Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 31

POV: Adelaide

“Grandma, what are you looking for?” I asked, bemused.

“It’s a surprise,” my grandma chuckled. “If I can find it, that is.”

Grandma frowned, surveying the storage room she’d led me to. From top to bottom, all kinds of junk lay around. I didn’t know what she expected to find in this mess.

“Oh. it’s your grandpa’s uniform,” she mused fondly as she pulled out an old army uniform from one of the boxes. “He served seven years, you know.” The pride in her voice was evident.

“I know, Grandma,” I chuckled. “You’ve told me a million times.”

“Oh, and look! This was your father’s,” she said as she brought out a bubblegum pink onesie, looking sheepish. “The doctors thought he was a girl before he was born, so we bought everything in pink.”

I snorted, hiding my laugh behind my hand. The onesie had in bright white lettering #1 Princess. I bet my dad just loved this.

“Why do you even keep all this junk, Grandma?” I laughed, sitting down on one of the old tables (supposedly mahogany from their old house).

“It’s not junk!” she huffed, sending me a cross look.

I raised an eyebrow and pointed lazily to the box of broken flower pots she’d kept.

“Okay, not everything is junk,” Grandma chuckled. She sighed, sitting down in a dusty rocking chair. There was a distant, melancholy look as she gazed at everything around us.

“It isn’t just objects or things, Adelaide,” Grandma said softly. “All of it has a story. They carry little memories inside of them. pieces of our lives that we pass down to one another. Things we’ve lost, and things we’ve loved. They remind me of times we may forget.”

“Grandma?” I asked, softly, I didn’t quite understand what she was talking about, but I knew it was something important she was trying to tell me.

“Oh!”

She smiled and exclaimed, “I remember where I put it now.”

She got to her feet, a bit unsteady. The floors creaked as she made her way to a black trunk with a lock on it.

“I stored it for safekeeping.” Grandma winked at me. “So 1 might give it to you someday.”

“Give what to me, Grandma?” I asked, making my way over to where she was.

She sighed, sitting on one of the wicker chairs next to the trunk as she handed me a small silver key.

“You’ll know,” was all she said.

Her smile was soft as I took the key from her. Shrugging, I got on my knees, brushing the dust and cobwebs from the old lock. As I did, my breath caught in my throat.

There, on a silver plate right above the lock was a name. But not just any name.

Maclyn. I traced the engraved letters, my eyes wide with wonder. Could it be?

Grandma tears starting to burn in

up

knowing look in her eye Nervously. I

the lock was rusted and

and I placed it next to me. I glanced

No I did

it faded away but

a busille of letters and envelopes all wrapped together with

to myself.

“Your mother’

after her death”

what i uld recover I’m alr

things

a frenzy as she threw away

jewelry,

and even

photo with

bammed

it was like she had never

and then | existed.

wasn’t for

been like she’d

grateful some of

saved, any

led it out.

tucked in the corner, and

up as I saw her

with squishy cheeks being held up as the two smiled at each other

much.

fingers trailing past

her place” Grandina said, quietly “Now,

the photo down as I glanced down into the trunk. Sure enough,

a bit for me to wiggle it out, all the other clutter being pushed away as I finally pulled it was quite

Despite

ssive size,

as I placed the box on my lap. My fingers itched to open it, to see what she’d left behind

didn’t like

to have before you get

her encouragement and a burst of bravery, I swallowed

in awe.

a white dress.

was incredibly soft. Off

the lace was intricate,

I breathed.

said with a

choked sound Grandma made, I looked up. Grandma was smiling, tears in her eyes as she gazed at