Page 76 of Secret Baby for Dr. Billionaire

It looked like it was a completely different place compared to when I was here last time. Gone were the lights and fog machines from the party and glittering decorations. Now, the yard was clean, flowers were everywhere, and the lawn was trimmed so well. I could only dream of a place like this someday for Sofi.

“She looks like a Disney princess. And we have matching bracelets, too.”

I gripped Billy Anne’s hand, and true enough, we wore identical bracelets she had made in art class the other day.

“’Tiful,” Sofi muttered in Ben’s arms, and that earned a laugh from the group.

“See? Even Sofi agrees with me. Mama looks pretty, doesn’t she?” My heart jumped in joy as Ben kissed Sofi’s chubby cheek.

“Now relax, babe. They’re going to love Sofi. If you’re lucky, you can still have her back at the end of the day.”

“Grammy’s going to love Sofi—”

“Benedict! Chloe!” Maggie’s sharp scream interrupted Billy Anne. The former didn’t even bother greeting her aunt before she sped past her and ran towards the kitchen to grab a cup of mixed fruit.

“Hi, Maggie.”

“Come on in.”

Maggie wore a puff-sleeved lavender floral maxi dress with a tiered skirt and short puffed sleeves. She looked so tall and so beautiful in it. We walked towards the foyer, and I could see that her eyes hadn’t left the plump child in Ben’s arms. Finally, she asked, “And who do we have here?”

“Mags, I’d like you to meet Sofi.”

Ben didn’t hesitate to hand Sofi to her aunt. Jesus. I never thought I’d even say that word. Sofi had an aunt, and I had gained a sister in some weird way.

She took the toddler in her arms, and her eyes started to water. She sniffed her neck, and I bet she could smell the coconut lotion I had put on her earlier. “Sofi! Isn’t she a little bundle of joy? She looks just like you, Chloe.” She shifted her attention to her brother and added, “I can’t believe I have two nieces and I have two boys. The world really is unfair.”

“That’s my sister! I told you she’s real!” Billy Anne yelled from the kitchen, her mouth filled with whatever treat she had started eating. I saw how she was comfortable with the people here and was happy that she felt safe enough to talk to some of Janice’s staff.

“Never doubted you, sugar!” Maggie called back.

“And mother?”

“What is all this screaming?” Janice Hayes walked down the stairs as if on cue, wearing the most beautiful red wrap dress with butterfly sleeves. She was too busy putting on her earrings and watching her steps to see the elephant in the room babbling in Maggie’s arms. “God, don’t you just love it when we’re all here together on a weekend?”

Janice looked beautiful despite her age. She was aging like fine wine.

From the stairs, she wiped her spectacles, still not looking over at us, while the three of us anticipated her reaction to seeing her youngest grandchild for the first time.

“Benedict, now that I could finally get a hold of you—goodness.” She halted mid-step, put on her glasses, and squinted at us as if what she was seeing was an illusion.Please let her like Sofi.“Is that a baby?”

“Is she yours, Margaret?” Surprised laced Janice’s face, confused as to why there was a toddler in her living room. “Did you finally adopt a child?”

“God, I wish, Mother.” Janice closed the gap between her and her daughter and studied the toddler, who was now extending her chunky hands toward her grandmother.

I held back the tears. This was going to be an emotional day. I just knew it.

Sensing my emotions, Ben held my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.

“She’s ours, actually.”

Janice’s attention snapped over to her son, and then to me, then back to Ben again. There was disbelief in her eyes, but her lips were slowly stretching into a soft smile.

“This is Sofi. She’s our daughter,” I said, and Janice took her from Maggie and bounced her in her arms. Sofi squealed and hugged her only grandmother by the neck. Then, the tears were unstoppable.

I couldn’t fathom the fact that Sofi had now officially met her family. And they loved her.

“She looks just like you, Chloe. But she has Ben’s eyes. Oh, my Lord, she really is yours, Benedict. Why didn’t you say anything?”

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