"...I don't like her, Lily. I don't want her here," Daisy huffed, crossing her small arms over her chest, a deep pout forming on her lips.
Mia, Cady, and Joy—who were each busy with minor chores around the kitchen—turned to look at her.
"Why do you say that, hon?" Cady asked gently, wiping her hands as she gave Daisy her full attention.
At the same moment, Eliana pushed a steaming cup of cocoa toward Genesis, who kept glancing over her shoulder.
"When she used to come over with Uncle Kieran," Daisy said, her voice rising with emotion, "she was mean to me and Nana. She'd order Nana around and wouldn't even let me watch TV." Her pout deepened. There was no mistaking it—Daisy was not a fan of Amelia.
Eliana stepped around the counter and sat beside Genesis. "Drink some," she coaxed, lifting the cocoa and placing it in Genesis' hands. But Genesis shook her head, quietly refusing. She didn't want it.
"Nana, where's mine?" Daisy asked, glancing at the cocoa and then back up at her grandmother.
Eliana smiled softly, but before she could respond, Joy chimed in.
"Yep! Got it covered," she said brightly.
She turned to Daisy. "Wanna learn how to make cocoa yourself?"
Daisy's eyes lit up like someone had flipped a switch—temporarily forgetting all about the "Amelia issue."
Meanwhile, Eliana turned her attention back to Genesis. But before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps came from the living room. Genesis quickly placed the cocoa on the table, slid off the stool, and rushed toward the door.
Eliana sighed but didn't follow.
Genesis pushed open the kitchen door and stepped into the living room just as Donald and Kieran were descending the last few steps of the staircase. The moment she saw Kieran, her body moved before her mind could catch up. She ran straight to him, threw her arms around his neck, and climbed into him. He caught her easily, lifting her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.
They pressed their faces into each other's necks, taking a moment to just breathe.
Genesis inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening around him. She hadn't been able to focus during class—all she could think about was coming home to him.
"I missed you so much," Kieran murmured, his voice low and gravelly.
Genesis pulled back slightly, cheeks flushing pink. She looked into his eyes and pressed her lips softly to his.
But he didn't kiss her back.
Not really.
She paused, pulling away, confused. Then she felt it—a stare. A presence.
Turning her head slowly, she saw Donald Blackwood watching her. Her eyes widened. She quickly untangled herself from Kieran and rushed over to his father.
She stopped a few feet away, hands trembling, then raised them to sign—fingers moving with confidence and familiarity.
Donald blinked, surprised for a moment. Then the corners of his lips lifted into a rare, genuine smile. It softened the hard edges of his face.
Kieran, standing nearby, translated quietly, "She said, 'Good to see you, sir.'"
Donald chuckled, stepping forward, eyes never leaving Genesis.
"You're more polite than this guy ever was," he said with a playful tilt of his head toward Kieran.
Genesis caught the warmth in his tone and smiled shyly, dipping her head.
Donald reached out and took her hand. "Come on. Sit and tell this old man how your stay has been."
Genesis glanced back, reaching out for Kieran. He hesitated, forcing a smile as he grabbed her hand, and together they made their way to the couch.
Upstairs, Amelia's hand gripped the railing so tightly her knuckles turned white. She watched them from above—her gaze sharp and full of resentment. Genesis sat curled on Kieran's lap, smiling as she scribbled notes onto a notepad, handing them to Donald. Sometimes she'd sign, and Kieran would translate.
It made Amelia sick.
She didn't even know Kieran could sign. Didn't know he could be that gentle, that open. Not with her. Not with anyone. Except maybe that annoying, chatty brat named after a flower.
The longer she stared, the more the irritation festered.
Then her phone buzzed softly in her pocket. She glanced down at the message, smiled, and looked once more at the trio below. Without a word, she turned and walked back into the room, just as Kieran lifted his head and glanced up at the stairs.
Across the City…
"Yo… are you deaf? I just told you my brother woke up from a coma!" Mark barked into the phone as he pushed his way down the crowded sidewalk.
"Yeah? And that's a bad thing?" the voice on the other end replied, distracted and casual.
Mark's jaw tightened.
"No. I mean—I'm glad he's okay," he said, raking a hand down his face. "But now that he's back, my mom's gonna forget I even exist. The perfect son has returned."
"Bro, make up your mind. You were just complaining she made you do all the work at the casino. This should be a good thing."
Mark groaned and looked up at the cloudy sky. Rain was coming. He looked back down, about to reply, when someone collided into him hard.
His phone clattered to the pavement.
He spun around, snapping, "Shit, Watch where you're—"
He froze.
The words caught in his throat.
A girl with the brightest blue eyes he'd ever seen stared up at him, her face full of panic.
"I… I'm s-sorry," the young girl stammered as she scrambled to pick up the phone from the ground. She stood up quickly, her eyes wide, her clothes starting to get soaked from the rain.
Mark just stared at her, dumbfounded.
She was saying something, her lips moving, but he couldn't hear a word. All he saw was the soft glow of light from above casting down on her like a spotlight, catching in her hair and glinting in her eyes. For a moment, he didn't even realize it was raining.
"Sir? Sir?" she called, tapping his shoulder gently.
Reality hit him all at once—thunder in the distance, people rushing past with umbrellas, the sharp, cold rain soaking through his jacket. She placed the phone in his hand and turned to run off.
"Wait—" he started, reaching for her, but she was already gone, swallowed by the crowd.
"Shit," he muttered, running a hand through his wet hair as he looked up at the sky, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.
But the girl stopped a few steps away. In the middle of the hurried crowd, she glanced over her shoulder, watching him disappear. A small smirk tugged at her lips. She
pressed a hand to her chest, as if trying to calm her heart, then turned and slipped away into the rain.