix of disbelief and emotion swirling within me.
"How?" I managed to whisper, my gaze shifting to him, a silent plea for answers, my eyes flickering towards the ceiling to hide the tears threatening to spill.
"I'm Stanford Leigh, and you are Verity Leigh," Stanford disclosed, the revelation causing me to gasp in astonishment.
"No, I am June Ryan. Daughter of Mark and Martha Ryan!" I declared, my voice resonating with a mix of defiance and confusion, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum in a storm. The weight of his words bore down on me, a heavy cloak of uncertainty enveloping my senses.
"Twenty-six years ago, your birth mother passed away during childbirth. I was left alone to care for you, clueless about raising a child. The fear of failing you as a single parent gnawed at me, pushing me to make the agonizing decision to put you up for adoption," Stanford revealed, his voice tinged with regret and vulnerability, his eyes locking with mine in a silent plea for understanding.
Aunt Julie's presence, a steady anchor in this tumultuous revelation, added a layer of complexity to the unfolding truth. Her unwavering gaze and clasped hands painted a picture of silent support amidst the storm of emotions.
"Why reveal this now? Why disrupt the life I've known?" I questioned, tears tracing silent paths down my cheeks, the dam of emotions finally breaking free. The room felt suffocating, the air heavy with unspoken truths and shattered illusions.
"The decision to give you up was never easy, but I trusted Julie to ensure your well-being. I needed you to have a better life, free from the struggles I faced. This is why I'm here, to bridge the gap and offer you the truth," Stanford confessed, his words a fragile bridge connecting our fractured pasts.
As I stood there, caught between the echoes of the past and the uncertain future, a sense of understanding washed over me. Amidst the chaos of revelations, anger found no foothold in my heart, only a profound sense of acceptance and a flicker of newfound connection.
The room echoed with unspoken words, emotions swirling like a tempest within me, as I grappled with the intricate tapestry of my identity and the unexpected ties that bound us together.
I still couldn’t trust what he was saying. "How do you expect me to believe you? How do I know you’re not lying?" I shot back, my defenses rising like a fortress.
"If you want us to conduct a DNA test, fine and good," Stanford muttered, his words hanging in the tense air between us.
"You’ve still not answered my question of why you are coming back now," I whispered softly, fixing my gaze on him, arms folded across my chest.
"You will find out soon, at dinner with the Lyons tonight," Stanford announced with a grin etched on his face, catching me off guard with his unexpected revelation.
"The Lyons?" I questioned, seeking confirmation. He nodded in response, a silent affirmation to his words.
"No! No! I can’t go there!" I declared defiantly, my heart racing with fear at the mere thought of facing Miguel, unsure of his reaction upon seeing me.
"Verity, please!" Stanford pleaded.
"It’s June, Stanford. Just because you waltz into my life 26 years later and claim to be my father doesn’t mean I should accept you as one," I retorted, frustration simmering within me. Stanford's bowed head and Aunt Julie's rising figure added to the charged atmosphere.
"June, you have to..."
"No! I do not have to do anything. Where was he when I was abused? Where was he when kids in school bullied me? Where was he when I needed to confide in him about my first boyfriend? Where was he all these years? Nowhere to be found!" I exclaimed, the pent-up anger now bubbling to the surface, a torrent of emotions breaking free.
"But guess who was there for all of these till he wasn’t? Yes, Mark! He took care of me, bathed me, clothed me, fed me, schooled me. And oh, news flash, Mark did not have to be wealthy to be a father!” I emphasized, tears streaming down my face.
"Abused?" Stanford inquired, shock etched on his face.
"You know what, it’s not necessary at this point. I am sorry Ver… June," Stanford pleaded, drawing closer to me. This time, I stood still as he gently placed his arm on my shoulder, hoping for a positive response.
"Forgive me please. I was young and stupid. I didn’t know what I was thinking," Stanford admitted, embracing me. As my head rested against his chest, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me, allowing me to release pent-up feelings.
“It’s so nice to finally get to hold you!” Stanford whispered, holding me close. Overwhelmed, I remained silent.
“Shall we?” Stanford asked softly, locking eyes with me. I nodded in response.
After bidding Aunt Julie farewell, Lily and I settled in the backseat of the car. Lost in my thoughts, I clutched Lily tightly, gazing out the window.
The car journey felt endless until we arrived at the Lyons' house. Anxiety gripped me, uncertain of what lay ahead.
Stanford hurried to my side, opening the car door. We walked together, Lily by our side, until we stood at the doorstep. Stanford rang the doorbell, the anticipation of the unknown looming over us.
"Hey Stanford… June?" Miguel's voice cut through the room, his eyes locking onto mine with a mix of curiosity and something deeper. I returned his gaze with a small, enigmatic smile, unsure of what lay beneath his expression.
