Chapter 553 Only Have Eyes for You
In the kitchen, Valencia had prepared a hearty breakfast, making it more elaborate now that there was an extra person in the house.
Phoenix sat across from Aurelia, his gaze darting between Dominic and Aurelia, mentally overlaying their faces—the resemblance was undeniably striking.
What were the odds that Aurelia would turn out to be his actual sister? He forced himself to mentally shift gears, his cheeks burning with embarrassment over his previous feelings for her.
Perhaps his former attraction had simply been to that face so similar to Dominic's?
Lost in thought, Phoenix absently picked up a sausage from the plate, but before he could transfer it to his bowl, a sharp rap on his knuckles made him freeze.
"That sausage is for Aurelia," Dominic said sternly.
Phoenix glanced at Aurelia and meekly returned the sausage, reaching instead for the scrambled eggs. But Dominic tossed the touched sausage into his bowl with a dismissive flick. "You've already handled it—who else is going to eat it now?"
Phoenix's heart sank. Had he already fallen from grace? Was he the unwanted stepchild now?
Just as self-pity began to creep in, Aurelia pushed the sausage plate toward him with an encouraging nod. Warmth flooded through him.
As breakfast wound down, Dominic set down his fork. "Clear your schedule for today. We're going to the hospital to see your other sister."
Phoenix nearly choked on his bite of sausage, staring at Dominic in bewilderment. "Dad, I have another sister?"
"Brenda had twins. You have two sisters."
Phoenix swallowed hard, looking at Dominic with newfound awe before tentatively asking, "Could I possibly go another day? I have a shoot scheduled—"
"Absolutely not," Dominic cut him off.
And so Phoenix found himself whisked away to the hospital before he'd even finished breakfast, bound for a meeting with Burry.
In the hospital room, Burry had just finished taking her medication under the nurse's watchful eye, looking considerably frailer than she had weeks before.
When Aurelia entered with Dominic and Phoenix, Burry was arranging small bottles of perfume she'd created during healthier times.
"Burry, how are you feeling today?" Aurelia asked gently.
Burry straightened her hospital gown. "I'm managing, I suppose."
What more could someone awaiting death expect?
Her gaze moved past Aurelia to the two men behind her—the older one watching her with tear-filled eyes, seemingly struggling for words.
"Burry, this is Dad, and our younger brother," Aurelia explained.
Burry blinked in shock. She had a father and brother?
Seeing her bewilderment, Aurelia added, "I'll explain everything later."
Dominic gazed at the skeletal figure in the hospital bed—so young, yet so ravaged by illness—and tears streamed down his face. "Burry, I'm so sorry I'm late."
Burry struggled to sit up. An orphan her entire life, she'd never imagined finding family in her final days, never dreamed she actually had a father.
"Dad," she whispered hoarsely.
Dominic rushed forward, grasping her frail hand, his eyes brimming with anguish.
Aurelia had briefed him on Burry's condition during the drive, but seeing her disease-ravaged body firsthand left him speechless with grief.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he promised.
That same day, Dominic dragged Phoenix along for bone marrow testing.
Joe rushed back from Imperick, arriving at the hospital after the procedures were complete.
The revelation that Dominic was Aurelia and Burry's biological father had stunned him. When the blood work had come back identifying Dominic, Joe had been genuinely troubled. If it had been some ordinary person, he could have offered financial incentives as leverage.
But Dominic lacked nothing—what could possibly serve as currency for negotiation? Ironically, his worldwide search for answers had led him straight to Aurelia and Burry's father.
In the following days, Aurelia took Dominic to visit Brenda's grave. He cleared his less urgent commitments and made daily hospital visits.
The wait for test results stretched endlessly, everyone silently dreading a repeat of the previous disappointment, afraid to voice their fears while privately praying for good news.
Aurelia buried herself in work. The collaborative design with the Heilbronn Group had been finalized and sent to production.
Marcus had recently given her complete autonomy over the Heilbronn Group's design department, leaving her overwhelmed but determined.
At least there was encouraging news from the rehabilitation center—Nathaniel hadn't experienced any episodes recently and could return home after another week of observation.
Anticipating his homecoming, Aurelia began preparing the house. She replaced all the curtains and furniture, arranged fresh toiletries in his usual spots, and bought new bedroom and study furniture.
She wanted his return to mark a fresh beginning, hoping to eliminate any triggers for painful memories.
Soon, their family of five would finally be whole.
Nathaniel's homecoming coincided with the launch event for Karma Jewelry and the Heilbronn Group's collaboration. Surrounded by reporters, Aurelia fielded questions while scanning the crowd. "Ms. Semona, what's the significance behind this jewelry collection?"
She spotted Nathaniel among the faces—thinner after two months away, his hair shorter, but still impeccably dressed and radiating quiet confidence.
Meeting his gaze, she replied, "When you see only each other, it represents love's devotion and exclusivity."
The audience murmured appreciatively before another reporter pressed forward. "Will the Heilbronn Group and Karma Jewelry merge?"
"No merger is planned, but we anticipate many future collaborations," Aurelia answered diplomatically.
Her employees buzzed with excitement, someone calling out, "Ms. Semona, any chance of collaborating with Skye?"
After handling the press, Aurelia returned to her office to find Nathaniel lounging in her chair.
"I thought you weren't being released until noon. I planned to finish the launch and pick you up myself," she said, slightly disappointed at missing his release.
Nathaniel extended his hand, pulling her into his lap. "I couldn't wait any longer to see you. I requested early release, and Zack picked me up."
What he didn't say was how grateful he felt to have returned in time to witness her moment of triumph, radiant and successful.
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