Chapter 5 Win Her Over

After getting out of the car, Richard hurried toward the front door. It was drizzling outside. His assistant tried to hold an umbrella for him, but he waved it away.

When Aria saw Richard return, she figured Lucas had tipped him off, which likely meant her brother's project was delayed again.

Her expression darkened, and she shot a furious glare at Sunny.

Richard looked at Sunny, clearly in disbelief. He stumbled forward and gently cupped her face with trembling hands. "Sunny?" he called out.

Now, Grandpa was just in his early forties, maintaining the lean build of his youth. There was no trace of middle-aged paunchiness. A touch of silver at the temples only added to his sharp and dashing features. His eyes, eagle-like, sparkled with vitality.

Young Grandpa is seriously handsome.

No wonder the Wilson family genes are so strong-clearly started with him.

In a daze, she softly called out, "Grandpa."

Richard's eyes filled with tears, but a smile lit up his face. Excitedly, he said, "Yes! This is my silly girl Sunny! It's her!"

Lucas chuckled. "Told you! I recognized her right away!"

Immersed in the joy of his lost daughter being found, Richard didn't even register Lucas calling himself "Old Man" again-on any other day, he'd have kicked him for it.

Richard pulled Sunny down to sit on the couch. "Sunny, tell Dad, how did you come back? How have you been all these years?"

Sunny had no idea how to answer. She didn't want to pretend to be her aunt-she just wanted her dad and grandpa to know the truth.

But the truth sounded like a sci-fi fairy tale. No one would believe it.

"Um... Grandpa, I'm Sunny. I'm your granddaughter-his daughter." She pointed at Lucas.

Lucas raised his brows, clearly used to her calling him "Dad" so affectionately.

Richard laughed heartily and tapped her nose. "Yes, this is Sunny. There's no one else in the world quite as silly as this girl."

Sunny, "..."

So this is what it feels like to be unable to explain yourself.

Seeing that Richard had fully accepted the girl as his daughter, Aria changed her tune instantly. She came over warmly and took Sunny's hand.

"Oh, look at me! I almost didn't recognize Sunny after so long!"

Aria looked at her with faux affection, caressing her face. "You must've suffered so much out there all these years. My poor girl."

Sunny didn't really respond, while Lucas rolled his eyes so hard they almost hit the ceiling.

Even Sichuan opera face changes weren't this fast.

Aria clearly wanted to perform some "maternal love" in front of Richard. She held Sunny's hand tightly. "Do you remember who I am?"

"Sure. Stepmom."

Lucas let out a loud "Pfft!" of laughter, and even Richard burst out laughing.

Aria's face, however, darkened instantly.

The word "step" in "stepmom" was a constant reminder-even this "fool" knew she wasn't the real mother.

But Aria was always quick to recover. Her expression softened as she hugged Sunny. "I'm your mother. Call me Mom, won't you?"

Sunny was almost choked by her strong perfume. She pushed her away in disgust.

Seeing Sunny's clear aversion to Aria, Richard frowned. "Enough. She has her own mother. Don't confuse her. Let her call you what she wants."

Aria, seeing Richard displeased, dared not say another word.

Richard asked Sunny, "Which room do you want to sleep in tonight? We have plenty of rooms. Just pick the one you like."

Sunny didn't want to trouble anyone, so she said, "I'll just stay in my aunt's old room."

As soon as she said this, Amy, who'd been standing nearby, looked even more upset. "That's my room now."

Aria quickly gave her a warning glance and smiled to ease the tension. "Since your sister is back, Amy, you should let her have the room."

Amy muttered, "I've been living there just fine. Why do I have to give it up just because she came back? That's not fair."

Her voice was low-she probably knew she had no real grounds. After all, she wasn't a Wilson by blood.

Sunny looked at Amy's sulky face. With so many rooms in the house, she had to pick her aunt's room? Clearly, she wanted to take her place.

Now that was exactly why Sunny couldn't let her have it.

After Grandpa passed, Amy, an outsider, had gotten a generous dowry-one of the family's best companies included-while her dad Lucas got nothing.

Clearly, this mother-daughter duo was very good at playing the game.

Amy tearfully protested that she was used to that room and didn't want to move. Sunny could take a guest room.

Aria saw Amy on the verge of tears and stayed silent, just glancing at Richard, waiting to see what he'd say.

But before Richard could speak, Sunny said softly, "Why should I stay in the guest room?"

Aria gave her a sharp look.

"Grandpa, I don't want the guest room," Sunny looked at Richard. "Can I sleep in my old room?"

Richard didn't hesitate. "Amy, pack up your stuff and move to the guest room. Sunny will take her old room."

Amy's tears spilled immediately. She bit her lip, looking utterly wronged.

But Richard didn't even glance her way.

He wasn't a charity worker, and certainly no fool. If Aria hadn't begged him back then to take in her daughter, Amy would never have been allowed into the Wilson mansion.

