Chapter 200

The ride in the Lamborghini had my spirits soaring. How I love riding in this spectacular car with Victor. With my hair secured in a ponytail, I let the wind wash away any thoughts except my happiness at this moment.

When he pulled into Alex’s driveway and glided to the mansion’s front entrance, I felt a swelling in my chest, and tears stung my eyes again.

How I’ve missed this place where I had learned and changed into who I am now. It was home!

I crossed my fingers and said a prayer that I would be allowed to stay.

Many of the servants were waiting to greet me in the foyer. Their smiles when I walked in the door warmed my heart.

“Good afternoon, Miss,” Benson said. He had his dignified butler face on, but his eyes smiled into mine. “Please follow me. Mr. Wilson is expecting you.”

Benson led Victor and me into the living room, where Alex waited on the couch.

“Daisy, my dear.” Alex stood and held out his arms. “I’ve missed you, sweetheart.”

“I’ve missed you too.” I stepped into his embrace and put my arms around him. Alex shook with emotion as we hugged.

After a few moments, we sat motionless on the couch together until Alex wiped his eyes. I wanted to give him time to compose himself, but I was eager to know why he had sent for me.

“Victor said you have good news you want to share with me,” I said.

“Yes. It’s wonderful news.”Alex tucked his linen handkerchief into his pocket. “I’ve been notified that there was no original lab mistake. They said a computer error caused the false match with Olivia.”

“What?” My mouth dropped open, and I stared at Alex. “Do you mean …” I was afraid to say the words. Did this mean what I thought it did?

“Honey, you are and have always been my daughter,” Alex announced. “I’m sorry for what you had to go through. Sending you away was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

I was too overwhelmed with emotion to speak. Collapsing against Alex, I cried tears of joy. I could come home and live with my father again.

Benson handed me a tissue. “With your permission, I will instruct the maids to pack your things at the apartment and bring them back here to your bedroom.”

“Yes, please do,” I said after blowing my nose. “Thank you, Benson.”

Benson nodded. “Welcome home, Miss Wilson.”

I watched Benson leave the room before remembering Olivia. Where was she, and what would happen to her now?

“What about Olivia,” I said. “Isn’t she using my room?”

“No,” Alex replied. “She chose a room in the other wing. But she isn’t staying here anymore. She has a suite at the Guillemot Hotel until her flight leaves late tomorrow afternoon. Her … adoptive parents are eager for her return.”

“Oh,” I said. “The kids at school will be wondering what happened to her.” And most of them will blame me for something.

Alex seemed to read my mind. “She wants to go to your school in the morning to say goodbye and explain to the other students what happened.”

Maybe she will convince them I did nothing to make her leave. I wanted what was left of the school year to go smoothly.

“I feel like I’m dreaming,” I said. “I wanted to come home badly, and now it’s happening.”

“I’m happy for you, Daisy,” Victor said. He had been sitting across from us in the recliner, watching me reunite with my father.

I eyed him suspiciously. Is the fact that he discovered I am Alberta Wilson the reason why he picked me up today? Does he expect me to resume our fake engagement?

Again, Alex knew what I was thinking.

“Victor arrived to tell me some important news of his own shortly after I received word from the lab,” he said.

“What was Victor’s news?” I asked.

Alex exchanged glances with Victor before answering. “He came here to tell me he didn’t want to marry Olivia.”

“Oh, that’s a shame.” The huge grin that was trying to bloom on my face was the opposite of my words. “Why didn’t you want to marry her?”

Was Amy right when she said Victor looked upset and was looking for me last night at the restaurant? I held my breath as I waited for his response.

“I couldn’t marry her because she’s not you,” Victor confessed. “We can talk about it later when we are alone.”

“But, Daisy, you must know that if I ever doubted Victor’s sincerity toward you, I have none now,” Alex whispered in my ear. “He chose you before he knew you were proven to be my daughter.”

I couldn’t believe it. First, I learned I am Alex’s daughter, and now Victor chose me over Olivia! Nobody ever had a better day than the one I was having today.

“I’m growing tired and need a nap.” Alex yawned. “Why don’t you two take a walk? The gardeners planted new rose bushes the other day. Their scent has a lovely hint of jasmine.”

I stood and enfolded my father in another hug. “I’m glad to be back and thrilled to be your true daughter.”

“As am I.” He kissed my cheek and walked slowly from the room.

“Let’s go for that walk,” Victor suggested when Alex was out of sight. He took my hand, and we strolled into the hallway.

“Let’s go out the front door and walk along the east side of the house. I want to see my balcony. Diana and I have missed it.”

“I’ll bet.” Victor chuckled. “Even for a werewolf, it’s impossible to leap to and from the seventy-second floor.”

It took several minutes for us to get outside. One by one, the servants stopped us in the foyer to say they were glad I was home where I belonged.

The cook asked what I wanted for dinner that night and promised me chocolate ice cream for dessert. I was being spoiled. All the attention made me feel like an Alpha princess again.

Even Joe came into the house from the garage to welcome me back. The sense of being wanted and cared about was delightful after being alone in the apartment.

Finally, we made it out the front door and hurried to the side of the east wing. Halfway down the building, I looked up at the balcony outside of my room and heard Diana cheer in my mind.

“I’m really home,” I said. “It feels better than before I left.”

“Yes, you are home, and things are going to be even better than before,” Victor squeezed my hand.

We arrived at the rose garden and strolled between the rows of fragrant bushes until we found the new ones.

“They are lovely, and they do smell a bit like jasmine,” I said after sniffing the white blooms. I ran a finger over the silky petals. “These roses are perfect.”

Victor took me in his arms. “They aren’t as close to perfection as you.” He buried his face in my hair. “How I’ve missed you, Daisy.”

“You really missed me?” I whispered. I was feeling things that both delighted and frightened me. But it felt right to be in Victor’s arms.

“More than I can say,” he replied.

“Then you should be my date for the prom,” I blurted out.

Panic jolted through me. Why did I say that! A sophisticated man like Victor wouldn’t be interested in going to the prom with me. He would probably laugh at the invitation.

“Who else would I ask to take me except my fake fiancé?” I tried to laugh and sound like I was teasing. I didn’t mean for the prom invitation to come from my mouth.

But Victor wasn’t put off by my invitation.

“Ah, yes, your prom is in a few weeks.” He cradled my face in his hands and kissed my cheeks and eyelids.

The exquisite tingling caused by his lips on my skin raced through my body, making it impossible for me to think.

“Yes, Daisy,” Victor replied as he brushed his lips over mine. “I would love to be your escort to the prom.”