Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 98: Invite

Chapter 98: Invite

You better believe we got our approved permit the soonest possible time. What followed in his wake was a slew of legal cases ranging from adultery, rape, extortion, attempted murder, drug charges, and bribery. He was also officially impeached.

The files Alyssa unearthed helped us out a lot. They meant it when they said they exhausted their assets trying to look for evidence because most just lacked the last certification. Alyssa said they had to forcefully stop because her mother fell ill. They had to divert their funding and couldn’t continue with the investigation.

By this time, Joseph’s case had reached the ears of people from the bigger cities, and even my parents had called to check on us.

"We’ve already gone back, Mom," I told her as I rubbed Chester for all the days we’ve been away.

"That’s good, sweetheart. You should take care of it, okay? That was a pretty big hornet’s nest." My mom warned me, and I promised to take all necessary precautions.

After saying our goodbyes, I let myself get lost in Chester’s fur. I felt like we had accomplished our task, but at the same time, it was such a pity that we couldn’t implicate Alexa without damaging her cannon fodders.

As usual, she used accounts she established under the names of her servant’s children. If we implicated her, she would push the issue off to her employees as a problem they would have to bear.

"Sigh."

"Now what?" Lucian said from the sofa. He had been watching all this time, but he seemed ticked at my sigh.

"Nothing."

"You say nothing, but you look like your snack just sold out." He scoffed, his hand cradling his chin as he lorded over me, who was sprawled out on the floor.

"Stop sitting on the floor. Don’t blame me if you get a stomach ache."

I did get stomach aches after sitting on such cold granite, so I reluctantly crawled over to the sofa while dragging Chester with me. That couch was pretty inviting, so scooting over to it wouldn’t be so bad.

Lucian’s face contorted a bit, and that was all I could see until he said, "Lily, you called? What happened?"

He got a video call, so I pulled myself up instead of crawling. I wanted to see the little cutie pie, too!

"Is that Lily?" I asked happily, missing the face of this cute little girl.

"Big Sis! I’ve been trying to call you, but you weren’t answering! So I called Big Brother instead."

"Oh? Is that so? Sorry, I left my phone inside the bag! Well, what’s wrong, darling?" I asked, puzzled as to why she suddenly called.

"I...I wanted to ask for advice." She looked hesitant as she rubbed her fingers together while pursing her lips.

"About what?" I asked calmly, trying to calm down the fidgeting child. I waited for her to talk while I sat next to Lucian.

"I got asked out to go on a date." She said at a pace that was initially too fast to catch, or maybe I just didn’t think she’d say that, so my brain refused to process it.

"A what, sorry?"

"I was asked out on a date," Lily said, her face scrunching as she said it louder.

There was no helping it. I had to look at Lily and then at Lucian, who seemed to be riddled with dark clouds.

"Hmm...um...so baby, who asked you out? Is it someone I know?" I know of her classmates because I painstakingly checked on them in case they posed a threat to Lily.

"It was Joshua. He invited me out to the Amusement Park. He said it was a date, but what do people do on dates?" She asked, tilting her head to the side in actual wonder.

My brain actually short-circuited because I wasn’t sure what to answer. Honestly, I wouldn’t be sure. I’ve never really gone out on an actual date, the romantic kind.

It’s not that I’ve never been invited out, but I was never free enough to go. I didn’t even get to watch a movie with Jasper. Our meetings were limited to the closest library, where he would bother me to help with his schoolwork. And that was just him showing up at my most frequented location.

But I figured this was something like a playdate where kids make appointments to play with their friends.

"Actually, I’m not sure, either. I haven’t really been on a date," I grinned awkwardly.

"Huh? But Big Sis...Aren’t you married?" Lily asked, looking really concerned.

Yes, little one. But this wasn’t exactly a model marriage.

I was trying to come up with an excuse when Aunt Serena showed up behind Lily.

"Eli, you haven’t gone out on a date?"

She wasn’t mocking me or doubting my statement, but she looked scandalized to hear that.

Now, even I’m questioning myself, was that required? Even Aunt Serena looked bothered.

"Oh, hi, Mom!" I blurted out, hoping that would divert her attention, but that obviously did not work.

"Honey, you haven’t, seriously?" She’s basically taken over the screen by now, pushing off the little girl’s face.

"I have gone to the amusement park, though, if that helps." That was true, I have visited with Rina, so it couldn’t be that bad.

Right?

Because the looks I’m getting didn’t feel that comforting.

Then, the child pushed herself back into view, her eyes quivering. Resolutely, she said, "But Mom said dates were important for people who like each other. She said that’s what keeps relationships alive!"

"Then...then how come you’ve never gone on a date?!" Lily clutched at her pigtail, looking all horrified, and I started to get horrified myself.

I mean, I’m an adult. I could surmise what a date would involve, and I should have an idea of what my dad usually prepared for Mom. There were also the father-daughter dates he took me on. That should count for something, right?

"My schedule was always packed, so I didn’t really have the time to go...recently." I smiled, trying to placate the panicking people at the other end of the call.

My Dad and I haven’t gone on our father-daughter dates in a while, so that wasn’t a lie. We really have been too busy.

"Anyway, baby, did you call because you needed a chaperone for your date?" All I could do was divert the topic. Hopefully, she’d forget about it.

"Yes, but..." She said, still looking at me with those big expressive eyes.

"Then I’ll come with you! Just send me the details!"

I’m sorry, but if I let you talk more, you might ask harder questions that I don’t have answers to.