Chapter 2 Daniella

"I don't believe it. My mom never told me about you."

I turned to Gilbert and Anna. They showed confused faces. They didn't even know I had step-siblings.

"What's inside this paper bag?" I asked.

"You'll know when you open it." The hazel-eyed man took his crocodile leather wallet from his pants pocket, opened it, and gave me his business card.

"I'm Diego. Just call me Diego."

Gilbert and Anna stood on my right and left to look at the black business card. We were shocked to know his name, job, and the company he worked for. No one didn't know about Diego's family.

"I want to talk to Daniella," Diego said.

"Talk to me?" I pointed at myself with a confused face.

"Hey, Daniella. I'm Justin, Diego's assistant." The man wearing glasses smiled at me. I smiled back. "My boss wants to have a serious talk with you."

Justin looked at Anna and Gilbert. "I hope you'll allow Daniella to talk to her stepbrother."

Gilbert, Anna, and I looked at each other as if we could communicate through our eyes.

"Okay." Gilbert nodded. "Anna and I will stand in here."

I was shocked by Gilbert's words. Why did he let me talk to Diego? He was a stranger even though he had paid our debt.

"Do you need my ID card?" Diego asked me with a raised eyebrow.

I observed his appearance and his car. It seemed like Diego wasn't lying. Besides, I could find out the truth on the internet.

"No." I shook my head.

"Okay. I want to talk to you." I walked into the living room with my heart beating fast with anxiety.

"Tell me why I'm your stepsister?" I sat on the couch across from Diego. Justin stood beside Diego.

"You will know the answer after you open the paper bag."

I found myself staring at him. He looked like a well-established man. I wouldn't be surprised if he already had a wife and kids.

"What's wrong?" Diego asked.

"Nothing." I blinked and shook my head.

I took the phone and photo album from the paper bag and put them on the table.

"The phone is unlocked," Diego said.

I opened the pink phone, found three videos in the gallery, and watched them all.

My eyes widened, and my heart beat fast because of longing and sadness.

The three videos showed my mother marrying a man, celebrating her birthday, and playing in the garden with me and a boy.

The videos featured my mother, me, my mother's husband, and a boy named Diego.

I was speechless. My eyes were watery, but no tears came.

The three videos made me remember my mother again. All my memories with her flooded my mind.

I could feel my mother's warmth again. It was as if she had just died yesterday. In fact, she had gone to heaven and left me on earth for more than 10 years.

"The photo album will make you believe me more," Diego said.

I nodded.

I smiled at all the photos, but my eyes gradually became blurry. I blinked. I wouldn't cry.

I had promised my mother not to cry because I missed her.

Diego gave me a lot of evidence, but I hesitated to believe him because Diego was cheerful and looked like a good brother to me in all those videos and photos.

Meanwhile, Diego, sitting in front of me, now had a scary aura, and his gaze was not friendly.

I hugged the photo album and held the phone tightly, staring at Diego with the courage I had gathered in five seconds.

"Why did you suddenly come to me? You also paid off Gilbert's debt."

"I want to make Laura's wish come true," Diego said, looking at me more seriously. "I will pay for your college and all your needs, but you must live with me in Boston."

"What?" I was shocked. "Why do I have to live with you?"

"Laura used to go to college there," Diego answered. "And I happen to have a house in Brooklyn."

"Why would you pay for my college? Aren't our parents divorced? I'm not your stepsister anymore," I said.

My mom moved to Portland with me. That meant she was divorced from her husband.

"I told you why," Diego said casually, but his hazel eyes still stared at me.

"She doesn't remember anything," Diego mumbled. I could hear it, but I doubted that was what he said.

"What did you just say?"

"What did I say?" Diego looked confused, but I saw the shock in his eyes a second before.

"Forget it," I said.

"Are you going to make me your son's nanny?" I asked curiously.

"What do you mean?" Diego raised an eyebrow.

"Did you think Diego was married and had a child, Daniella?" Justin smiled.

When Diego turned to him with a cold stare, Justin returned to his professional face.

"I'm not what you think, Dala." Diego hissed. My words had offended him.

"I apologize," I said.

Wait a minute. What did Diego call me? Ah, there was no way he would call me that.

"Sorry to bother you." Gilbert and Anna entered the house.

"Are you serious about paying for Daniella's college?" Gilbert stared at Diego in disbelief.

"Yes. Why would I lie?" Diego replied in annoyance.

"Is it true that he's your stepbrother?" Anna approached me. I gave her the photo album. Gilbert stood behind Anna.

"Ah, I remember now." Anna snapped her fingers. Then she looked at me and Diego alternately.

"Laura once told me that when Daniella was 3, she married her ex-boyfriend while she was in college. Honestly, Laura didn't want to because her ex-boyfriend had a wife and a son," Anna said.

I didn't know about that.

"Daniella." Anna squeezed my hand and said softly.

"You know we want the best for you. Gilbert and I want you to have a good future, but we can't afford your college. This is a great opportunity, Daniella. Please, think about it carefully."

Gilbert nodded with a serious face.

I bit my lower lip.

"I'll give you three days to think." Diego's deep voice surprised us and took over our attention.

Diego stood up from his seat, getting ready to leave our house with Justin. He pointed at the pink phone in my hand with his chin. "That phone is for you."