Chapter 618
Declan's birthday arrived as scheduled. Elizabeth, wearing a white casual dress with her hair tied up, was busy in the kitchen with Rose. Today, the family was all present, along with a few of Declan's close friends, including the Brooks family and Lila's parents. Grant sat on the sofa with Celine, greeting guests together. Elizabeth poured a few glasses of water and handed them to Lila's parents. Lila said she would arrive tonight; her flight landed at eight, and she would be there around nine. Elizabeth heard the door open, looked outside, and said, “Charles is here.”
Charles arrived with Natalia. Now, everyone was here. “Declan, happy birthday,” Charles said, patting Declan on the shoulder and smiling at him. Elizabeth noticed how similar Declan and Charles looked when standing together. They both resembled Grant a great deal. In contrast, Elizabeth and Natalia didn't inherit any of the Percy family's features. Those who knew were aware that Natalia wasn't Charles's biological daughter. Those who didn't might think Elizabeth wasn't Declan's biological daughter either.
“Dad, why don’t I look like you at all?” Elizabeth asked, puzzled, standing next to Declan. Declan smiled thoughtfully. “Girls tend to look more like their mothers.” Charles nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is true.” Declan and Charles exchanged a glance but said nothing. Elizabeth looked at Rose coming out of the kitchen and pulled her over. “Do we look alike?” She and Rose stood together. Comparing them side-by-side, their resemblance was clear. Declan and Charles remained silent.
Rose was puzzled as to why Elizabeth suddenly asked this. She thought, Could it be that Elizabeth had noticed something? Natalia chuckled and clicked her tongue. “Elizabeth, you and I both don’t look like the Percy family.” Elizabeth glared at Natalia. Natalia was brought home by Charles, but Elizabeth wasn’t.
17:28 Fri, Apr
Chapter 618
“I must not have grown up yet, that’s it,” Elizabeth comforted herself and went back to the kitchen. Natalia watched Elizabeth's back and jokingly asked Declan, “Declan, did you bring Elizabeth home from outside, too?” Before Declan could get angry, Charles intervened. “Natalia, don’t say such things!” “I was just joking,” Natalia said. She really didn’t mean any harm. But even as a joke, the family didn’t want to hear it, especially Declan. He smiled awkwardly and said nothing. Celine and Grant exchanged a look, both feeling uncomfortable, thinking perhaps it was time to tell Elizabeth some things, since she had grown up.
“Why did the atmosphere suddenly get so heavy?” Yosef Parker stood up and smiled at everyone. “Today is Declan’s birthday; let’s not be so serious.” “Yes, everyone keep chatting,” Charles said, patting Declan on the shoulder and signaling him to go accompany his friends.
Natalia was puzzled. She pondered, “How did my joke make everyone so silent? I was just joking, and didn’t mean Elizabeth isn’t part of the Percy family. Moreover, when I joked about her not being part of the Percy family, the atmosphere wasn’t this heavy. Could it be that Elizabeth really isn’t the Percy family’s biological child?”