THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 411: Someone Is Asking For Trouble

Hearing that Lauren was the one calling for the meeting, everyone dropped whatever they were doing and headed to the destination in the message, including her own parents.

"Everyone has agreed to come," Stanley said as he received the last message from Killian who also agreed to be there. After all, he had not seen his weakling of a brother inlaw for weeks and needed to tell him some hard truths.

"I can’t believe you are this powerful, Lauren. "You pulled so many people with just a minute notice. Even the busiest one among them agreed to come."

"And that is..." Lauren asked.

"Your brother Killian, of course."

"Maybe his boss gave him a day off. He is always going on one mission or the other which no one knows anything about," Lauren sneered but her eyes held an affectionate gaze as she talked about her brother.

"Don’t change the topic, Lauren," Stanley said as he tried to change the conversation from Killian’s special job to something safe to discuss. "You’re simply amazing," he added.

"Perhaps I’m a superwoman," Lauren joked happily. The colours had returned to her life and life was worth living again.

"I wonder why you never came to save me," Steffan said and regretted it immediately.

Lauren’s attention returned to him and she tilted her head to the side. "Yes, that reminds me. You never told me what exactly happened to you."

"Someone must have saved you after we left you on they high way, right? Who was it?"

Stanley’s eyes moved from the road to stare at the rearview mirror and saw his brother shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"He will tell you everything later, Lauren. He’s still nervous about meeting everyone," Stanley came to his brother’s rescue.

"Yeah, that’s right, we have plenty of time for that. Fortunately, my own shock is gradually wearing over, though not completely. It’s still hard for me to believe that I’m sitting beside you in real life and not in my dreams," Lauren said. It was so easy to sway her given the happiness she felt at the moment.

"I’d better make it more real," Stefran said and captured her lips in a hot kiss.

"I know you’ve been starved for so long but you guys should have some decorum... I’m still your elder," Stanley scolded, but there was no anger in his tone.

A beautiful blushed spread across Lauren’s cheeks as she pulled away from Steffan who had no plans of letting her go yet. He reluctantly pulled away after Lauren deliberately bit his lip.

"Someone is asking for trouble..." he whispered huskily into Lauren’s ears, blowing hot air in the process.

Lauren’s whole body tingled and she couldn’t help but shudder. "Don’t try anything naughty. Your brother is in the car," she whispered back.

"Does that mean we’ll have our private reunion party after we’re done with all these?" Steffan asked with a mischievous wink.

He remembered that Lauren had bluntly refused to go all the way with him in the past and always insisted it would be more thrilling for them to wait until the wedding night before having sex.

He wondered if his long absence would make her change her mind this time.

"What’s all the whisperings about?" Stanley asked as he pulled up at the car park of The Masters Place. "I hope someone is not planning a coup against me."

"You’re safe, brother," Steffan chuckled. "What’s the plan?" He asked.

He knew he couldn’t just barge in on everyone like that. Some might even have a heart attack... especially the ladies among them.

"The manager just sent a text that everyone is well settled in. We’ll take the special to the penthouse but Steffan, you will wait for us in the hallway until you get our signal."

"Alright," Steffan said, then stepped out of the car when Stanley asked him to.

"It’s such a wonderful thing to have such rich and wealthy godchildren. See the privileges you’re enjoying. When I grow up I’ll like to be like you," Steffan teased as they headed towards the elevator.

"You’re already an old man and you’re done growing," Lauren taunted, but stopped in her tracks to stare at Steffan.

"How do you know my godchildren?" She suddenly asked, her brows bumping together in a frown.

"I... Y-you told us just now, remember?"

"Oh, that’s true. I thought you finally remembered something," Lauren said and stepped into the elevator.

"Patience, my love. I’ll surprise you one day," Steffan said.

"I don’t mind if you never remember anything, as long as you don’t leave me again, I’ll be fine," Lauren smiled, believing the surprise would involve Steffan forcing himself.

A few minutes later, Lauren stood in front of her two families which were gathered in the room. Every seat was taken making the spacious living room appear small.

It was a rare sight to see so many people assembled with such short notice, she felt warmth as she realized once and again how deeply they all cared for her.

"Thank you all for coming," Lauren began after the greetings were done with. Her voice was steady which showed nothing of the overwhelming emotion rolling within her.

Her gaze swept over the room again. "I know it wasn’t easy to drop everything at the last minute, but I needed you all here."

Her parents, Monica and William Holmes, sat close together on the sofa, their expressions etched with confusion and at the same time, concern, mirroring that of everyone else in the room.

Candace, Stanley’s wife sat flanked on both sides by her two children, Danny and Sophia, who was probably wondering why everyone had to be gathered together and her Aunt Lauren looking as if she wasn’t sure of what she wanted to say.

Although he’d gotten used to her strange behavior since their uncle Steffan disappeared, Danny still thought she was acting pretty weirder today as he leisurely played with his toy car.

Lauren took a deep breath before continuing. "I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about everything that’s happened since we lost Steffan and I’ve come to a decision that I needed to share with all of you."

Steffan’s mother reached out to clutch her husband’s hand whose jaw was set in a determined line.

There was a murmur of encouragement from Candace, her own eyes glistening as she exchanged a look with her husband who for some unknown reason preferred to remain by the door since he came in with Lauren.

"For a long time, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with Steffan’s death. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face, and I know it’s been just as hard for all of you," they all heard Lauren say.

Sophia leaned in, whispering something to Danny, who looked up at Lauren with wide eyes. Candace gently shushed them, her focus returning to Lauren, who was now visibly bracing herself for what she was about to reveal.

"But today, I want you all to know that I’ve finally found a way to move on," Lauren said, her words slow and deliberate. "I’ve accepted what happened... and I’ve decided that it’s time to let go of the past and the pain it brings."