4

HAILEY

I came to a full halt when I sighted the unimaginable.

My heart didn't just beat up in shock and perhaps fear. At some point, I didn't want to believe the sight in front of me. I mean, there's no way he could find his way here.

Who was he, by the way, to be standing with my brother?

I was tempted to ask what he was doing when I remembered I had my brother standing right beside him, wearing a large smile on his face.

In the middle of it all, the figure was still standing, our eyes almost lost in each other's gaze.

Blonde hair, brown eyes which now unexpectedly began to make sense.

I bet he was just as surprised as I was.

"Hailey!" I heard immediately. His voice was loud, like the blaring horn of a vehicle, almost causing a blockage to my ears.

I shook immediately, realizing it was my brother. His eyes were on me the minute I shifted my gaze back to him. His smiles had equally faded.

I cleared my throat and adjusted myself,with the intention of not giving the wrong impression that something was wrong.

“Aww dear sister. It's good to see you again.” He pulled me into a deep hug right before I could even process my thoughts.

It was unexpected, but I had to be smart enough to hug him back.

“How was your journey here? I trust it wasn't as hectic as ever?” Adrian asked the moment he pulled me out of the hug.

"Oh, no. No. It wasn't." I was quick enough to say even if I was slightly distracted. Then, I turned back to the young man still staring at me.

Damn! It was not just awkward that he couldn't stop the stares. It was equally annoying. What gave him the guts to keep staring? Couldn't he be reasonable enough to know he shouldn't.

"Who is he, Adrian? I -" I forced a smile to appear on my face, looking from him to my brother, short of what next to even say.

"Uhm -” he let his hands rest on the young man's shoulder. “I should have told you earlier, but I guess I was too excited to let you know about the plans I have made." He began to say,and I was too eager to hear the possible explanation he had to give.

"Jaxon, meet my sister, Hailey, who I told you about. And Hailey, meet my best friend, Jaxon. He will be spending the Christmas holiday with us." His statement made my jaw drop, and my heart sink right in.

Spending the Christmas holidays with us? What?

My head spinned with various thoughts that made my body begin to suddenly get heated up.

Did Jaxon, or whatever his name was, know that I was Adrian's sister when he first met me?

Although as it stood, he didn't look any more surprised like the first time he had just gotten in.

"You mean the parent police would be spending the holidays with us?" I had muttered, but I guess he must have heard me because he coughed. One that indicated he was trying to pass a message,or perhaps, draw my attention to himself.

"What did you say?" I heard my brother ask me.

"Wait,what?" I cleared my throat, staring at my brother, feigning confusion.

"I thought I heard you say something. Weren't you referring to me in any way?" Adrian's eyes didn't leave mine, searching and perhaps awaiting responses.

"Oh,no. I wasn't referring to you at all. I'm just happy to see you,I guess. " I said and walked closer to him to give him the hug I had planned to give before I caught sight of the unexpected visitor.

Oh, God! Just the thought that I would be spending the holidays with him was provoking.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Hailey. I've heard quite a lot about you from your brother. " His voice stopped me the moment my brother and I pulled out of the hug.

“Including how good of a mother you've been." He finally thought of breaking the awkward moment between us. I could have sworn that his last statement was nothing but one filled with mockery as it was accompanied by the smirk on his face.

I scoffed immediately, staring at him. His hands were already stretched out, waiting for my handshake. Thanks to my brother, who was present, I had to play along.

"It's so bad that I've never heard about you from my brother like you never existed. But, it's good to see you here in good health." I faked a smile while I fixed my hands in his for a handshake.

His grip on my hands was rather firm, and he didn't seem like he was ready to let go. Even his eyes, which were boring deep into mine with a satisfying smirk on his face, indicated he had gotten my message.

Just because I wouldn't love to ruin any more brooding relationship between my brother and I, he was allowed to stay. But he better stay clear off my path.

"Mmm, Mmm!" Adrian cleared his throat, bringing us back to the realization that we had been holding each other's hands for quite a long time. Immediately, I let go of his hands.

"Uhm, why don't we get settled in? I was just about to prepare something." I said, turning in different directions, confused on what to do next.

Besides the fact that the sight of the same man who had tried to impose his false beliefs of how horrible of a mother I was troubled me, I was also quite nervous about meeting my brother after quite some years. Especially since we had not left each other's sight on good terms. And right before coming here,the plan had been to recreate the close relationship we let die.

"Uh, uh. You don't need to do that.” Adrian stepped a bit forward, clicking his tongue in disapproval. “Thanks to the kind gesture of Jaxon here, we bought freshly prepared meals from one of the best restaurants here in Seattle." Adrian said, patting the shoulder of his best friend who in turn passed him a smile that only made my heart make a thump.

"Oh," I could only say, trying my best not to stare at him anymore.

"By the way, where's my favourite nephew?" Adrian popped up another question even before I could think of what I could possibly say next. His face held his usual bright smile that my mother used to call enchanting.

"Uncle!" We suddenly heard and turned behind the direction we had heard the shout.

"Speaking of the angel." My heart warmed up at the sight of Aiden running right into Adrian's arms. Adrian,on the other hand, didn't fail to open up his arms,ready for an embrace.

"Oh my big man." Adrian called out, spreading kisses all over his face with his face and lightening up with great happiness.

I was immediately reminded watching the scene at that moment that it was something Jared never did. He was never as excited as Adrian was when he saw his son after days of being away. At some point in time, he made me question if he truly loved Aiden as his son? After all, billionaires loved having sons.

Funny enough, I couldn't help but still feel heartbroken at how we ended our marriage.

Was I still in love with him and missed him? Definitely not.

But I had truthfully expected the good times to last long.

"I know you!" Aiden's loud words suddenly drew me out of my thoughts, and I froze instantly.