Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE: POPPY

✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧

“Hey, babe.” Chloe greeted me with a wide smile as she entered my office, carrying a pizza box. Her engagement ring was prominently displayed on her finger.

Mom picked it out when I was buying the ring. I took her along because I had no clue about rings and Chloe’s preferences. To ensure she’d love it, I let Mom make the decision since they both share the same taste.

“Hey.” I rose from my chair with a smile and went to meet her. As we stood face to face, she leaned in to kiss my cheek. I’d grown accustomed to this over the past two weeks since we got officially engaged. During this time, she’d frequently visit me at the office after her shift at Herald Enterprise, making time for us to bond. She’s a finance manager there, so her schedule is as packed as mine. We only get to go on dates during the weekends.

“Take a seat. I’ll get some coffee ready for us,” I said, guiding her to the couch in the middle of my office.

“I like your secretary. She’s really nice,” Chloe commented once she was seated. I smiled and nodded in agreement before turning to look at Colleen through the glass wall. Colleen caught my signal immediately and understood I wanted coffee for two.

I sat down in front of Chloe as she opened the pizza box she had brought. I watched her intently. She was smiling, as she always did. Since our engagement, I hadn’t seen her frown even once. She was always happy, especially when we were together. It was clear that she genuinely liked me; her actions made that undeniable. However, I couldn’t help but wonder why she never mentioned having a sibling. And why, in all the news and magazines I’d read about the Herald family, was she always referred to as their only child?

Ever since Hope mentioned it to me that night at the engagement party, I had wanted to ask Chloe about it. But I held back, thinking she might bring it up herself, given that we were engaged and would soon be married. Yet, in the two weeks that have passed, she hadn’t said a word about it, and I wondered why.

I had overheard some people earlier saying that Chloe’s younger sibling was supposedly abroad. But then others mentioned that she might actually be here in the country. Hope’s words came back to me.

“Thank you, Colleen,” Chloe said with a wide smile as my secretary served us coffee. I hadn’t even noticed Colleen’s entrance, so absorbed was I in my thoughts.

“You’re welcome,” Colleen replied with a smile before she excused herself.

Once Chloe and I were alone in my office again, she started sharing the details of her day as we enjoyed the pizza she had brought. I listened quietly, occasionally nodding and smiling when she did, just to let her know I was engaged in the conversation.

"By the way," she shifted the topic after a while, "Mom and Dad would love to have you over again for some conversation. If you're free this weekend, we could have dinner with them. Would that be okay?"

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Mm, let's do that. I didn’t get to chat with them much at the party since they were so busy with the guests."

Chloe stayed in my office for over an hour. When she noticed the time, she decided to leave on her own. I offered to drive her, but she declined, saying she had her own car and it was better for me to get back to my work. She seemed a bit embarrassed when she realized she had occupied my time for an hour.

"That's alright, Chloe. You're my fiancé, so I should definitely make time for you," I replied as we headed out of my office. I accompanied her to the exit and instructed Colleen to see her to the lobby.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

It was past eight in the evening when Hope, Love, and I finally got home. Our cars lined up in the driveway in a row. We had all come from different places earlier: Love from Lee University, Hope from Lee Entertainment, and I from Lee Company. When I mentioned in our group chat, DNA BUDDIES, that I’d be late for dinner at home, Hope decided to work overtime and wait for me so we could eat out together. Once Love saw the message, he also replied that he’d extend his time in the lab so we could all go together. So, we ended up having dinner out together and coming home at the same time. I guess that’s what it’s like when you share the same sperm—can't live without each other.

“What can I bring for Chloe’s parents on Saturday?” I asked as we settled into the living room. We hadn’t changed yet, but we went straight there when we saw Mom and Dad. I mentioned that I’d be visiting Chloe’s mansion on Saturday.

Love answered first. “Get them flowers.”

“And pastries,” Mom suggested with a smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll bake something for them.” She and Love were the only ones giving suggestions since Hope was absorbed in his phone. Good thing too, because I knew he wouldn’t have a decent suggestion.

“How’s Chloe?” Dad asked.

