Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Missing Piece
The ride home from the airport had been quiet but not in a bad way. Fiona sat beside Alex in the backseat while Liam sat between them, happily munching on the cookie Margaret had given him.

She glanced around occasionally, trying to absorb everything. It felt strange but comforting—like something old but new. Though she didn’t know why she felt that way, she couldn’t help but think it was probably because of she was related to Alex by blood.

By the time they got to the house, it was already past noon. The soft aroma of seasoned rice and roasted chicken wafted through the air as soon as the door opened.

“I guess we’re right on time,” Emma smiled, getting in and stepping aside to let the rest people in. “From the aroma coming from the dinning, I think lunch is ready.”

Fiona blinked. “You made lunch before you came or what?”

Claire chuckled from behind them. “The chef and house help all helped. We knew you and Liam must be starving so we asked them to cook before we returned.”

Fiona gave them an appreciative smile while not knowing what to say to them since she wasn’t sure they’d like to hear her thank them over this.

“Thank you all for looking out for us even before knowing us,” she still said regardless while Claire waved it off.

“It’s nothing. C’mon, let’s go eat. I’m starving as well,” Margaret said, taking the words out of Claire’s and everyone nodded.

As they all gathered around the table, Fiona took a breath and sat down, her eyes scanning the warm setting. There were no fancy decorations, just a clean, welcoming home filled with laughter and familiar voices.

Liam had already made himself comfortable next to Margaret, who was helping him with his cutlery.

“You’re so nice,” he grinned up at her. “You remind me of my Grandma but she’s gone now.”

Margaret looked stunned for a second, but then her face softened as she smiled at him.

“I’m so sorry about that buddy,” she said, patting his head gently. “But if you want, you can call me Grandma too, you know?”

“Really?” Liam asked excitedly.

Fiona immediately turned not wanting to put Margaret in a difficult situation. “Liam, sweetie, you shouldn’t—”

But Margaret raised a hand quickly, still smiling. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. I’ve been looking at this little guy, and honestly, I already feel like he’s someone I could love as my own.”

Fiona’s chest tightened. Not from worry—but something else. Something she hadn’t let herself feel in a long time. Safety. Warmth. It had all died along with her mother when she died fighting cancer.

Claire began to talk as they ate, her tone light and full of little stories. “So, Fiona,” she said between bites, “I thought you might like to know a bit more about the family. You already know Alex, of course. But Emma’s the glue around here. And me—well, I’ve been like a second mother to us all. I even used to help raise Alex when he was brought into the Sterlings’ care the first time and couldn’t even speak or say his name,” Claire said and chuckled.

Fiona listened quietly, nodding along.

Claire continued, “Also, I can be a bit of a handful sometimes,” she winked. “But I’m learning to be better. And just so you know… you’re not a guest here. You’re family now. Margaret is my younger sister and she and Alex used to be on each other’s throat but we’ll, they’re more mature now and they know better now.”

Fiona looked around the table again. Emma smiled warmly, and Margaret gave a little nod. Even Liam seemed completely at home, giggling at something Margaret whispered to him.

“Its so nice to get to meet all of you and realize I have this huge family,” Fiona said and they all smiled.

“So, how did you learn about Alex?” Emma asked after sometime.

“It was the woman that took me in. After I got to ten, they told me I had a brother. Infact, I overheard my father telling her he saved the boy and took him to an Orphanage. My mom had been mad, asking why he didn’t bring the boy home but my father said he didn’t want to keep training someone else’s child. That having one was enough for him. After a few months, he died and my mother told me about you and the papers he saw in the car that seemed to be your report card. That was how he knew your name. My mother told me she’d look for you and adopt you too but then, when she went to the orphanage my dad talked about, they said you’ve already been adopted a few years back but your documents couldn’t be retrieved since they had burned in a fire that broke out at the Orphanage. I’ve been searching for you for over three years now. I stopped few months ago when my mom died. Never knew I’d get a response.”

They all listened as she told them all she knew and how Jake had contacted her, telling her he knew who she was searching for.

“I’m so glad we finally found our way back to each other after living our whole life apart,” Alex said, glad that Fiona had accepted him even before coming to Zeden just as Emma had said. All his fears had been for nothing and unnecessary.

“Yeah. I’m glad too,” Fiona said with a small smile.

After lunch, Emma stood up and said, “I’ll get some water.”

Fiona followed her quietly into the kitchen.

Emma handed her a glass. “You okay?”

Fiona nodded, but her eyes gave her away.

Emma leaned against the counter. “Don’t feel so uptight. Everyone genuinely loves having you here. I understand it’s all new to you now, but trust me, you’ll get used to it.”

Fiona looked down at the glass. “It just feels like… they’re all trying too hard to make me feel welcome. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. Probably because you didn’t grow up with them all.”

Fiona sighed and smiled softly. “I think it’s probably because they want you to feel welcome,” Emma said gently. “There’s nothing forced about this. Trust me, I’ve lived with them long enough to know when they’re pretending. And they’re not. Alex had been so anxious about you being upset when you see him so you can imagine how overwhelmed he must be feeling knowing you don’t even resent him and just wants to have a brother.”

Fiona gave a soft smile. “I understand. I totally do. Just that it’s a little overwhelming. Since my mom died, I’ve always thought it was Liam and me against the world. Now suddenly, there’s this big family…”

Emma stepped closer and touched her hand. “You don’t have to figure it all out today. But you are accepted, Fiona. You’re loved here because Alex loves you. You’re his sister. And honestly? He’s so happy to have someone who reminds him of where he came from.”

Fiona’s eyes grew misty. “He told me he doesn’t remember much about our parents. But the way he talks… you can feel how badly he wanted to.”

Emma nodded. “You’re that missing piece. That connection to the past he thought he’d never get back.”

Fiona let out a soft sigh. “I’ll try to get to know everyone properly. I just hope they’ve truly accepted me.”

Emma smiled and gave her a little hug. “They already have.”

Just then, a loud laugh came from the living room—Liam giggling at something Claire had said, Margaret chasing after him playfully. Fiona looked out toward them, a small, genuine smile forming on her face.

For the first time since her adoptive mother died, she felt something unexpected. Hope.

And maybe… just maybe, this place could be home too.