The Rejected Daughter

CHAPTER SEVEN

The morning sun crept lazily through the sheer curtains of the guest room, paintingsoft gold across the bedspread. Jade stirred slowly beneath the sheets, blinking against the light. The quiet in Kevin's house wasn't sterile like in the hospital, it felt good not to wake up to the hospital smell.

After a quick shower she dressed in the cloth spread out by the maid and padded down the stairs and hallway toward the dining room. Breakfast had already been laid out on the long marble table, warm toast, scrambled eggs, fruit and coffee that smelled like comfort itself.

Kevin was already there, scrolling through his tablet with one hand, sipping coffee with the other.

She took a deep breathe and exhaled loudly"Mmmm, smells delicious"

"Good morning" He greeted without looking up from his tablet.

She muttered an answer absentmindedly while staring at the breakfast with hungry eyes.

She had just finished her meal when two assistants, sharply dressed, entered the room and gave a respectful nod towards the two of them.

One of them turned to kevin, "Delivery's completed sir. Everything is the room sir."

Kevin gave a nod. and turned to Jade who was unaware of anything going on"Come on there's something you need to see"

Curious she followed him down the hall towards her room. When he opened the door, and led her to a closet she never knew was there, when he opened the door her breathe hitched. It was like walking into her own private shopping mall. The room had been transformed, racks of clothes were neatly arranged by color and style by the far wall. Elegant tops, casual loungewear, dresses, even shoes in ner size. A long vanity stood on one side, scattered with makeup she hadn't seen in forever. Beside it was a full length mirror. And then by the side there were books, stacks of them, everything she would need to study.

Jade stood by the doorway, eyes wide, one hand slowly rising to cover her mouth.

"I thought you meant abook or two" she whispered after finnaly forming words.

"I don't do things halfway" he shrugged casually"and i didn't know what kind of clothes you'd like-"

"So you got the whole store" she finished his words. She turned slowly in place, overwhelmed."There's enough clothes here to clothe a whole village".

"Thank you so much, Kevin" she said, a lump forming in her throat.

Jade spent the following week studying and, making friends with the maids in the house. And she and Kevin are closer friends now.

She also learnt about how Kevin was always neglected by both his mother aftrer the death of his father, how his mother's work had caused a drift in their relationship. She learnt about how he was raised alone by Linda the slightly aged housekeeper. Linda also told her how Kevin had refused to inherits his father's company and wealth and how he singlehandedly built and raised his own empire.

In a sunny afternoon, Jade was wandering around the house. she was looking curiously around the hous, exploring and getting away from her books. She paused near one of the smaller servent quarters, the door cracked open just enough to reveal a soft creak of a rocking chair. Peaking in she froze.

A young maid, Amara, sat in the corner in the corner of the small room, gently rocking a newborn baby wrapped in a pale blue blanket. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, dark circles under her eyes, and her whole body seemed tense with fear. The baby cooed quietly, little fists waving.

Jade stepped inside quietly."You have a baby?"

Amara's eyes widened when she saw Jade"Please Miss Jade don't tell Mr.Kevin. I just-I didn't know what he would say"

Jade smiled softly"Can I hold him"

Amara hesitated, then handed the baby over, Jade's expression melted."He's looks so cute"

She disappered for a few minutes and came back with him dressed in a cute tiger jumpsuit she had ordered online. She tapped him on the cheek and whispered"So cute"

She continued playing with him and Kevin found them like that, before he could ask her about the child, she stood and rushed to his side and gave him the child saying"Do you know she kept this cute baby hidden because she was scared of you"

Kevin gave a gentle nod to Amara"You don't need to him".

Amara exhaled, shoulders shaking with relief, she kept thanking him continously.

The baby let out a soft giggle in his arms, and the house felt warmer than ever