Chapter 4 Family Drama

The Wilson family mansion, an old house with a distinct vintage European style, was a striking landmark in the heart of downtown Chicago, where every inch of land was incredibly valuable.

This was Grandpa Sunny's estate, but Sunny had never stepped foot in it. Her father and grandfather had severed their relationship long ago.

Sunny's grandfather was named Richard, the chairman of the Wilson family group. He had forged a legendary business empire for the Wilsons at the turn of the century.

In Sunny's memory, Grandpa Richard was a stern man, never smiling and always solemn.

Ever since his daughter-Sunny's little aunt-went missing, smiles had rarely graced his face.

Later, after cutting ties with his son Lucas, he fell ill from grief and passed away prematurely.

Outside the mansion, Lucas parked the motorcycle, took off Sunny's helmet, and asked, "Do you still remember our dad?"

"I do. Grandpa was scary. He never paid attention to me."

Lucas rubbed her head helplessly, a hint of resignation in his eyes. "I meant Dad, not Grandpa."

"Oh."

He led Sunny toward the mansion. Sunny, a bit nervous, instinctively reached for Lucas's hand.

Lucas now treated her as his own little sister and affectionately squeezed her hand, silently telling her not to be afraid.

The mansion's interior was decorated in creamy white with full-on European luxury style, a reflection of Richard's years studying and living in Europe.

Even two decades ago-and certainly still in Sunny's time-such lavish home decor was rarely seen.

"Lucas, what brings you back?"

A soft, charming voice came from the stairs.

The speaker was Aria, Richard's second wife. Thanks to excellent maintenance, she looked like a young woman in her twenties, though she was in her thirties. Her skin was fairer than snow, and she had a mature, alluring charm that younger girls lacked.

To middle-aged men, a woman like her was undoubtedly captivating.

Sunny looked at Aria and wondered what she should call her-stepmother?

She knew her father Lucas and her grandfather Richard had a terrible relationship, and Aria had played a significant role in that.

When Richard passed away, the entire Wilson family group ended up in Aria's hands-not a single cent was left for Lucas.

That alone showed how formidable she was.

"This is my home. Why wouldn't I come back?" Lucas's expression darkened, his tone cold.

Aria smiled sweetly and said, "You're the eldest son. Come and go as you please. I may be your stepmother, but I really can't control you."

Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Lucas, being a man, didn't bother arguing with her, but Sunny couldn't stand how this stepmother spoke to her dad.

"My dad's real wife is the legitimate heiress of the Moore family. What kind of mom are you to Lucas? Don't flatter yourself."

Aria's face changed at once, though she kept up the façade of a dignified matron. "Bringing your girlfriend home like this... If your father finds out, you'll be in trouble."

Now Lucas was even more certain that Sunny was his real sister. Otherwise, how would she know his mother was the Moore family's heiress?

And after all these years, this once timid little sister had become sharp-tongued and bold.

He pulled Sunny close. "Look carefully. She's my sister. My dad's biological daughter-Summer."

Suspicion flickered on Aria's face as she scrutinized Sunny. She did look very similar... but how could it be?

Wasn't she supposed to be...

Aria shook her head and said to Lucas, "You just picked some random girl off the street who looks a bit like her and now you claim she's the Wilson family's eldest daughter? That's absurd."

"Whether she is or not, we'll let Mr. Old Wilson decide when he gets back."

"He won't be back tonight-he's attending an important meeting," Aria said coldly. "His health isn't great lately. I suggest you don't upset him. Take the girl and leave. If you think anyone can pretend to be our heiress, think again."

Lucas pulled Sunny behind him protectively and pulled out his phone. "I'll call Mr. Old Wilson right now and tell him I found his daughter."

Suddenly, Aria snatched the phone, her expression turning grim. "His meeting tonight is crucial. Don't disturb him."

Lucas sneered. "Let me guess-Mr. Old Wilson is meeting with your brother about some project? That tiny company of his? The same one caught for tax evasion? You think he qualifies to collaborate with the Wilson family group?"

Aria's face tightened, her eyes nearly sparking with fury. Yet she still kept her cool. "That's your father's decision. You have no right to interfere."

