Chapter 458: One Week Later
Genevieve pressed her face lightly against the plane’s window as the aircraft taxied across the runway.
A smile tugged at her lips.
Home.
After everything that had happened over the past week, they were finally back in Ludus.
Beside her, Stefan noticed the smile she was trying to hide. "You look happy."
Genevieve turned to him fully. "I am happy."
Stefan chuckled. "I can tell."
A short while later, they made their way through the airport.
Genevieve’s eyes searched the crowd automatically.
She expected to see Dawn and Josh. Instead, the only person waiting for them was the driver assigned to pick them up.
Genevieve looked around again. Then her shoulders dropped slightly when she still didn’t see any sign of them.
Stefan glanced at her and noticed the disappointment on her face.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nobody came to welcome us," she murmured.
Stefan immediately understood. He smiled softly. "Of course nobody came."
Genevieve frowned. "It’s not funny."
The driver collected their luggage while Stefan guided her towards the waiting vehicle.
"Yeah. It’s not. But nobody came because we’re trying to keep the fact that you’re alive a secret. If Dawn or anyone from the family shows up here, people will wonder why."
Genevieve gestured towards her face. "But I have the mask."
The hyper-realistic mask covered her real features perfectly. Combined with her dark hair, she looked very different.
At least she thought so.
Stefan opened the car door for her. "You underestimate how observant and curious people can be."
Genevieve climbed inside. "I don’t think anyone would recognise me."
Stefan got in beside her. "Let’s not put that to the test."
She folded her arms. "I look different."
Stefan smiled. "A little."
Genevieve narrowed her eyes.
Stefan laughed. "Besides, Dawn and Jamal have better things to do than spend their time waiting around airports."
Genevieve pouted immediately. "I was looking forward to a proper welcome."
Stefan leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I’m sure Dawn will surprise you later."
Genevieve looked at him hopefully. "You think so?"
"I do."
Her smile returned immediately.
Stefan shook his head. She really was easy to cheer up.
Genevieve rested her head on his shoulder as the car pulled away from the airport. For several minutes, they sat quietly.
Stefan suddenly cleared his throat. "By the way, there is something I need to tell you."
Genevieve looked up at him. "What?"
"We won’t be going back to my apartment."
Her brows immediately knitted together. "What?"
Stefan nodded. "Yeah. We can’t."
"Why not?"
"The people in my building know you."
Genevieve paused. Then understanding dawned. "Oh."
Stefan nodded. "And before you talk about the mask, it is better to be safe than sorry."
Genevieve sighed. Unfortunately, he was right. "So where are we staying?"
Stefan smiled. "We?"
Genevieve narrowed her eyes immediately. "We, Stefan. You don’t plan to dump off somewhere and go back home, do you?"
He laughed. "Unfortunately, I plan to do just that. Part of the plan is for me to return to my apartment alone for now."
Genevieve’s mouth fell open. "What?"
"It’s only for a week," he assured her.
"You are abandoning me for a whole week."
He smiled. "I am not abandoning you. We’re getting married in seven days."
Genevieve folded her arms stubbornly. "Doesn’t make it less than a week or change the fact that you’re abandoning me," she said.
Stefan laughed and shook his head. "Aren’t you curious to know where you’d be staying?"
"As long as you won’t be staying there with me, I’m not interested."
Stefan chuckled.
"Why are you just telling me this?" Genevieve asked with a scowl.
"I didn’t want you to spend our time together worrying about it," Stefan said softly. "Also, we will be moving somewhere else after the wedding."
That caught her attention immediately. "A new place, too?"
He nodded. "A better place."
Genevieve frowned. "But I like your apartment."
"I know you like it."
"Then why move?"
Stefan smiled. "Several reasons. One of them being that if we don’t move, then we won’t be able to live together even after the wedding until we’ve exposed everything."
"Oh."
"Secondly, we are moving because my apartment has just two bedrooms."
She looked confused. "What does that have to do with this?"
His smile widened. "So if we’re planning to have a large family, and you want to start soon..."
Heat immediately flooded her cheeks. "Oh."
Stefan laughed. "Exactly."
A little while later, the car slowed.
Genevieve glanced outside. Then her eyes widened.
Tom’s house.
"What are we doing here?"
Stefan smiled. "This is your home for the time being. This is where you’ll be staying until after the wedding."
Genevieve stared at the house. Then back at him. For a moment, Genevieve simply stared at him.
