<h4>Chapter 388: Chapter 388 Grandma’s Request</h4>
Cecilia’s pov
I froze as realization hit me. Despite my attempts to talk them out of it, there was still a chance Grandma and Mom could show up in Colorado Springs.
Knowing Grandma, she’d march right into any situation without thinking twice.
If they appeared at Martha’s birthday party... everyone would discover overnight that I was Zane’s illegitimate daughter.
"Cece ? Hello ? Earth to Cecilia ?"Harper waved her hand in front of my face.
"Huh ? What ?"I snapped back to reality, hastily shoving my phone into myp. I noticed Harper twirling in her pink gown and nodded quickly. "Oh ! Yes, that one looks amazing on you."
Harper studied my distracted expression.
"Aren’t you already nning to fake being sick tomorrow ?"She arched an eyebrow. "Even if Alpha Sebastian sees through it, he’ll go along with whatever you want. It’s Martha’s birthday party, not something you absolutely have to attend. You have zero connection to the Locke family. Why would you need to be there ?"
"Ha, right,"I forced augh. "I have absolutely no connection to the Locke family. I’m not even on the guest list."
Harper’s eyebrows drew together. My sharp-eyed friend could sense something was off.
To divert her attention, I quickly steered the conversation back to her dress. "Seriously though, you look stunning in pink. Who knew you had such range, Harper ?"
"Obviously,"she replied with an exaggerated hair flip. "I’ve always been both badass and gorgeous. I just don’t usually bother showing off."
"When you do, it’s absolutely killer,"I replied with a grin.
"Oh stop ! You’re too much !"She fanned herself dramatically. "Can’t let it go to my head, you know."
"Of course not,"I agreed, making a zipping motion across my lips.
My diversion worked perfectly. Harper, now riding high from mypliments, happily returned to her fashion show.
She knew neither of us would be attending tomorrow, but since Luna Regina had sent so many gorgeous dresses, someone might as well enjoy them.
I’d told her I was worried about potential danger at the event, but even I knew how ridiculous that sounded.
The security would be tight as Fort Knox with countless eyes watching.
Neither hired thugs nor Maggie herself could risk making a move in such a public setting.
As for hiding my rtionship with Sebastian, that secret was already out.
While she was busy twirling in another gown, I quickly texted my mom, attaching the screenshot of her Instagram post.
Me : [ Mom, where is this ? ]
Ten minutes passed with no response. I excused myself to the bathroom, locked the door, and called her.
After a few rings, she answered. "Cece."
Trying to keep my voice casual, I asked, "Mom, where are you right now ?"
Three long seconds of dead silence before she replied, "Colorado Springs."
I pped my forehead in utter despair. "So youpletely ignored everything I said and came to Colorado Springs anyway."
Mom jumped into damage control mode. "Don’t be upset. Your grandmother wasn’t feeling well. She was having chest pains all day the day before yesterday. Your father and I drove through the night with her to see a doctor she knows here in Colorado Springs.
"Dad came too ? !"My voice shot up.
"Of course,"she replied like it was obvious. "I couldn’t handle her alone. Your father had toe."
I wanted to scream.
I knew exactly why they were here, and this medical excuse was total BS !
But getting angry wouldn’t solve anything, so I took a deep breath and tried being reasonable."Fine, you came for medical treatment. Now that you’ve seen the doctor, you can head back tomorrow, right ?"
"We can’t leave yet. Your grandmother’s treatment requires three days."
Three days. Perfectly timed for Martha’s birthday party. What are the odds ?
I gritted my teeth. "Which hotel are you staying at ? Are the security guards with you ?"
"What, so you can have us bundled up and shipped back home in the middle of the night ?"Mom shot back. "I’ll only tell you that yes, the guards are with us.
They’re pretty understanding. They weren’t going to let us leave at first, but seeing how sick your grandmother was, they came along. Don’t tell Sebastian, though. He’d fire them on the spot."
I counted to ten, trying not to lose it.
"Mom, I’ll be straight with you. I know Grandma wants to see Martha, but I’m begging you not to go. Something’s happened with the Locke family recently. Even if Martha shows up at her own birthday party tomorrow, she won’t have the energy to deal with... unexpected surprises."
I wasn’t making this up. I didn’t know exactly what was happening within the Locke family, but it couldn’t be good.
The fact that the party hadn’t been cancelled meant it would proceed as nned, but Martha, at her age and after being poisoned, would certainly be in no condition to handle the bombshell that her son Zane had an illegitimate daughter.
"Cece, how do you know something happened with the Locke family ?"Mom’s tone sharpened. "Are you in Colorado Springs ?"
"Even if I am in Colorado Springs,"I said firmly, "I won’t be joining you at the Locke mansion. Mom, this ce is dangerous right now. Please cut this out and go home tomorrow morning !"
The line went quiet for a moment.
Then another voice came through.
Grandma Helena.
"We’ll go home, Cece. Don’t be upset. But I need to finish my treatment first."
"Grandma... "
"I had one session tonight, and there’s another appointment tomorrow evening. Since you’re already in Colorado Springs, that’s perfect. Come keep mepany."
"So you can drag me to the Locke mansion ?"I challenged.
"Who said anything about the Locke estate ? We won’t go there, I swear on my mother’s grave,"Grandma promised with apletely straight face. "Cece, I truly am here for medical treatment. Come tomorrow and you’ll see."
She had me cornered and she knew it.
"Then it’s settled,"she continued. "I’ll text you the address. Come tomorrow evening, and don’t you dare have Sebastian drag us back home. I’m not leaving until I’m ready."
The call ended, and I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.