Chapter 40
Sunday 20th September, 2020 (Continued)
Star’s POV
“Star, remember I said I wasn’t gonna rush you to tell me the whole story about why you hired me?” Said Harper, glancing at me.
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said softly.
“It’s getting to be about that time. That time when I need to know everything because the stakes seem very high. Arcadia seems to think Jonah is going to marry Angie. Do you have any idea how painful that’ll be for you if you’re still linked to them?” Harper asked.
I sighed. “They’re not gonna marry her,” I said.
They just had to get engaged to her to draw Georgianna out supposedly but I couldn’t tell Harper that yet.
“You really wanna hide stuff from your twin?” Asked Harper, raising his eyebrows.
I smiled slightly.
I shrugged.
He grinned.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit happy. I had a twin! And it was Harper. I had been dreading the end of our “arrangement”. I had really begun to count on Harper’s support in my life and now I got to keep him without the Quads being angry. They would’ve never let me have Harper as a friend in peace otherwise.
I had a gross thought. I had almost kissed my brother. My twin brother! And I had definitely danced provocatively with him. I pushed that memory away. It was old news. I thanked my lucky stars we hadn’t done anything else during our “make the Quads jealous” phase.
“What are you thinking about?” Asked Harper.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You’re not good at lying,” said Harper.
I laughed.
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Harper.
“You do?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“I think so…you’re thinking about us dancing at that party back when we didn’t know we were flesh and b***d,” said Harper triumphantly.
I gasped.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” Asked Harper excitedly.
I stared at him. “What is that? Twin telepathy?” I asked, in awe. Was it just a lucky guess?
“I can’t read your mind but…I know what you’re feeling like in detail and I used it to guess your thoughts,” explained Harper.
“Tell me more,” I said encouragingly.
Harper laughed. “You were feeling happiness because you found me, sadness over our parents, a little bit of disgust and mortification over our suggestive dance moves and relief it wasn’t worse. I’m glad you turned down my offer to k**s you. That would have made steam come out of the Quads’ ears but it wouldn’t have been worth it with what we know now,” said Harper chuckling.
I flushed. “Yeah,” I mumbled. That had been a close call. We dodged a really awkward bullet.
“Am I that transparent?” I asked, a little embarrassed.
“Only to me you are, maybe to your mates,” said Harper. “Not in general.”
“Fair enough,” I said.
“I wanted to say this to you when I sang you that song in your room but I didn’t understand myself and the situation then so I’m glad I didn’t say it,” said Harper.
“Say what?” I asked, curious.
“I love you, Hannah,” he said.
I smiled. Warmth spread through me. Not the overwhelming heat the Quads gave me. A slow safe warm feeling. I felt like I was home. Like I’d just come home after being away for years. I looked at my twin brother. He was everything a wolf and a brother should be and I was proud to be related to him.
“I love you, Harper,” I said softly.
“Thanks, Movie Star,” he said.
I laughed.
“I think I’m probably the elder twin,” Harper said.
“I think so too actually,” I admitted. “How much older do you think you are?”
“Hmm, I’m extremely mature so like five minutes,” joked Harper.
We both chuckled.
“Here we are,” said Harper.
We had pulled up to an extremely tall set of automatic gates possibly ten feet high. Harper drove down a wide long private road lined with forested areas on either side. The estate was huge. He parked in front of a colossal building with white stone walls and a magnificent fountain out front. Wow. Harper’s house was even more impressive than those of Chet and Angie. Harper and I walked up a short set of steps. Harper let us in with the keys. We entered a room with marble floors, taupe walls and two winding staircases that met at the top. There was a huge dazzling chandelier overhead. A man in a suit approached us.
“I would’ve gotten the door for you, Harper!” Scolded the man.
“It’s fine, Regis, take a break for once,” said Harper.
“I’ll bring some snacks for you and the young lady,” said Regis who seemed to be the butler.
“No, Regis, please, that won’t be necessary, thank though,” said Harper.
He dropped his voice down to a lower volume and said, “Hannah and I will be discussing a sensitive topic so it’s better to be undisturbed. You can go ahead and relax a bit.”
Regis nodded and left the room.
Harper led me into another drawing room though this one was much more elegant and tastefully decorated than the one in Angie’s house had been. The armchairs, loveseat and couch were immaculately white and the cushions on them were white too but the material was textured so that they reminded me of little clouds. I was afraid to touch anything in this spotless house.
I sat gingerly on a white armchair. Harper chuckled at me.
“You don’t look too comfortable,” he said.
“I just don’t wanna mess anything up,” I mumbled.
Harper gasped my chin and made me look at him.
“My parents hid the fact that we were adopted and you’re worried about their white chairs? You’re way too nice, Star,” said Harper with a laugh.
He sat next to me. “It irks me that they knew about you too. They approached your adopted grandmother for you and because she said no, they just moved on. We could’ve still had a relationship,” said Harper with a sigh. “I’m texting them and telling them to come downstairs. I don’t feel like walking up there. Why make it convenient for them?” Grumbled Harper to himself.
A tall man with olive skin and dark hair entered the room with a petite brown-haired, pale woman on his heels. Neither of them looked like Harper though it wasn’t strikingly obvious. They both seemed extremely nervous and the women kept practically hiding behind the man. Harper stared at them pointedly.
“Hi Honey,” said the woman softly.
“Hey, Mom, this is Hannah but you already know that, don’t you?” Said Harper.
He was speaking calmly and pleasantly but I could tell he was quite upset underneath. There was an edge to everything he said which was unlike Harper.
“Hi Hannah, I’m Mia and this is my husband Marco. It’s so wonderful to meet you, Dear,” said Mia.
She had a very soft, soothing voice. I smiled at her.
“It’s nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Jogie,” I said.
“Likewise, Hannah,” said Marco.
His voice was the polar opposite to that of his wife: loud, deep, clear and commanding.
“We’re sorry we’re meeting you under such…er intense circumstances,” said Mia.
“It can’t be helped,” said Marco so authoritatively that I nodded automatically.
Harper, on the other hand, was not so easily swayed.
“Oh, it couldn’t have been helped?! Really?” Said Harper raising his eyebrows.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
“Harper, don’t start,” said Marco.
Harper stopped whatever it was he wasn’t allowed to start. He folded his arms and was silent.
“You two have probably already figured out that you’re twins and that we adopted you, Harper, but you are our son. We raised you and we love you,” said Mia softly.
Harper softened. “I love you too, Mom. I just want to know the truth. How did you find me? How did you find Hannah? When Hannah’s adopted grandmother said no to letting you guys adopt her, why didn’t you still let me know about her?” Asked Harper, his voice strained.
“We were waiting for you to turn eighteen to tell you everything because those were the instructions we were given by your father and in all fairness you’ve only been eighteen a week,” said Marco.
“Our father?” I asked eagerly. “Instructions? Like in a will? Is he dead?”
“No, your father is very much alive and he will be here shortly,” said Marco.