"Really?"
Stefan looked entirely too pleased with himself. "Yeah. You’ll be staying with your family. They all thought it would be best."
Family.
The words hit her directly in the chest, and her vision blurred instantly.
Stefan’s smile softened, and he pulled her into his arms when a sob escaped before she could stop it.
"There it is."
Genevieve buried her face against his chest. "They want me here?"
Stefan rubbed her back gently. "Yes. It was their idea."
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "They really want me here?"
"Yes, baby. They do."
She cried harder.
The driver pretended very hard not to notice anything happening in the back seat.
"Are you sure you want to walk in there with your tears streaked face?" Stefan asked when the vehicle finally stopped in front of the building.
Genevieve quickly wiped her face.
Stefan watched with amusement. "Ready?"
Immediately, her stomach flipped.
"No." She took a deep breath. "I’m nervous."
Stefan raised an eyebrow. "Nervous?"
"Yes."
"You are nervous?"
"Yes."
Stefan shook his head. "For a long time, you’ve been talking about becoming part of the family. And now you are nervous?"
Genevieve slapped his arm. "You’re not helping."
Stefan laughed, then took her hand. "Come on. They’re waiting."
Together, they walked towards the front door.
Genevieve’s heart pounded harder with every step.
Stefan opened the door, then stepped aside. "After you."
Genevieve entered first. The moment she stepped into the living room, she froze.
"WELCOME HOME!" The loud cheer echoed through the house.
Her eyes widened when she saw them all.
Dawn, Jamal, Josh, Tom, Lucy, Harry, Jade, Grandpa Aaron and his wife, Delilah, and even Mari.
For a moment, she simply stood there, then a sob escaped. Immediately, she turned and buried her face against Stefan’s shoulder.
"You knew," she cried, while Stefan chuckled.
The room erupted into laughter.
"Aww," Mari giggled.
"I can’t believe she is crying already," Jade said with a laugh of her own.
Genevieve cried harder.
Then Josh spoke up. "Mommy?"
Everyone looked at Josh. His face was full of confusion.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Dawn asked.
Josh pointed. "Is that Genny?"
The room exploded into fresh laughter.
Dawn smiled. "Yes."
Josh’s eyes widened immediately, then he ran over to her.
"Genny!"
Genevieve turned to him immediately and bent down just in time to catch him.
Josh wrapped his small arms around her neck. "You look different."
Genevieve laughed through her tears as she hugged him tightly. "I know."
"I missed you," Josh said, kissing her cheek.
Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. "I missed you too."
When she finally released him, Dawn was standing beside them.
Immediately, they wrapped each other in a fierce embrace.
"So help me God," Dawn whispered shakily. "If you ever scare me like that again..."
Genevieve laughed through her tears.
Dawn hugged her tighter. "I’m happy you’re back."
Genevieve’s throat tightened. "Thank you."
Tom stepped forward next, with his arms wide open. A smile rested on his face. "We are happy to have you, Genevieve."
Genevieve stared at him. Then threw her arms around him.
Tom hugged her immediately. "We will talk some more later," he promised before stepping aside.
Lucy stepped forward next. Then Harry. Then Jade.
Each embrace chipped away at something lonely and broken inside her.
Not just her. At Stefan too, as he watched the acceptance scene, trying not to let it get to him.
Then Grandpa Aaron approached. He smiled warmly at her. "It is good to finally meet you properly. Thank you for making my boy happy. Now I hope you can stop looking behind and only look ahead."
Fresh tears filled Genevieve’s eyes. Before she could say anything, he embraced her.
Genevieve hugged him back.
Debbie hugged her next.
Then Delilah stepped forward. The smile on her face was bright as she pulled her into a fierce embrace.
"There you are, my beautiful girl," Delilah kissed her hair. "It is good to have you back, darling."
Genevieve smiled through her tears and hugged her tighter.
Then when she pulled away, Mari appeared, grinning at her. "Hey."
Genevieve laughed. "Hey."
As Mari hugged her, she whispered, "It’s good to have another bad bitch here. Emily and Dawn are too nice for their own good."
Genevieve laughed as Mari pulled away, and went to hug Stefan.
"Seeing how everyone has hugged you, I’m not sure whether or not I should. Plus, my girlfriend can be very jealous," Jamal said, earning him a playful glare from Dawn while everyone else laughed.
By now, Genevieve was crying and laughing so much that she barely knew what was happening anymore.
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