Seventy and Swept off My Feet

The woman in front of me wore an arrogant expression, but I began to calmly say, "I'm here to meet my family."

Anna folded her arms across her chest and laughed. "Another one? Fine. Tell me which illegitimate daughter of the Slaters you're supposed to be."

"I'm your great-aunt," I said firmly after straightening my back.

Anna froze. She then looked at me as if I had completely lost my mind. The hall immediately erupted in laughter.

"I've seen people show up claiming to be a lost daughter or a forgotten son, but this is the first time someone's claiming to be a great-aunt!"

"If she really is Anna's great-aunt, would she strangle Skyler when she finds out that he broke the only portrait of her?"

I followed the sound of their mockery and saw a boy sitting apart from the crowd. His delicate features were stained with spilled wine, and his clothes were a mess.

He stared at me as if he'd seen something unreal. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Great-aunt Zoe…" he whispered.

The crowd laughed harder and slapped him around. "Wouldn't she be 70 if she were a great-aunt? Look at her! She's younger than Anna! How could someone as gullible as you be qualified to fight her for the title of heir?"

"I know, right? Your mom died giving birth to you. Then, you smashed that portrait of your great-aunt and sent Grandpa to the hospital with a heart attack.

"You should just shut your mouth and stay locked up in your room!"

"Forget it. Just rough him up. And don't mention the portrait again. It's a sore spot for Grandpa."

They lifted their glasses, ready to pour more wine on him. My anger boiled over.

"Stop!" My shout froze them in their tracks. The wine almost slipped from their shaky hands.

Anna shot me a glare. "Why are you still here? Someone kick her out! If Grandpa sees her hanging around when he arrives, he'll be furious."

I narrowed my eyes. Just as a few men started to move toward me, the doors burst open. Daniel Slater entered the room, flanked by bodyguards.

The room fell silent as everyone watched him take his seat.

I stood frozen. 50 years had passed, and my younger brother's hair had turned grey. Time had carved its marks deep into his face. Yet, his weary but familiar eyes made my throat tighten.

Without thinking, I called out his name, "Daniel…"

He stiffened and slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.

The comments buzzed with shock.

"Zoe called Mr. Slater Senior by his name. She's got a death wish."

"Look at their faces. They all look like they've seen a ghost. This is going to be good. She's about to get chewed up."

The crowd looked at me mockingly.

Anna's face darkened. "Outrageous! Security, throw this lunatic out immediately!"

The guards hurried forward, but before they could grab me, I yanked off the emerald pendant hanging from my neck and held it up high.

"I'm your great-aunt! I dare any of you to lay a hand on me!"

The sight of the pendant drew a sharp collective gasp.

"T-That's an heirloom from the Slater family. Is she really our great-aunt?"

"Oh, come on. What kind of great-aunt is only 20 years old?"

"Wait, didn't Grandpa once say that she vanished after joining some secret experiment? What if that experiment made her stay young forever?"

"Grandpa!" A flicker of panic crossed Anna's face. She hurried forward and clung to Daniel's arm. "Emeralds can be forged. She's just some lunatic. Don't listen to her nonsense."

The room grew thick with tension. Daniel leaned on his cane and stared at me for a long time before finally speaking. "Bring me the pendant. Let me see it for myself."

Before I could hand the pendant over, Michael stormed in. He snatched it and smashed it on the floor. "Zoe, stop being delusional. You'll never be worthy of being a part of the Slaters."