Falling For The True Heiress

I smiled and gave a small nod.

"Better."

Sylvia’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. She leaned across the center console and pressed a loud kiss to my cheek.

"Mwah."

"So cute."

Then she settled back into her seat as if she hadn’t just kissed me out of nowhere.

Heat rushed straight to my face.

I could feel my ears burning.

Sylvia watched the color spread across my cheeks, her smile growing wider by the second.

"Aww..." she teased softly. "My little baby tomato."

I turned to her with a fake glare, though the corners of my lips refused to stay down.

"Who are you calling, baby tomato?"

She only laughed, completely unbothered.

"You."

I clicked my tongue and looked away, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"You’re impossible."

"Hmm." She rested her chin against her palm, still looking at me. "Maybe."

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence.

The city lights drifted by outside the windows until the hospital finally came into view.

I slowed the car, drove into the parking lot, and pulled into an empty space.

The engine quieted as I turned it off. For a moment, neither of us moved.

I stared at the hospital building through the windshield and let out a slow breath.

It had been a long day.

I reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt before turning toward Sylvia.

She was already looking at me.

I smiled. "Your turn."

She glanced down at the seatbelt, then back at me before slowly shaking her head.

"No."

I blinked.

"No?"

She smiled innocently. "You do it."

I laughed. "Are you five?"

"No."

She leaned back comfortably against the seat and pointed at herself. "I’m your baby."

I sighed dramatically, though I couldn’t stop smiling.

"You really know how to get your way."

"I learned from the best."

I shook my head and leaned across the center console.

The faint scent of her perfume wrapped around me as I reached toward the buckle beside her waist.

Just as my fingers brushed it—

She turned her head and her soft lips met mine.

My eyes widened in surprise.

The kiss lasted only a heartbeat before she pulled away with the most innocent expression imaginable.

I stared at her. "...Seriously?"

She tilted her head. "What?"

I sat back in my seat and pointed at her.

"You’re taking advantage of me."

She looked entirely pleased with herself.

"I am."

She reached down, pressed the buckle herself, and the seatbelt released with a soft click.

"I never said I wasn’t."

She opened the passenger door and climbed out before I could answer.

I stayed exactly where I was, staring at the empty seat she’d left behind.

A helpless smile spread across my face.

"This woman..."

I rubbed my forehead with a quiet laugh.

"She’s unbelievable."

Still smiling, I grabbed my keys and climbed out of the car.

The cool evening breeze brushed against my face.

I locked the car.

Beep.

The headlights flashed once before fading.

When I looked up again, Sylvia was already a few steps ahead, walking toward the hospital entrance with her hands tucked into her pockets as if she hadn’t just stolen a kiss.

I laughed under my breath. "Hey."

She glanced back over her shoulder.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I shook my head, smiling to myself as I caught up beside her. "I was just thinking..."

"What?"

I slipped my hand into hers, intertwining our fingers. "I really love you."

The teasing smile on her face softened instantly.

She squeezed my hand. "I know."

Then, with that familiar grin returning to her lips, she bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. "And I love taking advantage of you."

I groaned dramatically. "I knew you were going to say that."

She laughed, and we walked through the hospital’s sliding doors.

We walked into the hospital side by side.

The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and the familiar scent of antiseptic washed over us. Nurses moved quietly through the lobby, their shoes clicking softly against the polished floor, while muted conversations drifted through the air.

Without saying a word, we headed for the staircase.

The climb felt longer than usual. My heartbeat grew louder with every step.

When we reached the second floor, we turned into the corridor leading to Dad’s room.

I slowed outside the familiar door. Sylvia glanced at me before raising her hand.

Knock!

Knock!

Knock!

She waited a second before gently pushing the door open.

She stepped inside first, and I followed close behind.

Dad was sitting upright in bed, smiling at something Mom had just said.

For a second...

I forgot how to breathe.

He looked... like Dad.

