CHAPTER 122: THE TRUE HEIRESS

This Chapter is dedicated to Sunshine_Allheart.

Again!! Wow, thanks babe for the golden ticket. (⁠〃ﾟ⁠3ﾟ⁠〃⁠)

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"Is she here yet?" Xavier asked the man who walked up to him, his eyes scanning each guest as they arrived one after another.

"No, I’ve not seen anyone that looks like the girl in the picture," Barry said to his brother. He could see he was slowly losing his patience, but he held himself still.

Xavier said nothing. He stood on the balcony overlooking the grand ballroom, one hand on the railing, the other gently swirling the amber liquid in his glass. His tailored suit clung to his powerful frame like a second skin, but tonight, he looked like a statue, still, cold, and unyielding.

Below them, the elite of Owlsgrave laughed, mingled, and raised their glasses, completely unaware that the man above was losing patience by the second.

"Enjoying the view?" Barry asked as he stepped beside him. But Xavier still didn’t answer. He just watched.

"Enjoying the view?" Barry stood next to his brother, both people watching the guest step and that’s when they saw her.

Maybelline.

Walking in with her husband on her arm.

Barry’s jaw clenched. "She has some nerve," he said.

"She was invited," Xavier replied, still watching.

Barry turned, eyes wide. "You invited her?"

"I invited everyone. Anyone who could lead my daughter to me."

"And you think the woman who’s kept your child from you all these years would suddenly hand her over at a party?"

"She might not," Xavier said, finally sipping his whiskey, "but someone else might."

Barry ran a hand down his face. He couldn’t argue, not tonight. "Your guests are growing restless. You promised to introduce the Bloodsworth heiress, yet here we are. Still waiting."

It’s the reason he was here, but seeing his brother in a foul mood, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. Now he had to say it.

"Maybe you should come greet them to stall time," Barry suggested but his brother said nothing to him. He just stared at the door in silence. His eyes soften every time he sees the door open and harden when it’s another guest.

He had told his elder brother throwing a feast for his daughter was a bad idea. The girl barely knew who he was, what makes him think she would honor his invitation?

Maybe they could have visited her like normal people and informed her about the situation. And then after that, they host a party for her introduction, but his brother wouldn’t listen to him.

"Everyone’s running out of patience Xavier. How long do you think we can keep them here?" Barry asked, but Xavier only took another sip of his drink.

He was losing it too, but he tried to calm down. His precious little girl might have been scared by how he approached her. Maybe it’s the reason she refused to attend.

Should he have invited her himself?" Xavier sighed. Just then, he saw the Peterson’s step in, and his face lit up. But his baby was not with them.

They had come alone. He frowned. The only reason he had even invited them was so that Penny could tag along and yet, his daughter was left at home.

He should kick them out for good. He should teach them a little lesson for not bringing his child with them.

"Xavier..."

"An hour more Barry. If she doesn’t arrive in an hour, we’ll apologize for wasting their time and end the party." Xavier said calmly.

"Alright. I’m sorry things had to turn this way." Barry said sincerely. He has watched his brother suffer for so many years and just when he thinks he finally has his child, she’s not very far away from him.

Barry understood his brother’s pain because even if he had three troublesome boys, he couldn’t imagine losing them all.

"You can still have fun you know. There are beautiful women out there tonight willing and ready to accept you as theirs. What do you think?" Barry asked but his brother said nothing more. He just stared at the door like he was waiting for a miracle.

Barry tapped his shoulder and walked away. He should have a little fun himself before the party ends.

Xavier watched Maybelline speak to the Peterson’s. He also watched Ariana converse with two other girls like they were plotting something.

Thirty minutes passed and still, his daughter hadn’t shown up yet.

Xavier finally gave up. He turned around and was about to walk to his room when his cell phone beeped.

"Sir, young miss had arrived." Xavier stared at his cell phone.

"Send the guards over to protect her and bring her in." Xavier texted.

"Yes, boss."

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Outside, Brown’s legs nearly gave out when he saw the black limo pull up.

It had been over an hour.

He’d been sweating, praying, begging any god that would listen. If Penny hadn’t shown up, he was sure Xavier would’ve punished him. He might have lost a finger. Or worse, his tongue.

But the moment the car door opened, all fear vanished.

There she was.

Penny stepped out in her Velvet-blue gown that clung to her like it had been poured onto her body. Her fur shawl rested elegantly over her shoulders, and her chin lifted with effortless grace. Her presence made time stop.

Brown recognized her from anywhere because he had been following her for years.

But what is this?

Why was she so beautiful?

He quickly messaged his boss, telling him the Bloodsworth’s heiress had arrived.

Brown orders the Bloodsworth’s guards to protect her, but then two other people step out of the car too. A tall scary man who smiled like a little child and an older man.

Wait! Isn’t that Darlington Adkins? And could that be the Adkin’s missing grandson Osvaldo?

But... But...

Brown quickly texted his boss, "And... She’s with the madman." He said.

"Why?" Xavier texted back.

"I have no idea boss."

The double doors for the mansion opened to Penny, Osvaldo, and Darlington who stepped in like royalty.

Every conversation halted. Laughter turned into whispers. Glasses lowered. All eyes turned to the entrance.

The guests were wondering who they were and why they had to make such a dramatic entrance.

Maybelline did the best job hiding Penelope from everyone. Because she was ashamed of her unwanted child.

In Owlsgrave Penny had no identity. No one knew who she was.

"Is that... Penny?"