her father and leaving the country, Penelope returned with her six-year-old

was back. Not because she had any desire to confront her past or face her father,

lickered before her eyes, the de

the loneliness of a foreign la

f her father's ultimatum to her on that morning s

tered under her breath as she always did wh

er father had reacted when he should have simply tried to ma

little girls. Daphne and Dahila were now the joy of her

, a radiant smile lit up Penelope's face. "My bundles of joy," she whispered

phne sleepily opened her eyes

f, Dahila still

ieved she had inherited from her father, the memor

hink about it or about the stranger who had g

er life-h

ger whose name she did not know, and whose face she could not

sometimes thought about how a perfect stranger had managed

he would be able to recognize the stranger

reserved hotel, Daphne chatte

hich Grace happily answered,

er tho

g up in front of The Luxe Banks Palace hotel. Penelope thanked him, fumbling slightly as she paid

denly dawned on her that she was standing in front of the same Hot

ended to her as a child-friendly Hotel, sh

ations

aying after seven years away? The very same place she had spe

en's stomach. It was a strange coincidence,

arate

s of her mind but she quickly pushed them a

hotel lobby, a uniformed figure materialized

a

'am. Let me help with your bags," he

urning to Grace, "You all can sit over there w

buzzed wit

a on her shoulder, who is still sleeping soundly, Grace led her to a velv

lope Will." The receptionist, a young woman wi

I pull up your reservation. Meanwhile,

e expression, observing Daphe as she gazed around,

aphne's eye. Curiosity tugged at her, and she scooted cl

genuine, crinkled the corners of his eyes when he saw the littl

th a friendly smile as he looked over a

ce is bad for your eyes!" She declared, her voi

enuine sound that rumbled pleasantly as he lowere

s. "Who told you that, little one?" "My mommy," Daphne

e, who was now watching the in

y the calm one, content to sleep quietly, while Daphne could turn a place upside dow

looking out fo

aphne asked, her eyes wide wi

aid, even though he had just he

call yo

thusiastically.

Are you staying at

ically. "Yes! We're going to have a really nic

You and your sister should try out the

yground?" Carlton chuckled.

gym, it's a k

he turned to look at Grace. "Can we g

go tomorrow," Grace promised

wait to tell Dahila when she

ame eye color, but my sister has my mommy

that we should be friends," h

ends with strangers," she s

ow my name and we are going to be neighbors for

e as nice as ours?" She asked, and C

nd my room is the nicest in the Hotel," he sai

"I do have a mommy and a home. This h

, and she was about to ask an

ange with a wary smile, exchan

cking in and had sign

race said as she rose, Dahila s

Daphne's hand. "Thank you Mr. Carl," Daphne said and Carl smi

before you leave," he

before walk

and D

frown replacing his earlier smile. Although he

and bossy pron

hing unexpect

nd for some reason, he wanted to see her agai

ng as he returned his attention to his phone. Th

to his