Not the fragile image that had haunted my thoughts every night since the accident.

Just...

Dad.

"Dad..."

My voice broke before I even realized I’d spoken.

I rushed toward him without thinking.

"Dad!"

Both of them turned toward me at the same time.

Dad’s eyes widened before a smile spread across his face.

"Oh, easy there," he laughed.

I didn’t slow down. I threw my arms around him, and the tears I’d been holding back spilled over before I could stop them.

Despite the IV still connected to the back of his hand, he wrapped his free arm tightly around me without hesitation.

"My baby girl..." he murmured softly. His voice was warm.

I buried my face against his shoulder, crying even harder.

I had missed him.

I had missed his voice.

His hugs.

His smile.

Everything.

Sylvia walked over to the bedside with a gentle smile.

"Dad."

Dad looked up over my shoulder and smiled even wider.

"So..."

He chuckled softly.

"Looks like my girls really did miss me."

I nodded against his shoulder before finally pulling back just enough to look at him.

"I missed you so much."

"So, so much."

Dad smiled warmly. He reached up and gently brushed away the tears clinging to my cheeks with his thumb.

"I know. I missed you both too."

His voice was softer than usual, but hearing it again made my chest tighten.

Mom laughed softly from her chair beside the bed.

"Well..."

"I guess I’m invisible now."

Sylvia laughed and walked over to her. She crouched beside Mom’s chair before resting her chin lightly against her knee.

"Not at all, Mom. We missed you too."

Mom smiled fondly and ran her fingers through Sylvia’s hair. "I’ll pretend I believe you."

Their laughter filled the room, warm and light.

My attention drifted back to Dad. Fresh tears blurred my vision all over again.

After the accident...

I hadn’t heard his voice. I hadn’t seen his smile.

There had been days when I wondered if I’d ever get to hear him laugh again.

But now...

He was here.

Smiling at me with those same gentle eyes.

The same smile I’d spent my childhood running toward. The same smile that had always made everything feel safe.

My chest tightened.

This...

This was all I had wanted.

This had to be one of the happiest days of my life...

Even if I’d managed to upset my best friend along the way.

I stepped closer again and wrapped my arms around Dad one more time. This time, I held him a little tighter.

Almost like I was afraid that if I let go...

He might disappear again.

Dad laughed quietly and rubbed slow circles against my back.

"I’m right here."

His voice was barely above a whisper. "I’m not going anywhere."

I closed my eyes.

For the first time in days...

I believed him.

Dad looked toward Sylvia and patted the empty space beside him.

"Come here." He smiled warmly. "Let me hug you too."

"I’ve missed you."

Sylvia’s smile softened. Without another word, she walked over and leaned down, wrapping her arms around him as gently as if she were afraid of hurting him.

Dad hugged her back with the same warmth.

"My other daughter."

His words made Sylvia’s eyes shine. She smiled but didn’t trust herself to speak.

For a long moment, none of us said anything.

We didn’t have to.

The room was filled with quiet laughter, happy tears, and the kind of peace that only came from having the people you loved right beside you.

For the first time since the accident...

Home didn’t feel like a place.

It felt like this.

Just then—

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

"Come in," Mom called, glancing toward the door.

The handle turned, and the door opened quietly.

A man stepped inside, closing it behind him with a soft click.

I reluctantly loosened my hold on Dad and turned to look.

Mr. Matt.

He gave us all a respectful nod before walking toward Dad’s bed, a black leather briefcase tucked neatly beneath his arm.

He stopped beside the bed and straightened his posture.

"Chairman."

He held out the briefcase. "The documents you requested."

Dad looked at the briefcase for only a moment before his gaze shifted to Mom.

"Give it to my wife."

"Yes, Chairman."

Without hesitation, Mr. Matt turned and offered the briefcase to Mom instead.

She accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Matt."

"My pleasure, ma’am."

He bowed his head respectfully before stepping back, quietly waiting in case Dad needed anything else.

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