Chapter 2

I opened the door and came face to face with my father, a man who could be intimidating at first glance. Despite knowing he's a softie deep down, his appearance—tall, broad, and commanding—suggested otherwise. Unfortunately, I didn't inherit his height, but I did get my eye color from him. Everything else, I owe to my mother.

"Hey, Dad," I greeted softly, under his incredulous stare.

"I might have to get you homeschooled," he muttered, half-joking.

"Dad!" I laughed.

"What? It's not my fault I left you looking like my little girl and now I come back to find a young woman. When did all this happen?" he asked seriously.

I rolled my eyes. "Can you just hug me, you dramatic man?"

He chuckled, opening his arms wide. "Come here, pumpkin!"

I stepped into his embrace, immediately enveloped by his unique scent—a blend of Hugo Boss cologne and coffee, which seemed to merge into something distinctly his.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked after pulling away.

"Uh, yeah! My stuff is all packed," I replied, gesturing to the boxes and bags stacked nearby.

"Alright! Let me say hello to your aunt and uncle, and then we can head out," he said.

"Okay," I nodded, not expecting another hug from him just yet.

"I'm glad you're coming to live with me, pumpkin. It's about time," he murmured softly into my hair.

Tears welled up in my eyes as his words sank in. Living with him had been impossible due to the custody battle my mother initiated when I was eleven.

She won sole custody, and even after her passing a year ago, my aunt was hesitant to let me go, believing the negative portrayal of my father that my mother had painted. It seemed it took becoming a financial burden for me to finally be allowed to move in with my dad.

"I'm glad I get to live with you too," I whispered back, feeling a mix of emotions.

After placing a gentle kiss on my forehead, he headed toward the kitchen to greet Aunt and Uncle. The interaction was brief; clearly, none of them were eager to prolong the encounter.

My dad returned quickly and helped me load my belongings into the car. I hugged my aunt and uncle goodbye, then climbed into the car with my dad. Neither of us felt ready to talk, so we settled for listening to a UB40 album—our father-daughter bonding soundtrack, "Red Red Wine."

The journey took four hours, but I only stayed awake for half of it. My dad gently nudged me awake upon arrival. We were parked outside a large light gray house, and the anxiety bubbled up again; I hadn't met his wife or stepson yet.

"Relax, pumpkin. They're both really excited to meet you. Brady has been talking nonstop about it for a week," my dad reassured me.

"A week?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah, let's head inside before he comes out to drag you in himself," he chuckled.

I followed his advice and stepped out of the car. Looking back, I noticed the gate just a few feet away. The front garden was meticulously maintained, complete with a mini fountain where water spouted from what appeared to be angel mouths.

"Bel, Brady, we're home," my dad announced as we entered the house.

Two excited figures practically sprinted into the foyer and enveloped me in warm hugs. The woman stepped back, and I instantly felt at ease with her. It sounds strange, but her presence was so welcoming that it put me at immediate comfort, even before she spoke a word.

"I know this might sound odd," I thought to myself, "but I feel like I've known her forever."

"Oh my God, hi! I'm Bella, and this is my son Brady. We've been eagerly waiting to meet you," she gushed, still beaming. Brady hadn't let go yet, and I found myself giggling.

"Uh, Brady?" I said, my head resting comfortably on his chest since he towered over me.

"Hmm?" he replied, seemingly lost in the moment.

"You can let go now," I teased gently.

He pulled away, his ears turning pink. "Right! Hi, I'm Brady."

"Lillian," I smiled warmly at both of them.

"Are you hungry?" Bella asked suddenly.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Great! Let me whip something up while Brady helps you settle in. Is that okay?" she asked.

"That sounds perfect, thanks," I replied. She beamed again, hugging me one more time.

"I'm truly so happy you're here. It's nice to finally have another girl in the house," she giggled before heading toward what I assumed was the kitchen.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it. I need to check on some cases," my dad said, kissing my forehead before leaving the room.

"It's so nice to have a little sister," Brady commented as we started bringing my things inside from the SUV. He's a year older than me, but I skipped a grade, so we're seniors together.

"Most elder brothers wouldn't agree with you. I hear being an older brother can be tedious," I responded playfully.

"If you're not prepared, it can be," he corrected.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And you are prepared? I thought you were an only child."

"That may be true, but with my build, most guys would think twice about approaching you," he argued.

I stood there, taking him in. He had a point; his physique was indeed imposing. Standing around 6'2", with broad shoulders and a defined jawline, his dark hair and chocolate brown eyes added to his intimidating yet strangely beautiful appearance.

"How does someone look both inviting and intimidating at the same time?" I wondered.

"So, do you believe me?" he asked, snapping me out of my observation.