Chapter 2

A Month Later

Owen returned to his estate as the winter vacation ended.. It was just Theo and Aurelia in the garden, making their own castle with Lego's and setting up dolls as king and queen..

Suddenly Aurelia's face fell into a saddened one.. Theo would leave today, leaving her alone again..

"Lilian.. "

Theo called out but she didn't look at him so he made her look at him..

"You know I'll be back, right? "

She nodded but didn't smile..

"But I'll be Alone till them.. "

She looked down again and Theo hugged her..

"You won't be.. Focus on you studies after the break.. By the time the exams are done, I'll stand in front of you again.. "

He grabbed a strawberry and put in her mouth..

"Now don't be sad! Remember, I'm always with you.. "

EVENING

Theo was ready to leave, everything set inside the car.. Aurelia and her father walked the out.. Before Theo got in the car, he ran back to Aurelia and whispered in her ear..

"Don't let Owen's words get to you.. When we get older, I'll be the one to marry you.. "

Aurelia's face flushed red while Theo ran back in the car and waved at her as the car drove by.. But her smile dropped as her best friend drove away..

The car disappeared around the bend, taking Theo—and his comforting presence—with it. The stillness that followed seemed too loud, too empty. Aurelia stood there on the stone path, her little hands clenched into fists at her sides, the wind playing gently with her golden curls.

Her smile had faded the moment the taillights vanished. She tried to be strong. Tried to remember his words.

"Don't let Owen's words get to you… I'll be the one to marry you…"

Her cheeks still burned at the memory, but the warmth quickly turned cold in the absence of his voice.

Herman watched his daughter closely. It was in the subtle sag of her shoulders, the way she now held her shawl tighter around her body, that he saw just how alone she truly felt.

“Aurelia…” he said softly, placing a hand on her head.

She looked up at him, eyes already glassy.

“I’m okay, Papa,” she said, forcing a smile far too brave for a girl her age. “Theo will be back.”

He nodded, his throat tightening. She didn’t say she was sad. But she didn’t have to.

---

That Night

The Vance estate was unusually quiet after dinner. The fireplace crackled softly in the sitting room, its golden light casting shadows across the ornate carpet where Aurelia now sat cross-legged, drawing in her sketchbook.

Herman stood a few feet away, pretending to read the newspaper. But his eyes often drifted toward her.

She had drawn three stick figures—herself, Theo, and Owen. All smiling. But she paused before sketching anything else. Her crayon hovered over the paper… then slowly, she added another figure. A girl. Slightly apart from the others. No smile on her face.

Herman folded the paper quietly and set it aside.

---

A Week Later

Spring was still months away, but plans were already in motion.

Herman sat across from a tall woman with sharp features and a soft voice. She was the head of a small, private orphanage on the outskirts of the city. He had visited discreetly, wanting to avoid unwanted attention.

“You’re looking for a child around your daughter’s age?” she asked, flipping through her clipboard. “That narrows it quite a bit.”

“Yes. Someone gentle, kind,” Herman said. “My daughter lost her mother last year. She's… lonely.”

The woman gave a small nod of understanding.

“We have a few girls who match the age range, but one in particular stands out. Quiet. Polite. She was brought here two years ago under difficult circumstances. She rarely speaks unless spoken to, but she’s smart and very observant. I think she’d do well in a calm home.”

She turned the clipboard around and slid a photograph toward him.

A small girl stared back at him. Around the same age as Aurelia. Her hair was dark, her eyes large and solemn. A delicate face with an unreadable expression.

Her name: Silea.

“She’s lovely,” Herman murmured, fingers brushing the photo.

The woman smiled faintly. “She doesn’t speak much of her past. But she’s never caused any trouble.”

Herman nodded..

"Get the papers ready.. But there is one condition in this adoption.. "

The lady raised her brows in question.. Herman continued.

"She will be my responsibility for sure.. I'll provide her with everything that I provide my daughter with.. But in exchange she has to be with my daughter all the time.. My daughter should not feel lonely or alone.. And she should never be hurt. And if that happens in near future, as in my daughter gets hurt even an inch, she will be out of the estate.

The lady nodded..

" I understand your concern.. This happened a few times.. Adopted childs take over the real one's.. "

Herman's eyes narrowed..

"What do you mean? "

The lady chuckled..

"Orphans always have a snob story to tell.. The adoptive parents feel too pity on them and overlook their actual kids need.. This happened so much that now we warn people before making decisions.. "

Herman looked down, his own self wondering if he was doing the right thing for her daughter or not.. But the moment her sad face flashed in front of him, he pushed back the negative thoughts..

"That's why there is a condition.. I'm giving her better life, doesn't mean I'll overlook my own daughter.. "

The lady nodded and started preparing for the adoption papers while Herman sat there with uneasiness.. Was he doing the right thing?

2 MONTHS LATER.

The spring rains had washed the garden clean, and everything seemed fresher—greener, livelier, almost as if the estate itself had sighed in relief. Inside the manor, the staff bustled about, preparing the guest wing for someone new. The air was filled with curiosity and whispers.

Aurelia stood in the center of the drawing room, her brows furrowed as she watched the maids change out the drapes in the neighboring bedroom.

“Papa?” she asked, glancing up as Herman entered.

He knelt beside her, smoothing her golden curls.

“Yes, darling?”

“Why are they making the room so pretty?”

Herman hesitated. “Because someone new is coming to live with us.”

Her nose scrunched. “Like a guest?”

“No, sweetheart. Like… a sister.”

Aurelia blinked. “A sister?”

“She doesn’t have a family, and I thought… maybe you could be friends.”

The little girl was quiet, absorbing the news with thoughtful eyes.

“Is she sad like me?”

Herman smiled gently. “Maybe. But she’s also kind. I think she’ll like you very much.”

After a moment, Aurelia nodded slowly. “Okay… but I want to share Mommy’s cookies with her too.”

“You can,” he whispered, pulling her into a warm embrace. “You can share anything you like.”

---

That Evening

The car rolled in just as twilight kissed the horizon. A small figure stepped out, dressed neatly in hand-me-down clothes that had been carefully pressed, her hair tied into twin braids.

Silea.

She looked up at the towering estate, her expression unreadable.Something in her eyes flickered but that was noticed by no one..

Herman approached her with a kind smile.

“Welcome home, Silea.”

Behind him, Aurelia peeked out from behind a pillar, eyes wide with curiosity. The other girl’s presence felt strange—new, uncertain. Not threatening… but unfamiliar.

Silea turned and saw her, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. She gave a shy wave.

Aurelia stepped out slowly, clutching her mother’s shawl in one hand. She stopped a few feet away.

“Hi… I’m Aurelia.”

“I know,” Silea said. “You look like your picture.”

Aurelia blinked. “I have a picture?”

“Your papa showed it to me. Said you were nice.”

Aurelia’s heart fluttered with something between hesitation and hope. She looked over at her father, who gave her an encouraging nod.

“Well,” she said slowly, “do you want to come see the garden? I’ll show you the secret strawberry patch.”

Silea’s smile widened, and she nodded. “Okay.”

The two girls walked off, the fading sunlight catching their silhouettes as they disappeared down the garden path—two strangers learning how to become something more.

And in the growing dusk, Herman Vance stood silently, wondering if he had made the right decision.

He looked at the twinkling stars..

"Did I do the right thing, Megan? "

Of course no answer came as he hoped but seeing the girls running, holding hands, he did thought he did the right thing..

But he was still cautious.

Because sometimes, even the kindest intentions can plant the roots of future ruin.