C22 22. The sister's arrival

ENDLESS NIGHTS

Chapter 22

**David Maynard**

📱"Hello, Officer," I began, injecting a note of urgency into my voice. "I hope you can assist me with a rather delicate issue. My aunt has just passed away; she's currently at the mortuary, and the circumstances surrounding her death are, unfortunately, shrouded in mystery. We have no identified suspect or any leads at this time. What I need from you is the fingerprints of anyone who might be linked to this tragedy. After you've gathered that information, I'd appreciate it if you could check for any surveillance cameras at the hospital. If there are none, I want to understand why they would not have such measures in place. Please prioritize this and get back to me as soon as possible."

"Understood, sir," came the officer's reply before the line went dead. I took a moment to brace myself, drawing in a deep breath before making my way to my car. As I approached, I saw Alessia, Mandy, and Bruno already seated inside, the atmosphere thick with the weight of our recent loss.

Bruno, ever the gentleman, made a move to open the door for me, but before he could reach it, I had already slipped inside the vehicle. Positioned in the front seat alongside me was Bruno, while Alessia and Mandy occupied the back.

"Can we go home now?" Bruno asked, a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Yeah, please take us to my house, not back to David's mansion," Alessia quickly interjected, her tone firm but laced with a hint of vulnerability.

"Bruno, let's head to my mansion," I countered, my voice authoritative and unwavering.

"No, Bruno! I mean, Sir Bruno, don't listen to David; please, just take us to my place," Alessia insisted, her eyes glistening with earnestness.

"Look, Bruno," I said, trying to assert my position. "I am your superior. I've made a decision-let's go back to the mansion."

Alessia responded with urgency, "You have to trust me, Bruno. I'm the girl he cares about; whatever I say should hold weight. Please, just drive us home."

Bruno's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of our conflicting demands. "Ma'am, I appreciate that, but David is my boss. It's my duty to follow his orders."

"But I'm the one he loves! That has to mean something, right? Just take us to my house," Alessia whispered, her voice low and loaded with emotion. I couldn't help but sneak a glance at her through the rearview mirror. She seemed resolute, and a flicker of admiration for her determination crossed my mind.

Bruno turned back to me, exasperated. "I'm confused now. David wants to go home, but Alessia doesn't. You're both giving me a headache! Just tell me: where are we driving?"

"Alessia's place," she proclaimed definitively.

"No, to my mansion," I reiterated, adamant.

Mandy, who had remained mostly silent until now, chimed in, "Can we please focus? My mother just passed away; can we show some respect for that?"

"Oh, right, of course," I conceded, a wave of guilt washing over me. "Bruno, let's take them home then."

"Now we're talking, sir. Let me take the wheel." With that, Bruno shifted into gear, and we drove toward Alessia's residence. The tension in the air began to dissipate as we sped through the streets, although the heaviness of our recent loss lingered in the atmosphere.

Before long, we arrived at Alessia's house. As the car came to a halt, Mandy swiftly exited, seeking solace inside their home. I turned to Alessia, wanting to reassure her.

"Thank you for everything you're doing. I really appreciate it, and I'm truly sorry for the expenses incurred for Aunt Gini's treatment."

"It's okay"

"I think the body will be released from the mortuary tomorrow, but we have this issue..."

"Go on. Share your troubles with me," I urged, leaning in slightly.

Alessia hesitated before continuing,

"We don't have the money to afford a coffin or the transport for her to the cemetery. I was hoping there might be a way to work this out."

"Leave it all to me," I assured her, my heart swelling with a protective instinct.

"Go home, take a moment to breathe. I'll be back tonight with Ariel. We'll spend the evening together; I want to comfort you both during this difficult time."

"Thank you, David," she said softly. "But you should really be with your family."

Bruno piped up, "He said he wants to be with you, Alessia. C'mon, just let him take care of you and stop worrying."

"Shut it, Bruno," I said, rolling my eyes good-naturedly.

"Well, I think I should head inside." Alessia opened her car door, but Bruno quickly reached out, grabbing her hand.

"Wait... not like that! David, come on, hug your girl first!"

"Bruno, what is wrong with you?" Alessia raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his outburst.

"Listen, David you maybe my boss, but we're friends when it comes to Alessia. Just do it, man. If you can't, I'll take matters into my own hands." Knowing Bruno as I did, I realized I had no way out. I stepped out of the car, pulled Alessia into an embrace, and whispered,

"You can ignore Bruno; he may be my favorite bodyguard, but he's just looking out for my happiness. I've been alone for far too long, so he's glad I've finally found someone worth caring for."

"I get that. Thank you so much for everything, but please don't feel obligated to come back," she responded, her tone soft yet resolute.

"No, I'm definitely coming back-and I'll be bringing someone special."

"Special someone?" she echoed, the intrigue flickering in her eyes. The curiosity was evident, and I knew she couldn't resist finding out who it was.

"Fine, you can come" she relented, acquiescing with a smile. I planted a gentle kiss on her forehead before returning to the car.

As I settled back into my seat, Bruno couldn't help but chime in,

"By the way, she is undoubtedly beautiful."

"Absolutely, she is! Speaking of which, why don't we head over to the airport to give a warm welcome to Nomsa? It's been far too long since she's been around. And later tonight, don't fret, I'll take both Nomsa and Ariel to Alessia's place for the night. We'll be crashing there, just like old times," I assured him, my enthusiasm bubbling over.

"But wait, are you saying that Nomsa won't be staying at the mansion? I mean, she just arrived! Surely, she should spend some quality time with the family first," Bruno asked, his eyebrows knitting together in concern.