Sunny had heard the rumors about this fearsome stepmother. Relatives had whispered that it was Aria's influence-the pillow talk, the manipulation-that drove a wedge between father and son. Back then, Sunny was naive and didn't believe such evil existed.

Now, seeing Aria in person, she was starting to believe it.

What puzzled her was why Aria was so desperate to kick her out. If it were any other family member, they'd at least try to find out the truth if someone showed up looking like the long-lost daughter.

What gave Aria such certainty that she wasn't the missing girl?

Just then, a door opened upstairs, and a girl stepped out holding a Walkman, frowning. "Mom, it's too noisy. I can't concentrate on my English review."

Sunny turned to look at the girl dressed like a princess in pink sleeves and a sheer skirt, tied at the waist with a ribbon.

Sunny recognized her. It was Amy, Aria's daughter.

Amy wasn't part of the Wilson bloodline but had always lived in the mansion, calling Richard "Uncle."

Sunny had heard family gossip years ago-Aria had tried to get Amy to take the Wilson name and call Richard "Dad," but Richard refused.

Amy eyed Sunny. Her curled lashes, rosy lips, and especially those bright peach blossom eyes so similar to Lucas's made her stunning.

Amy's expression changed slightly. She looked defensively at her mother. "Mom, who is she?"

"She's someone your brother brought home, insisting she's the lost Summer," Aria replied.

The moment Amy heard that the "idiot sister" might be back, she instantly felt threatened. "Mom, is it true?"

Aria said coldly, "It's impossible. She's not."

Only then did Amy relax.

Lucas ignored them both and texted Richard a brief message explaining the situation. Then he asked the servants to prepare a guest room for Sunny.

Aria, as the matriarch, quickly objected. "No. Until we figure out who she really is, that girl is not staying the night."

"Why not?"

"Your father has priceless antiques. What if something goes missing?"

Sunny glanced at Aria. Beautiful as she was, younger than Lucas's mother, she had none of the grace or refinement of someone born into a noble family like the Moore heiress.

Everything about Aria screamed small-minded social climber. No wonder Richard rarely brought her to formal occasions-she simply wasn't presentable.

"I'll pay for anything that goes missing," Lucas said.

"You pay? Aren't your funds from the Wilson family too?" Aria snapped.

Lucas chuckled. "Exactly. It's all the Wilson family's money. What are you so worried about?"

Aria was momentarily speechless.

Amy, lifting her voluminous skirt, walked downstairs, staring at Sunny, then at Lucas. The resemblance was undeniable.

Her heart sank. She had never liked that mentally challenged sister. In a family with two daughters, the biological one would always be the favorite.

She had only just begun to enjoy a bit of attention from Richard. No way was she giving that up.

She tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mom, you can't let her stay."

Aria patted Amy's hand in reassurance, then sat on the couch like a true lady of the house. She turned to Lucas and said in a more gentle tone,

"Lucas, can you be one hundred percent sure she's your missing sister?"

Lucas couldn't be completely sure-but he was seventy percent convinced.

"These past few years, your father has finally come to terms with losing his daughter. If you bring this girl home and give him false hope, only for the paternity test to prove otherwise-do you think he can take the blow?"

Lucas hesitated.

Sunny had heard stories growing up-how much Richard had adored his little girl, how he would've plucked the moon from the sky for her.

After her disappearance, he searched everywhere, lost sleep every night, and his hair turned gray with grief.

Seeing Lucas waver, Aria pressed her advantage. "Just take her back. It's late. Her real parents must be worried."

Sunny gripped Lucas's hand and pleaded, "This is my home. Where else would you send me?"

Aria's expression turned cold. "You think the Wilson family is so easy to infiltrate? What are you playing at-squatter games?"

Sunny was almost driven to tears by this stepmother. There had always been whispers about Aria's involvement in the little girl's disappearance, but Sunny had been too innocent to believe it.

Now, seeing her with her own eyes-she was starting to believe.

"I'm not leaving," she muttered, clinging tightly to Lucas. "Don't make me leave."

Aria slammed the table and snapped, "If you don't leave, I'll have you thrown out."

Just then, the sound of a car pulling up echoed from outside. Headlights shone through the glass windows, casting a bright beam right onto Sunny's face.

She instinctively shielded her eyes.

A Mercedes came to a halt, and from it hurried a middle-aged man.

Richard had returned.