"I do," she responded. "But I won’t promise I will do my best."


    Ezekiel released an exasperated sigh as he pinched his forehead in frustration.


    Jeffrey gave Tracie a warning re while thetter made sure not to stare at her father.


    All of a sudden, they heard the doorbell sound dance its way into their ears, making them turn their heads to the door in unison.


    ’They are here,’ they all thought in unison.


    A servant came out and opened the door, revealing a 6’8 inches man d in a ck suit, his hair styled naturally as his locks werebed back, leaving a few strands to dangle over his forehead as he exuded a dark aura like a perfume. His hands were wrapped around the waist of a petite woman whose height reached only his shoulders


    She wore a ck dress simr to it. And if a proper look is taken, one would notice the simr design of a rose tailored on the chest side of the dress/suit.


    Selene wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she stared at her family in anticipation. This was the first time she would be meeting them, and the gravity of the moment weighed heavily on her. She felt the need to be cautious as her instincts kicked in, instincts she wished she could discard but still clung to out of necessity.


    Every muscle in her body was tense, her mind racing with thoughts of how this encounter would unfold. She took a deep breath, steadying herself for whatever was toe, all while maintaining the facade of a weing smile.


    The family she believed she belonged to had misused her, now, her guard was up all the time.


    In the middle of her thoughts, Selene felt her body enveloped in a warm hug, a flowery sweet scent filling her nostrils. The woman who just hugged her smelled like a mother, her mother.


    Selene was stiff for a few seconds,pletely baffled by the woman’s actions, but in no time, sheplied with the hug, hugging the woman back just as tightly as she buried her nostrils in the neck of the woman.


    Surprisingly, Nora was taller than Selene by a few centimeters.


    "You are back home, sweetie," Nora whispered in her ears as tears threatened to fall from Selene’s eyes, but she immediately held herself back.


    The mother and daughter hugged for a few minutes and no one dared to interrupt them.


    Xavier stared down at his wife, a faint smile on his lips. He turned to make eye contact with Jeffrey rk who was ring daggers at him, but he couldn’t help but be unfazed by the re. Eyes couldn’t kill.


    Finally, Nora released Selene from the hug by cupping her face immediately in her hands.


    "I missed you so much, we all missed you," she said, tears already streaming down her face.


    For some reason, seeing Nora cry made Selene’s heart shatter, but she held herself together by shaking her head slightly, not sure if she should reply she missed her too since she was just finding out about her identity.


    "Come inside," Nora urged, holding Selene by the hand as she guided her inside the mansion.


    Xavier walked behind them, his hands in his pockets.


    Jeffrey hugged Selene just as long as Nora did.


    Kael and Selene gave each other a short hug since they were already close and Selene didn’t forget to ruffle his hair, a new habit she’d acquired which she loved.


    Thetter frowned as he redid his hair and Selene couldn’t help but chuckle. Then her eyes settled on a figure with brown hair and brown eyes that looked so simr to her mother— their mother.


    Ezekiel feigned a cough, reminding Tracie of his warning earlier.


    Tracie pulled a smile on her lips, unfortunately, Selene had been with many people who faked a smile and it was easy to recognize.


    "I’m so d that you are finally found," she bit out as she enveloped Selene in a tight hug which waspletely different from the first three she met. "Wee home."