Chapter 4 Big Brother

The rear left window of the Rolls-Royce rolled down soundlessly.

Avery McAllister's handsome, dark-eyed face peered out. "Get in."

The door lock popped open.

Darya hunched her shoulders and climbed into the backseat obediently.

She laid her head on the lap of her big brother and finally allowed the tears to come.

"There, there." Avery stroked her back the way he might soothe a kitten.

At a nod from him, the chauffeur quietly started the car.

"I was so stupid," Darya sobbed. "So, so stupid. And blind."

"We all make mistakes, honey. I knew you'd come to your senses eventually."

Just didn't expect it would take three years, he thought.

Darya wiped her tears on her big brother's tailored trousers and straightened up. "Thank you for coming to pick me up. I hope I didn't pull you out of an important meeting."

As the oldest son of the McAllister family, Avery was currently serving as president of the family business.

The Paragon Group had its humble start in retail and, through four generations, gradually expanded to have a finger in every pie worth having.

It had offices in over twenty cities, six countries.

Avery had cut short an acquisitions meeting this morning after he received a long-awaited text from his sister.

"Anything for my princess, Dolly."

"Don't call me that," she protested. "It makes me sound like a three-year-old with a Barbie doll."

"Which, at one point in time, you were."

"That was like decades ago."

Avery just patted her head and smiled indulgently at his kid sister.

"And thanks for tracing the photo for me."

"It just took a couple of calls." With the pad of his thumb, Avery wiped away the tears on Darya's cheeks.

"I've missed you." The simple, brotherly act of affection brought on a fresh wave of tears.

"As have I, Dolly. We've all missed you."

Darya threw herself into her brother's arms again. "I've been such a fool. You told me not to do it. Dad told me not to do it. Everyone else told me not to do it. I should've listened."

"Better late than never," Avery said mildly. "So I take it you've severed ties with the Cavanaugh man?"

Darya nodded. "The divorce papers are making their way to the courthouse as we speak."

"So you are no longer Darya Miller?"

"That name's as good as dead and buried now. I'm back to being Darya McAllister."

"Welcome back, princess."

He kissed her forehead and shook his head as he took in her pallid face and puffy eyes.

"I've said this before, and I think it bears repeating-he's not good enough for you, Dolly. You deserve so much better."

"I know that now." She touched the crook of her left arm, which still throbbed painfully now and then. "Found out to my cost."

"You've always been a hard-headed one." Avery tapped a fingertip against her nose. "Just had to find out for yourself. You've got a blind spot when it comes to that Cavanaugh man."

"The blinkers are off now, I promise. No more Stubborn Dolly. From now onwards, I'm going to be Smart Dolly-the one who listens to her family and makes smart, informed decisions."

"Does that start with you returning to the fold?"

"You mean back to the company?" Darya pouted. "I've just ended a long, soul-crushing relationship. I thought I'd earned a couple of days to sulk and wallow in self-pity."

"Work is the best antidote to sorrow, honey."

"And I know you actually believe that." Darya shook her head, amazed.

Avery was the workaholic in the family.

And the worrier.

Though Avery had kept his promise and stayed away from Darya for the past three years, he'd been keeping tabs on her remotely, as big brothers were wont to do.

He hadn't approved of her decision to assume an indigent identity in order to get close to Micah Cavanaugh.

In the metropolis of Hagen, the McAllisters were the uncrowned royalty.

Darya was supposed to live the life of a princess, not a pauper.

She should have had people wait on her hand and foot-not the other way around.

But Darya had been young and a little naïve back then.

She'd made an error in judgment, mistakenly believed Micah Cavanaugh was what she wanted, and was willing to throw away everything she owned to go after her dream.

The more her family objected, the more she dug in her heels.

Until she practically ran away from home and started living under a different name.

Luckily, that rebellious phase had finally passed.

Avery smiled as he thought of the dozen ways he had in mind to celebrate his kid sister's return.

Dad would be thrilled.

Darya looked out the tinted window as the car left the hospital.

She'd said goodbye to her failed marriage.

It was time to get back to her life.

"You are right," she declared. "Work might actually help."

"But first, a celebration." Avery handed her a tablet. "Pick a restaurant."

"Your treat?"

"My treat."

Darya planted a kiss on her brother's clean-shaven cheek. "Thanks!"

***

Micah came out of the ward after a team of doctors (Patel excluded) examined Regina and assured him she'd just passed out.

He pulled out his phone, stared at the name onscreen, drummed a finger against his pant leg, and finally hit *Call.*

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable. Please try again later."

He called a different number and issued instructions.

Elliott reported back fifteen minutes later. "Sorry, boss, we can't find any sign of Miss Miller on the premises."

The assistant's use of Darya's surname suddenly irked Micah.

But then, he was the one who had ordered his men not to address her as *Mrs. Cavanaugh.*

Their marriage had simply been another kind of transaction.

Deals came to an end; contracts expired.

So why should he get agitated now?

Micah wasn't one to indulge in excessive contemplation.

All he knew was, he didn't want Darya to just disappear on him like that.

So he had to find her.