Now that she was here, she needed to know her place. Sunny was his real daughter-if she asked for the stars or the moon, Richard would fetch them. A room? That was nothing.

Aria understood this too. She patted Amy on the back. "Stop crying. No use. Mr. Wilson told you to move, so go pick another room. We have plenty."

"But I like that one."

"It's not your room!"

"Why not?!"

Afraid she'd say something else to upset Richard, Aria dragged her back to the room, helped her pack, and whispered soft reassurances.

An hour later, Sunny entered the room that once belonged to her aunt.

She couldn't help but sigh again-her aunt must have been the most beloved girl in this house. The room was nearly three times the size of hers in the future. Soft pink wallpaper, a walk-in closet, a dollhouse room, even a tent in the corner.

Still, the fact that Aria managed to get this room for Amy proved she had serious influence in the household.

If she wanted to help her dad and grandpa prevent the future falling-out, Aria would be a powerful opponent.

Later, at multiple dinners, Aria subtly suggested Richard take Sunny for a paternity test-but every time, Richard firmly refused.

He didn't need a test. He knew Sunny was his long-lost daughter.

Even if she wasn't, he'd never admit it. She was back-that's all that mattered. He wouldn't let anything jeopardize that.

Richard spent the next few days helping Sunny get into school. Bored, she wandered around the city.

The early 2000s looked very different from her own time. Most people still lived in communal buildings, and the streets twisted in and out of tiny alleys. But new high-rises were under construction, diggers and tractors everywhere, noisy and dusty.

She bought a bag of puffed rice sticks from a street vendor-wanted to take some back for Grandpa.

She watched the vendor scoop millet into an old, greasy machine. Seconds later, it spat out long, white puffed rice tubes-sweet and fragrant, something totally new to Sunny.

Munching the crunchy snack, she wandered into an arcade.

This wasn't anything like the arcades she knew. All the games were old-school, standing cabinets. The place had maybe a dozen machines, all surrounded by teens and tough-looking guys feeding coins into the slots.

Contra, Street Fighter, even some bizarre hack versions...

Sunny had been a diamond-ranked player on her iPad, but here, she was totally out of her element.

Worse, these machines were borderline gambling-lose and they ate your money, win and they spit some back. She lost every coin she had in minutes.

As she turned to leave, disheartened, a tattooed man-the owner-blocked her way.

"Hey, little girl. Stay and play a few more rounds."

"I'm out of money," Sunny patted her empty pockets. "These machines are impossible."

The man sneered and pointed to the machine. It showed a negative balance.

"Seventy-five bucks. Pay up before you leave!"

Sunny was stunned. "That much?!"

She'd only brought a little over ten dollars, and it was all gone. How had she suddenly gone into debt?

The man grinned slyly. "No pay, no go."

Just as Sunny was caught in a bind, she saw Alexander.

He was wearing a plain white work tee and long shorts, walking past the arcade.

White tees on men are risky-too often, they make a guy look scrawny or sleazy.

But not Alexander. His strong shoulders and arms filled out the shirt perfectly. His body radiated strength and boyfriend-material vibes.

He crouched down to pick pears from a street basket, hair falling gently over deep black eyes, totally focused.

After buying the pears, he got up and walked away.

Sunny rushed out and stopped him, but she moved too quickly-slammed right into his chest.

He barely reacted, while her head hit his firm chest squarely.

A burst of sweetness rose between them-from the puffed rice.

Only now, it had crumbled into powder, sticking to her clothes and dusting his white shirt.

"Ah!" Sunny gasped. She quickly stepped back and tried to brush off the crumbs from his chest. "Sorry!"

Alexander instinctively stepped back, avoiding her hands, and casually dusted off his shirt himself.

Though his clothes were simple, they were perfectly clean.

Sunny bent down to pick up the box of puffed rice. Her clear eyes looked up apologetically. "Really sorry. I lost everything just now-my brain's still scrambled."

She was genuinely embarrassed.

Alexander glanced at her. In the sunlight, her skin was pale and luminous. Her eyes-so much like Lucas'-were bright and clear. Black hair fell over her slim shoulders.

His indifferent gaze swept over her briefly and moved on.

This scatterbrained girl really was Lucas' copy.

He glanced at the smoky arcade behind her. "You were playing in there?"

"Yeah. Lost everything. Got scammed, and now they won't let me leave."

Just then, the tattooed man stormed out and pointed angrily at Sunny. "Trying to skip out? Pay what you owe!"

Alexander instinctively stepped in front of her. "How much does she owe?"

"Not much," the man sneered. "Just 75 bucks."

Alexander could tell she'd been tricked-clearly unfamiliar with this kind of place.

"Got any money left?" he asked Sunny.

"Nope."

Not only broke-she was in debt.

Alexander fished in his pocket. A few coins remained-just enough for one round.

He turned toward the arcade.

Sunny was alarmed. "Alexander, don't! They're totally rigged!"

At the door, Alexander stuffed his hands in his pockets, turned his head slightly, and said-

"Don't worry. I'll win it back for you."