Kiara's POV
The sunshine was falling down warmly, hanging in the light blue sky without the hardness of the summer. It was not too warm, wrapping the body like soft and comfortable long-worm cotton underwear.
The wind that blew occasionally also didn't feel cold, the sunshine was just right. There sat Granny and me in the corridor as we both conversed merrily.
To be honest, my life was now fulfilling and happy. I feel complete, apart from the only puzzle left for me to solve. Who our real mother is? In my opinion, I guess the only way to solve this is to fly back to Arizona with Amelia. We both need to know the truth. How did we get separated from our parents from birth?
“What are you thinking about?” Granny looked over at my face and asked. I smiled elegantly at this old woman beside me, admiring every bit of her at any chance I got. She was wearing a creamy pullover and black leggings, her gray hair was done in a French twist and her slightly wrinkled face was make-up free. She's beautiful, looking forty at eighty.
There was no doubt that the Andrew family had the gene of giving birth to good-looking people.
“Can I see a picture of Alexander's parents, Granny?” I requested, giving her my puppy eyes.
She stared at me and shook her head, “That was not what you were thinking about, was it?” I grinned as we both got on our feet and sauntered back into Granny's room, leaving behind the rich chocolate dessert we were having.
“I can still feel their presence around me each day,” Granny's voice had become sorrowful without restraint, and I could imagine how sad her expression would have become.
I gulped severally, looking down at this gorgeous couple in my hands. They had their best smiles on their faces in their bride and groom dress. I must admit that Alexander had the same look as his dad. The same tall nose, teal green eyes, lips, everything except their skin color. Mr. Andrew wasn't white, but his pretty wife was. This means Alexander only acquired his mom's skin.
“They were the most beautiful couple I have ever seen, Kiara” Granny voiced out again. This time, I gradually lifted my head to look at Granny's face, and just as expected, her lovely eyes had become reddened as more tears trickled down her cheeks. It brought tears to my eyes too, and I quickly went closer to her since we were both sitting on the bed.
“I agree with you, Granny. I wish they both continue to rest in perfect peace” I prayed silently while I nestled in Granny's arms, who sniffed and answered back with a low, “Amen”
A few moments later, I happily arranged the food flask and the cutlery in the lunch box Miss Marian had provided for me.
“I must have a bite from this sumptuous meal you've prepared, Kiara” Miss. Marian said beside me.
“Of course, Miss. Marian, please dish out Granny's piece and take it to her room, while I bring this to Alexander's office” I told her with a beam as I took a long stride to the end of the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
After my words, I expected a reaction from Miss. Marian, but got none. I looked at her and soon noticed the veil of grief that had descended over her, which occurred to her every time.
I closed back the refrigerator door and summed up my footsteps to where she was standing. “Why do you look so sad almost every time, Miss. Marian?” I asked worriedly, hoping she would be positive with her response.
She looked up into my face and spoke softly, “I wish I could turn back the hands of time and redeem my negligence, Kiara” as she spoke her words, tears had blurred her vision and I could feel a stab of pity in my heart as I quickly reached out to hold her; however, she dodged away in time and put on a warm smile, “You would not like the meal to get cold, would you?”
I was suddenly rendered speechless as I stared at her face wordlessly. It just dawned on me that she won't talk about her past, no matter the pressurization I might ever think of putting on her.
***
Going up through the elevator, I adjusted the coolers on my face and grinned at my reflection through the metal surface before looking down at the lunch box I was holding.
*Chimes!*
The door opened at my destination. I paced into the entrance corridor and my smile grew wider as memories began to reel in my head. Putting up with my steps slowly, everything was still the same, nothing has changed, except…
“Good afternoon, ma'am. Please, how may I help you?” the young and beautiful lady stood up behind her desk and greeted me with a friendly smile.
Except for the secretary.
I laughed inwardly as it soon occurred to me that the previous fierce secretary, Miss Felicia, has been fired.
“Hi dear. I would like to see your boss” I told her patiently, looking from her face to the door from time to time.
“I'm sorry, ma'am, do you have an appointment with him before?” she asked in a well-mannered mood, and I chuckled.
“Tell him an important person is waiting for him here,” I blurted out with a broad smile. The lady nodded in agreement, and I watched as she dallied to the door and then knocked on it.
She went in afterward but came out almost immediately, “He's coming,” she notified, then returned to her seat.
The door opened again, revealing the love of my life. He was dressed in a formal black suit, mature and elegant, which could easily make women's hearts flutter.
He made a face while he looked at me from bottom to up and from up to bottom. I sneered in my heart, I know I look funny right now with my choice of disguise. The long plaid dress I wore was practically sweeping against the floor, together with a large beach hat and also a pair of black round oversized sunglasses on my face.