Before I could utter a word, Miguel's somber shake of the head silenced me, his eyes betraying a hint of sorrow. The atmosphere thickened with emotions unspoken.
As Kathlyn appeared, her presence commanding attention, the room's energy shifted. "Welcome to our home," her warm greeting filled the space, but her eyes darted to Stanford, a flicker of surprise dancing across her features.
"Stanford?" Her tone held a note of disbelief, mirrored by Stanford's own astonishment, “Kathlyn?”
Their embrace spoke volumes, a reunion laced with unspoken history and uncharted territory.
“Of course June is here! Always ready to leech off the next big thing,” Kathlyn's sharp remark cut through the air, casting shadows over the gathering. I felt Stanford's gaze on me, questioning, but I silently urged him to let it pass, not wanting to disrupt the fragile peace.
Moving to the dining table, a feast awaited, a visual symphony of flavors and aromas. Bryan and Lolia's presence added to the scene, their reactions mirroring a collective disbelief at my return.
"June?" Their synchronized disbelief washed over me, their gazes like searching beams in the dimly lit room. "Hi guys," my voice barely above a whisper, a wave of acknowledgment amidst the sea of emotions.
Bryan's embrace enveloped me, a moment of warmth in the chilly reception. I stole a glance at Miguel, his distant demeanor a stark reminder of my past actions that I couldn't erase.
“Alright everyone, let’s feast,” The weight of unspoken apologies hung heavy in the air, a tension palpable as Lolia's attempt to diffuse the unease fell short. The silence spoke volumes, each heartbeat echoing in the strained atmosphere.
“So mom, how do you know who Stanford is? I never told you he was the investor,” The room was thick with unspoken truths as Miguel's question sliced through the tension, seeking answers amidst the swirling emotions.
“Stanford, your father and I, we were all college friends and decided to start the Lyons company together. In fact he spearheaded the whole thing, your father and I just watched until he just vanished,” Kathlyn's revealed.
“So where have you been Stanford?” Kathlyn asked casually, taking a sip of her wine.
"I had a daughter and needed to make more money, which I did, and you're looking at the owner of Verford company," Stanford's announcement reverberated through the room, causing jaws to drop in astonishment.
“The Verford company?” Lolia exclaimed, with a mouth full of food, throwing any semblance of manners out the window, adding a touch of raw emotion to the charged atmosphere.
Verford was the most successful tech company in the world that generated billions of dollars on a weekly basis.
Bryan, who had been quiet until then, finally spoke, "So what does Verford actually mean?"
“Combination of two names, Verity and Stanford,” Stanford simply stated, casting a knowing glance my way.
“So why did you want this dinner then?” Miguel queried, carefully glancing at Standford.
“I have cancer and I’m dying,” Stanford’s revelation of his illness hung heavy in the air, drawing pitying gazes from the gathered guests.
The tension in the air was palpable as Stanford dropped the bombshell, "I have willed all my properties to my daughter, and I just thought to introduce her to you. Your June Ryan is my Verity Leigh," causing Kathlyn to cough uncontrollably, the shock evident on everyone's faces.
In that moment, I locked eyes with Miguel, our silent exchange speaking volumes.
“Excuse me,” I muttered, wanting to go outside and receive some fresh air. The amount of revelations I had discovered were becoming claustrophobic and I needed to leave. I walked out of the living room, The cool breeze wrapped around me, a welcome contrast to the turmoil within me.
I was an heiress, just like that!
"June?" Miguel's voice cut through the night, his figure illuminated by the moon's gentle glow, a sight that made my heart skip a beat.
“Miguel, I am so sorry for just vanishing like that. I should have told you where I was going. It was stupid and irrational of me I know. I tried calling several times but the reception at my aunt’s was shitty and I couldn’t get a hold of you but…”
I was ranting, tears falling from my eyes. Suddenly, Miguel's lips on mine silenced the chaos within me, drawing me into a moment of undeniable connection.
As we broke apart, the unspoken words hung in the air, our hearts beating in sync.
“I’m sorry Miguel, please forgive me,” I whispered.
“Please June, don’t ever leave me like that again, please,” Miguel pleaded for me to stay which echoed with raw vulnerability.
“I promise,” I vowed, sealing our bond tighter than ever.
“I love you June,” Miguel whispered, cradling me close.
“I love you Miguel,” I stated, smiling from ear to ear as we both locked lips again, our fates intertwining.
In that moonlit embrace, declarations of love intertwined with the night, creating a tapestry of promises and unity. With each kiss, our souls danced in harmony, knowing that together, we could weather any storm that came our way.
THE END!