Chapter 4 4

“Alright, Rosie,” Julian said softly. “Let's have Elena go inside and change into something clean. We'll talk with her properly after that."

Rosie quickly wiped her tears and nodded, her heart aching. “Yes, of course. I can't believe I forgot. Elena, come on, let's get you inside."

Weren't the Walsh supposed to be the richest family in Lakeview Town? Their lifestyle shouldn't be so shabby. How could they let her precious daughter end up like this? Rosie couldn't help but wonder if the Walsh were really as wealthy as everyone said, or if they ever truly cared about her child.

Elena walked between Julian and Rosie as they led her through the huge villa gates. The grounds stretched out in every direction, with a fountain playing soft music, a garden bursting with exotic flowers, a sparkling pool, and even a helipad. It was almost too much to take in.

Servants stood in two neat lines on either side of the main entrance. As Elena walked in, they all bowed low. "Welcome home, Miss Holmes."

Julian rested a warm hand on Elena's shoulder. “This is your home now, Elena.”

Rosie smiled through her tears. "Yes, Elena. We're home."

Inside, a long hallway stretched ahead, with rooms branching off to either side. There was a cozy living room, a study with tall shelves, and a dining room that looked like it belonged in a magazine. The place was beautiful, every corner decorated with its own style.

In the living room, an elderly man with silver hair sat perfectly straight on the sofa, holding a cane. He didn't move, just watched Elena with a sharp, unblinking gaze. His brow had been furrowed since the moment she walked in.

So this was his real granddaughter, the one they'd brought home after all these years? Why did she look so messy?

Elena noticed him right away, and her gut told her this old man wasn't happy to see her.

Julian and Rosie led her over, both of them glowing with excitement. "Dad, Elena's back."

Mr. Holmes frown only deepened. He didn't get up, just stared at Elena. "Is this what the Holmes family's daughter is supposed to look like? People will laugh at us. Take her upstairs and get her cleaned up right now."

The happy mood in the room vanished in an instant.

Julian hesitated, then tried to smooth things over. "Dad, Elena got caught in the rain on her way here. That's why she looks like this."

The old man turned his face away, dismissive. "I didn't see anyone else soaked like her."

Just then, Jack's voice came from the doorway. "Sir, you don't know what it was like. The rain in Lakeview Town was pouring down, and the roads were a mess."

Everyone turned to look. Jack stood there, covered in mud from head to toe, his teeth flashing in a grin. If it wasn't for his build and voice, he would have been impossible to recognize.

Rosie coughed into her hand. "Dad, look at Jack. He's even worse off than Elena."

Elena glanced at her grandfather, who looked embarrassed and irritated. She spoke calmly. “If you had gone out there, sir, you'd be in even worse shape than Jack."

The whole room went silent.

Mr. Holmes stared at her. "What did you say?"

"I'm just telling the truth."

He bristled. “I knew it. Raised in a small family with no manners at all.”

Elena's voice stayed cool. "If I don't have manners, then you're just using your status to bully me."

He started to speak, but Julian quickly stepped in front of Elena, protective. He looked at his father, tired and frustrated. "Dad, Elena just got home. Can't you give her a break?"

Rosie's voice shook as she spoke up too. "Dad, if you want to blame someone, blame me and Julian. Don't take it out on Elena. She was lost for eighteen years, and that's our fault.

Rosie hugged Elena close, her eyes red with tears. Eighteen years. Her precious daughter had been out in the world for eighteen years. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached, sharp and relentless.

The old man gave a quiet huff and stood up from the couch. "That's enough. I don't want to say any more, but let me be clear. Keira is still my granddaughter and a member of the Holmes family. I expect the two girls to get along. I'm going back to my room."

He shook his head and leaned on his cane as he left the living room. Elena couldn't help but furrow her brow.

Keira?

Rosie noticed her confusion and spoke gently, "Keira is... the child your father and I raised. It's a long story. Go take a shower and change your clothes. I'll explain everything when you're done."

Elena nodded. "Okay."

Julian and Rosie had set up a room for her on the second floor. It faced the sun and looked like something out of a fairy tale. The room was bigger than the whole Walsh family's villa, with a bedroom, a lounge area, a walk-in closet, a jewelry section, a makeup area, a bathroom, and even a balcony for the view. It was almost too much to take in.

Soon, the maids brought in rack after rack of clothes.

Rosie stayed by her side, helping her pick something out. “Elena, take a look. These are all the newest collections from the Capital's most popular brands. Do you like any of them?"

It was summer, so most of the clothes were light and airy. Elena's eyes swept over the endless rows of outfits. She reached for a tag, her expression shifting into something unreadable.

Rosie caught it and asked softly, “Elena, do you not like these? If you don't, I'll have them bring more options right away."

"I like them," Elena answered with a small, complicated smile.

Rosie didn't quite believe her and spoke quickly, "It's okay, just pick something for now. I'll have them send over more clothes in a bit."

"No, really. I like them." Elena reached out and picked a simple white dress. "This one's fine."

About twenty minutes later, Julian waited downstairs, barely able to sit still. When Elena finally walked out, looking fresh and changed, he almost burst into tears.

She looked so much like her mother.

In that white dress, Elena was stunning, like a piece of pure crystal-clear, bright, and impossible to ignore. She had the same kind of beauty her mother had when she was young, but there was something different about her too. Rosie had a gentle, graceful warmth that made people feel at ease. Elena, on the other hand, had a cool, quiet strength about her, like a sword hidden in its scabbard, its sharpness just beneath the surface.

“Elena, my sweet girl," Julian choked out, tears running freely down his face. "How did your mother and I ever let you slip away?"

Elena felt a strange ache in her heart. "How did you find out I was really your daughter?"

Julian wiped his face and glanced at Rosie, letting out a heavy sigh. "The whole city was talking about the Walsh family looking for their real daughter. Your mother and I realized Mrs. Walsh gave birth at the same hospital, on the exact same day as your mom. It seemed like too much of a coincidence, so we started looking into it quietly. We never expected... it turned out there had been a mistake. All three families' babies were switched at birth."

Elena's brow creased. "Three families?"