I leaned my face closer and pulled the glasses down to my nose a little, “Are you convinced now, Mr. CEO?” I asked with a broad wink. Instantaneously, his face filled with laughter as he extended his hand and grabbed my wrist, and then hauled me into the office.
He shut the door, leaned his back against it, and carefully sneaked his wide hand around my waist then pinned me onto his chest.
“To what do I owe this surprise visit, my lady?” he stooped and swept his lips gently past my ear. His breath lingered around the tip of my nose, and I got goosebumps from it.
I raised my chin to look at his face with a deep smile, and then showed the lunchbox to his face.
I squirmed out of his grasp and sauntered to his rectangular desk.
“You brought me lunch?”
“Yes, baby. I bet you would love it,” I pronounced, without sparing him a glance as I cleared the desk and dropped the lunchbox on it, and opened the dishes.
I stood upright and sighed with satisfaction, “Now come on,” I motioned at him to come forward, and he started moving slowly with a bright smile on his lips. “Whoa, my baby is going to make a good wife,” he praised while sitting down on his seat.
My cheeks flush deeply while I turned around to seat on the visitor's seat, facing him. I removed the sunglasses from my face and watched as he took a graceful bite of the steak.
“Hmm. Delicious” he murmured with a broad wink and I just chuckled softly while I readjusted my hat.
“Let's go on a picnic, Alexander. You, me, Amelia, Desmond, and our son,” I said with a beam, leaning my elbows on the table. “Sounds exciting” he asserted with a wide grin.
“Do you have a place in mind already?” he raised a question as he looked back at his meal. I quickly responded, “A beach”
“Let's do it then. This weekend”
I squealed happily and jumped to my feet. However, thinking of my next words, I sat back quietly and curled my lips. He was too busy to notice the change in my mood as he concentrated on his food.
After some careful thought, “I would like us to visit your parent's memorial park after you're done eating,”
He looked over at my face and dropped his fork. Surely, he showed a discontented expression.
“Kiara…”
“Please,” I cut in calmly, giving him my own most puppy eyes.
At the Memorial Park.
The wind that blew occasionally hit my face, and blew my hair backward. I stood right next to Alexander as we both stared down at his parent's grave. Slowly, he crouched before them and then began, “Mom, Dad, how have you been?”
He paused and the light breeze and even the chirping of the birds could only be heard.
“Trust you've been well. Look…” he gently pulled my left wrist and I squatted before him immediately.
“Here is the woman of my dreams, mom, and I would love to marry her” he paused for a moment again, “Actually, we already have a child but believe me, it was out of intention. But don't worry, we'll visit some other time with our child”
he spelled his utterances' word by word as he continued to glide his fingers over my palm.
He let go of my hand and picked up the bouquets of flowers which were lying beside him on the well-trimmed grass and dropped them on the two tombs.
“Continue to rest in peace,”
By the time he turned to look at me, the tears I didn't realize I was holding began to trickle down my cheeks.
He smiled gently. His smile was beautiful but full of bitterness.
“Come on, babe. Don't be a cry baby” he made fun of me as he reached out and embraced me.
In a matter of moments, the car rolled to a stop in front of Amelia's fosters parent's house.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” asked Alexander. I stared at his face and shook my head with a smile.
“No, I'll be fine. But am I the only one being envious of Amelia? I mean, she forgave them without any resistance, she's so soft-hearted, Alexander,” I said with an eye roll, glaring at the building as if they were the one standing.
“That makes you different, Kiara. You might come out from the same womb truly and look identical, but your attitude would never be the same” he tutored, and I just scoffed.
“Bye,” I leaned over and pecked his lips quickly and then climbed down the car afterward.
The moment I came down, a vehicle I immediately identified as Desmond's also halted in front of the building. However, Alexander's car had disappeared into the road.
“Whoa, look who we have here” I grinned, as I watched him get closer to where I was and we both entered.
“What's up, Kiara? Why are you here?” he asked nicely as we walked side by side into the house.
“I just feel like it's necessary to meet my twin sister fosters parent, at least for once” I twitched my lips after I said that, causing Desmond to chuckle.
“And yeah, thank God we met here, Desmond” I stopped my pace and turned to him with a beam.
“We're planning to go on a picnic this weekend. You, me, Aiden, Amelia and Alexander, do you like it?” I grinned, and I was pleased with the smile that formed on his lips.
“Sounds thrilling, Kiara, I love it” he expressed, and my smile grew wider.
“Have you told Amelia about it?”
“I sure will do so as soon as we reach inside, I bet she would love the idea too”
Desmond nodded in acknowledgement, “I bet too,”