Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Copper

The sunroom had a beautiful view of the outside. The garden can be seen from here. I couldn't care less about it.

One of the maids gave me a blanket, which I gratefully accepted. My anger died down since this morning, but my anger didn't.

Another maid was kind enough to give me a simple chicken sandwich when I asked for something to eat. Well, maybe I shouldn't say kind. It was her job after all. But I appreciated that she didn't have an attitude about it like the maids I saw on TV.

"You can tell my grandfather that I'm ready to go home now," I told one of the guards standing by.

He shook his head. "Not yet, Miss. Mr. Harmony will be with you shortly."

Of course he will. But I don't want to see his face. Or his cane. Or even be in this house anymore.

My anger boiled up again, walking hand in hand with my uncertainty. The guard must have seen the look on my face because he quickly cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

"Uh, I just received word that your husband has just arrived and is making his way to Mr. Harmony's office."

"Oh, Kenny? Kool."

That's the least of my concerns. What is he here to do, complain? Then he should wait in line after me because I'm not done yet. And being imprisoned is not my thing.

______

Kenny

Sylvester sighed as he took up his cane. Someone cleared their throat at the door. That someone being me.

I leaned against the doorframe. "You gave me a wife and you took her back just a day after the wedding. Did you change your mind?"

Sylvester turned around with a sly smile on his face. "So you came to pick her up? I'm happy to hear that!"

I rolled my eyes. "Master, don't play dumb with me. I'm no longer the child you used to know. Or is it that she herself got up and left me?"

"Again, did you come here to pick her up?"

I frowned.

Sylvester chuckled. "Nothing like that. My granddaughter is angry at me. Which I can't blame her for. I have failed to properly explain myself. Hey, Kenny, can you do your old master a favor?"

I raised one of my eyebrows. My master continued.

"I need you to take her to her parents." The old man looks down. "She must miss them terribly."

"She can go on her own, just like she came here on her own," I stated. The last thing a rich heiress needs is a chauffeur.

"She doesn't know the location and it's plain as day that she would rather wander in the darkness than see my face." Sylvester smiles. "Besides, isn't it only proper for you to meet your in-laws?"

The urge to resist was strong enough to open my mouth before common sense told me to close it. Why should I give up this opportunity?

"Do you have that address written down on a piece of paper?"

I found her with the help of one of the maids. Copper looked up the moment I walked in. From the look in her eyes, I could tell that she was surprised to see me approach her.

"You don't plan on staying here forever, do you?" I asked her with an eyebrow raised.

We drove into an upper-class neighborhood. Copper looks out the window then turns back to me.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way home."

"You're right. This isn't the way to our home."

Our home. It feels weird saying that about a temporary place of residence.

I stop the car outside a residence with a wide garden. Copper stops out of the car. I closed the door behind me and straightened my shirt.

"Why are we here?"

I shrugged, walking around the car so we stood side by side. "Sylvester told me to bring you here. He also said something else but I didn't care enough to stand and hear him out."

Finally, I can meet the people who sold off their daughter for a better life.

We stop in front of the door and she looks at me. "Don't tell me you don't know how to knock?" I teased.

Copper turned her nose up. "Actually, you're right. I've never knocked on a door before, and I normally bulldoze my way inside a building. My poor wrists are so weak that if I use them to hit something, they might end up breaking. Can you knock for me, my compassionate husband?"

Are you a bulldozer or are you a weak, terminally ill patient? I kept my thoughts to myself. I held her hand, formed it into a fist and used it to knock on the door. She glared at me although I knew she wasn't being serious. That expression of hers looked kind of cute.

"Coming! Who is it?" A woman's voice sounded on the other end.

Copper seemed to perk up after hearing the voice.

The door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman with dark hair that flowed freely past her shoulders. She smiled as soon as she saw Copper. "Sweetie, you're here!"

Copper laughed, but that laughter sounded like sobbing. I was surprised when I looked at her and saw fresh tears running down her face.

"Mom!" Copper dashed into her arms and embraced her mother as if she thought she was dead. Almost like she thought something happened to her mother.

I don't think I've ever seen such raw emotions on Copper's face before.

"We're sorry that we didn't contact you sooner," Daniel said. He placed a jar of orange juice on the table. "Our new phones were having issues with our SIMs so we had to sort out some replacements. I should have told you and had you save our new numbers."

Grace placed some glasses on the table. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. You must have been worried right?"

"A little," Copper giggles.

I rolled my eyes and looked around. The place was modest for something that Sylvester bought. There were pictures of their family and vases everywhere. Nothing in the house was bought purely for the aesthetic. It felt personal... cozy, like walking into someone's mind.

"Will you be staying for dinner?" Copper's stepfather asked me.

I gave him a polite smile. "I don't think so. I only came to bring Copper here and meet my in-laws. I should be leaving soon so that you all can have your privacy, seeing as you haven't seen each other for over a week."

"Nonsense!" Grace pours me some orange juice and gives it to me. I sat up straight to receive it. "You just got here. We've never met and I for one would like to know who my daughter is married to."

Seems like they won't let me go. I drank some of the juice, careful not to let any of it drop to the sofa. Copper, who was sitting right beside me, did the same.

If they wanted me to stay, then they only have themselves to blame when I expose them.

I answered all their questions about me. To my surprise, they were mostly surface-level.

When they asked about my family, they didn't ask about their businesses or net worth. Now they know that my great-grandmother made me cherry pies when I was a toddler and skiing is something I've always wanted to do.

It feels odd to expose myself like this. I haven't talked about these things for a while. Didn't feel the need to when there were more important things to think about.

As I shot a question or two back at them, they were surprisingly honest and answered in the calmest manner possible. When I brought up Copper's father, Grace calmly said, "I believe it's better to ask Sylvester about his son. I know he used to be the person I love, but I don't feel comfortable telling that story myself." She retained her composure.

Everyone was so thoughtful and welcoming that I might be the asshole.

Evening came by, I could be the orange and pink hues in the darkening skies from where I stood on the backyard patio. The chilly breeze reminded me that we would soon be approaching spring.

The backdoor opened. A head of brown hair poked out, looking around. She spotted me right beside her. Our gazes locked.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" She asked with a smile.