I couldn't suppress my teasing impulse any longer. "Bruno, are you trying to tell me you're developing a crush on my sister?" I teased, noting the hesitation and secrecy in his voice as if he were guarding some delightful secret.

We made our way to the airport, the anticipation swirling between us like the crisp autumn leaves blown by the breeze. Bruno and I were the only ones in the know about Nomsa's surprise arrival, an exhilarating secret we were about to unveil. As soon as she spotted me, a gleeful shout escaped her lips, and she dashed toward me like a bolt of lightning, enveloping me in a warm, exuberant hug.

"It's been far too long, sweet brother! How have you been holding up?" she exclaimed, a radiant smile lighting up her face.

"I'm doing well, gorgeous sister. You have been sorely missed!" I replied, returning her embrace with equal fervor.

"Dee! Oh, I've missed you so much," she said before turning to Bruno, giving him a warm welcome with a hug that lingered longer than necessary. It was a heartwarming sight, one that displayed her kind spirit, as she always had an affinity for connecting with everyone. Yet, the exchange between them felt charged-an energy that even a five-month-old would recognize as something deeper than mere friendship.

"Bruno! I can't believe how much I've missed you!" she breathed out, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"I've missed you too, Nomsa," he replied, his voice steady despite the emotions flitting across his face.

I leaned in closer, my curiosity piqued. "Nomsa, you're my sister, and Bruno, you're one of my favorite people. Surely, you can't keep secrets from me. What's brewing between the two of you?" I inquired, half-joking, half-serious. Bruno fell silent, taken aback by the implication.

Nomsa glanced at him knowingly before saying,

"Bruno, could you help me with these bags? Let's head to the car-it's time for me to share everything," she suggested, her tone hinting at an imminent revelation. We navigated through the bustling airport and made our way to the car, Bruno in the front seat, while Nomsa and I took the back.

With an air of excitement, Nomsa broke the silence. "Brother, Bruno and I are in love," she announced, her voice trembling with part eagerness, part fear.

"What?" I gasped, hardly able to believe my ears.

"Shhh, let me explain! I was petrified that if I told you, you would fire him. You know how mother is-Mrs. Katie is notoriously harsh. I didn't want to spark any drama, so I kept this secret from you and the family. But I need you to know, I am madly in love with Bruno."

Her words hung in the air, surprising me in the best way possible. "Well, that's... unexpected," I stammered, searching for the right way to respond. "Where my heart is concerned, I wish you both nothing but the best."

Bruno glanced at me, his expression a mixture of relief and disbelief. "Are you seriously supporting my relationship with your sister?" he asked, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes.

"Totally! But just keep it under wraps for now. If Mrs. Katie finds out, it won't end well. My dad is easygoing, but our mother... she's the core of the headaches in this family," I cautioned.

"Oh, I'm aware. Speaking of surprises, did you tell me about that girl your mother brought home?" Nomsa chimed in, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, it's a girl named Pinky; she's not really my type, though. My heart, as I mentioned, belongs to someone else."

"Can I meet her? Remember my birthday invitation?" Nomsa asked, clearly excited.

"Unfortunately, I've got some sad news. Her aunt just passed away, and she's in a lot of pain right now. I doubt she would want to join us tonight," I replied, a somber mood settling over me.

"That's awful! But I still want to help," Nomsa declared wholeheartedly. "Let's get everyone together-the four of us: you, Bruno, me, and Ariel. We can go visit her, support her, and spend the night with them."

"Of course, I'm all in," I agreed, grateful for her compassion.

Once we got home, the atmosphere transformed as Mrs. Katie spotted her daughter. With an ecstatic shriek, she rushed forward, enveloping Nomsa in a tight embrace, joy radiating from both of them.

"Where's Ariel, and where is my stepfather?" Nomsa asked, breaking apart from the warm reunion.

"Ariel's upstairs," I replied, satisfied to see her light up.

**Alessia**

Suddenly, I stirred awake amidst whispers of a significant conversation.

"Alessia, I need to talk to you," Mandy's voice reached my ears, soft yet urgent. As I opened my eyes, I saw her standing beside my bed, tears streaking her cheeks.

"Mandy, please, it's all right. No need to cry," I said, my voice soothing and gentle.

"No, it's not okay. I'm not crying about my mother. I'm crying because of how I treated you in the hospital. I deeply regret it. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but please believe me when I say that I'm truly sorry."

I sat up, instinctively opening my arms to her. "It's okay. Let's put the past behind us. We all make mistakes," I whispered, as I wrapped her in a comforting embrace.

"Thank you for being so understanding," she murmured against my shoulder.

"Nothing to thank me for. By the way, David and Ariel are coming tonight, so let's clean up and get ready for their arrival," I added, hoping to lift her spirits.

"They're really coming? Wow! Mr. Maynard is one of the humblest billionaires I've ever met. He's leaving behind his mansion and all that wealth just to spend time in this cozy little home with us?" Mandy marveled.

Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming call, interrupting the moment.

"Wait a second-it's Ethan," I said as I answered the phone.

"Hello, Ethan? What's up?"

"Hello, my love, my sweetheart, my queen, standwa sami, the mother of my unborn child," he responded in a teasing tone. "My mother is coming. It might be time for you to meet your future mother-in-law!"

And just like that, the threads of our lives intertwined with joy, anticipation, and unexpected revelations. Little did we know how that night would unfold, but with hearts wide open, we were all ready to embrace what was to come.

To be continued...