THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 281: Let The Game Begin.

Lauren couldn’t help but find the coincidence amusing. ’I’ve been looking for the perfect gentleman all these years, yet he was right beside me, and just when I found him, he already belongs to someone else.’

Steffan glanced at Lauren who had a subtle smile on her face and wondered what she was thinking about. "So, I guess you live there with your parents."

"Obviously. If not, why would I want to escape from home to a nightclub in the first place?"

The corner of Steffan’s mouth lifted slightly at her choice of word— ’escape indeed.’

"It’s just surprising we’ve never bumped into each other before tonight. How long have you lived here?"

"Since I could call mom, although I’ve been more away than present these past one year."

"That explains it. I moved in here a year ago after I moved out of the family house," Steffan said.

As they approached Lauren’s street, Lauren asked Steffan to park the car.

"Are you sure you are OK here? I can take you to your front door."

"I’m fine here. I should be able to finish the rest on foot," Lauren said as she unstrapped her seatbelt.

"Well, thanks for the ride, Steffan."

Steffan nodded. He understood without being told that Lauren might not want her parents to see her highlighting from a man’s car in the middle of the night. "Maybe our paths will cross more often now," he said, smiling.

"Maybe. I guess Federal Hill isn’t as big as we thought. See you around, neighbor." Lauren waved as she walked toward her house which was about three blocks from where she was.

Luckily her copy of the house key was with her so she was able to get inside the house and made her way to her room without disturbing anybody.

**********

Two days later, it was the weekend and Kathleen decided to stay at home and do some cleaning in her room.

She would have just asked the servants to clean, but she realized she had not had the time to exercise for the past two weeks, so she felt she should do the cleaning as a form of exercise.

She had barely started the cleaning when a knock sounded on her door.

She paused to answer the person at the door. "Who is there? Do come in," she said,

"Sorry to disturb you, Madam. But your father wants you in the living room now," a servant reported.

"Is there any problem?"

"No madam."

"I’ll be with him shortly," Kathleen said and went to wash her hands.

"Why does dad want me in the living room? Normally if he needs my attention concerning anything, he would just come to my room to discuss with me."

She looked down at her clothes and wanted to change it but on second thought, she decided to leave it on since she’d still return back to cleaning the room.

Thus she made her way to the living room clad in a simple T-shirt and worn out jeans, with a bandana tied around her head.

From the staircase, she could see her parents and someone whose form was a bit familiar but not too clear.

She descended three more steps and was able to confirm that the person seated with her parents was none other than Joanne, Shawn’s mother from her voice.

"What could she be doing here in her parents house and at this time of the day?"

She had barely finished the question when her ear picked up on their conversation.

"I’ve not been able to get a suitable bride for my son, but once I got back from my tour and heard so many outstanding things about your daughter I knew she was the best candidate."

"Really, Mrs Hudson? Please don’t flatter us," she heard her mother say.

"It’s the truth, sister. Good things cannot be hidden no matter how you try to shield it. It shines like day light. Such is the daughter you have."

Kathleen saw a disarming smile on Joanne’s face and sneered. ’I wonder how you will do when that best candidate turns out to be me, your arch enemy.’

’And when did she get so intimate with my family that my mom and Joanne have suddenly developed to a "sister" basis? Let me see what she is up to.’

"How come you are here alone. I expected you to have come with your son?" Kathleen heard her father ask.

"The thing is that he is not feeling fine and has been admitted in the hospital so he couldn’t come with me."

"Shouldn’t you be with him at the hospital instead of coming here to get him a wife?" Stacy said with a hint of condemnation in her tone.

If Joanne was sensitive enough she would have understood that this was not the best time to come for such a mission.

But what do you expect from a power drunk woman who is always striving to lord it over others? Now that an opportunity had presented itself for her to add more feathers to her cap through this marriage alliance, who was she to say no?

An embarrassed smile fleeted briefly across her face. "I know I’m supposed to be by his side but I’m afraid you would have left the country before he is discharged from the hospital so I decided to seize this opportunity to come see you first on his behalf."

"That’s alright, but I can’t say anything now, the decision lies with my daughter whom I have sent for," Stacy said.

"Of course I will wait. Let her take her time. I’m sure she is also a very busy woman like her parents and must have so much on her hand."

’Shameless!’ Kathleen spat from where she was listening to the conversation. ’How come I didn’t know she was molded from the same clay like Linda. They would have made a perfect pair if they were mother and daughter, no wonder she had always clamored for Linda to be her daughter in law. They were indeed birds of the same feather.

’Anyways, let the game begin!’ Kathleen muttered as she descended the remaining steps on the staircase, an excited glint dancing in her eyes.

"Hello dear, you are here already," Stacy called out with a warm smile.

Thinking it was the daughter of the Wyatt’s that finally arrived, Joanne’s eyes lit up and she turned around since she was backing the staircase.

Seeing Kathleen unexpectedly appear, Joanne was taken aback but her surprise soon changed to contempt when she took in Kathleen’s disheveled appearance and her nose turned up in disdain, covering her mouth as if she couldn’t wait to puke.

’What is she doing here at a critical time like this? I hope this accursed woman will not foil my already perfect plan to get myself a befitting daughter in-law. Anyways I’m more than equal to the task, except I am no longer Joanne Hudson.’

"Come, sit dear." Director Wyatt said to Kathleen, oblivious of the battle line Joanne had drawn.

When Joanne saw Kathleen shamelessly settled herself beside Director Robin Wyatt, she was shocked, wondering at his behavior.

She darted her glance to the lady of the house expecting to see her annoyance but she was rendered speechless by the affectionate smile on her face as she stared at Kathleen. ’Was something wrong with this couple? How can they be this softhearted?’

"I must say, Director Wyatt, that you have such a big heart," Joanne managed to say, forcing a smile on her face.