I told them about Chloe’s visit to the company earlier that day. I was glad to see that they were treating Chloe well during our engagement party. Although Chloe hasn’t been to our home yet, they always check in to see how we’re doing with each other.

Mom turned to me with a smile. “Since you’ll be visiting them, next time, make sure to tell Chloe to come over here too.”

I nodded. “Mm, I will.”

Suddenly, our attention shifted to Hope as he spoke. His eyes were still fixed on his phone screen. “Uncle Ryan, he’s such a weakling,” Hope said.

“Why?” Dad asked.

Hope looked up from his phone, first at Dad. “I asked him if he knew anything about the younger sister of my soon-to-be sister-in-law. He said he didn’t. Maybe his antenna is down or he’s using a tin can for a signal. He might need to do some serious signal searching.” He chuckled. “Next time I see him, I’m going to spin him around until he’s so dizzy he might accidentally stumble into some information!”

Love Andrei rolled his eyes at Hope. “So that’s why you’ve been so quiet lately—you’re on a gossip hunt. For a grown man, Hope, when are you ever going to grow up? When will you start acting normal?”

Hope chuckled before responding. “I can’t change. You know I’m the family’s happy virus! If I went all normal, our family would be boring, I’m telling you.”

“Virus?” Summer suddenly popped up, now in her pajamas and carrying her iPad. “No wonder you look like Ebola.” She gave Hope a playful glare and snuggled up to Mommy.

We all burst into laughter, not just because of Summer’s sharp comment but because of the way Hope’s face contorted in annoyance. He loved teasing Summer, but Summer had a knack for hitting his soft spots with her comebacks.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

SATURDAY.

I carried two bouquets of flowers, with a maid helping me manage the box of chocolate chips and butterscotch bars baked by Mom to bring to Chloe. The maid also guided me into the mansion. As soon as we entered, Chloe greeted me warmly, followed closely by her parents, all of them smiling. Chloe was the first to kiss my cheek as we got closer. I handed one bouquet to her and the other to her mother.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Herald," I greeted. Chloe’s mom gave me a warm smile, while her father and I exchanged handshakes. They led me straight to the dining room since it was dinner time, suggesting we chat there while we ate.

The table was already set with a delicious spread when we sat down. Chloe’s mom took the lead in conversation, asking about my parents and my job at Lee Company. I managed to answer all their questions fairly well, despite feeling a bit nervous.

We were halfway through the meal when I glanced around, trying to catch another glimpse of Poppy. I wasn’t sure who she was or what her role was in the mansion. Based on what I saw of her outfit the night of our engagement, she probably worked as a maid here.

"How many housemaids do you have here?" I asked, unable to help myself.

"Five, babe," Chloe answered.

Five. Yes, I remembered seeing five maids in uniform at the party. So it was possible that one of them could be Poppy’s mother.

"Why do you ask?" Chloe inquired.

I snapped back to reality and met her gaze. "Oh, I met a girl here during our engagement party. She looked quite young, and I thought she might be one of the housemaids."

"A girl?" Chloe furrowed her brow, and her parents turned their attention to me as well.

"Uh, yeah. Her name is Poppy."

Mrs. Herald suddenly coughed, and her husband quickly handed her a glass of water. I watched her intently. After she recovered and dabbed her mouth, she looked up at me again, her gaze shifting briefly between me and Chloe, who was sitting next to me.

"Poppy, you say?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Where did you meet her?"

"At our engagement party," I replied. "She was trying to approach the buffet table. She seemed shy and hesitant, so I helped her with her food."

"Babe." I turned to Chloe as she gently rubbed my back, a faint smile on her face. "Um, actually, Poppy... she's my younger sister."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What?"

Suddenly, the image of Poppy from that night came rushing back to me. Given her appearance and demeanor, it never crossed my mind that she could be Chloe's sister. I actually thought she might be a maid’s child because of her unkempt look—worn clothes, old slippers, and untidy hair. And now Chloe is telling me that Poppy is her younger sister? If that’s the case, why wasn’t she introduced to us at the party?