Seven black cars pulled up in synchronized formation, blocking the shop's exit entirely. The lead car's door opened, and a man stepped out with urgency, his dark hair tousled, he adjusted his tie as he rushed towards Ellie.
"Grandma!" he called out, his voice sharp with worry as he rushed toward the entrance. "What are you doing here? You ran off, we've been looking everywhere for you!"
Ellie turned her head, her expression brightened as she recognized the man, or thought she did. "Caius!" she exclaimed, her voice was laced with both relief and reprimand.
"Why are you acting so dramatic? I was looking for Heather, but you wouldn't let me see her. So, I went to find her myself."
Adonis, paused mid-step, raked a hand through his hair in frustration. "Grandma, you can't just run off like that. It's not safe! You scared everyone." He adjusted his tone, softer this time, aware of Ellie's fragile state. "Heather doesn't want to see anyone right now. She's fine, she's moving on."
Ellie's face twisted into a scowl, waving him off dismissively. "That's not true! Heather wants to see me. You're just hiding her. Let me tell you this, young man. I will find Heather, and I will make her divorce you! You don't deserve her!"
Adonis sighed, his patience thinning. "You think I don't already know that, Grandma?" He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting one of his security guards to intervene, but they kept their distance.
Ellie huffed, crossing her arms. "A young woman helped me today. She reminded me so much of Heather. You should meet her." She turned to gesture toward the shop entrance, but Heather hadn't stepped out yet. It was as if she didn't just threaten Adonis. She was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago.
Adonis followed Ellie's gaze toward the shop entrance, where the bell chimed softly as a customer left. The space Ellie gestured toward was empty. His brow furrowed as he said, "There's no one there, Grandma. Let's get you back to the car."
Adonis is Caius's stepbrother. He's a year older than Caius and looks like Caius. So, grandma Ellie mistakes him for Caius. He was just going along with it cause he didn't want to start telling her his name, history, and connection to her. Plus, she never really liked the fact that he was adopted. Rather, never really believed he was adopted. His resemblance to Caius was too real.
"She was just there." Ellie's stubbornness melted slightly as she shuffled toward the car, her music box clutched tightly to her chest. Adonis followed closely, relieved to have her calm.
"Grandma Ellie, wait!"
Adonis turned sharply, his senses on high alert as his eyes locked onto the woman stepping forward. His breath caught. She was beautiful, but not in a conventional way. For a brief moment, Adonis's usual composure faltered.
Ellie's face lit up, stretching her arms toward Heather. "Oh, there you are, dear!" she exclaimed, pulling Heather into an enthusiastic hug. Heather stiffened slightly, her gaze darting toward the man beside grandma Ellie. He looked a lot like Caius. Dark hair. Green eyes. Chiselled jaw.
She never thought she'd see this day. Even though she hated Caius, this one seemed softer.
"Oh, darling, don't frown like that," Ellie scolded, cupping Heather's cheeks. "Frowning causes wrinkles, and you wouldn't want that!" Ellie turned to Adonis with a sharp look. "Caius, don't you agree?"
Adonis, who had been watching the exchange silently, cleared his throat, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Of course," he said finally, his voice quieter than usual.
Ellie reached into her bag, pulling out a jewelry box. She opened it to reveal a delicate diamond necklace. "Since my grandson doesn't want me to see my daughter-in-law anymore, I want you to have this," she said firmly, holding the necklace out to Heather.
Heather hesitated, shaking her head quickly. "I can't accept that."
"You can, and you will," Ellie replied sharply. She turned to Adonis. "Caius, put it on her."
Adonis stepped forward, clearly reluctant but resigned to his role in Ellie's confusion. Heather sighed, slowly turning her back to him and pulling her hair to one side. Adonis hesitated, the glint of the diamond catching his eye as he carefully fastened the clasp around her neck. His fingers brushed her skin lightly, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. The warmth of her skin against his fingertips and the faint scent of her perfume stirred something he didn't want to acknowledge. Heather, however, kept her expression neutral, standing still until he stepped back.
She turned, her fingers brushing the pendant. "Thank you," she said softly.
Ellie beamed, satisfied, as she climbed into the car. Adonis lingered a moment longer, his gaze meeting Heather's. "Thank you for helping my grandmother," he said finally. "If there's anything I can do to repay you."
"There's no need," Heather interrupted gently. She offered a small smile. "She said I reminded her of her daughter-in-law."
"Grandma can be… confused," he said. "Heather is my wife, apparently."
Wife? Heather raised an eyebrow. "Apparently?"
He shrugged, his smile growing faintly. "Let's just say I've heard enough about her to feel like I know her. But I've never actually met her."
Heather's smile faltered for just a moment, her fingers brushing the necklace absently. "Well, your grandmother seems to have a good heart."
"She does," Adonis agreed. "Sorry, I didn't catch your name."
He was asking for a name? She can't tell him 'Heather'. "Miss Everleigh." Middle name it is.
"Adonis." He said, extending his hand. Very professional. "Nice meeting you, Miss Everleigh. Such a nice name."
Heather nodded, watching him climb into the car beside Ellie. As the black fleet drove away, her hand rose instinctively to the necklace, tracing its delicate pattern. She didn't know Caius had family beside grandma Ellie. She wasn't sure, but he was calling grandma Ellie, 'grandma'.
In the car, Ellie leaned toward Adonis. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Adonis replied flatly, clearly his throat, but the slight stiffness in his voice betrayed him. Ellie swatted his knee, a knowing smile on her lips.
"What about Heather?" she asked.
"She's fine," Adonis replied, his tone guarded, deflecting the conversation as best he could. He had been told so much about this Heather, someone he hadn't met before, just cause of slip ups like this.
Ellie pressed further. "Is she pregnant?"
Adonis stiffened, avoiding her gaze. "I don't want to talk about it."
Ellie sighed. "You know your father isn't happy with you. He's inviting you, and Heather, to the family gathering next week. Your sisters arrived at the family house last week. This is important."
"I'll think about it."