After the True Heiress Returned

: I'll Back You Up

2

Zane Donovan took me to his place.

We've known each other since we were kids, so it wasn't a big deal for me to stay the night.

It was just that Zane Donovan said he didn't have a housekeeper and usually lived alone.

With someone else suddenly in the house, he bustled about, cleaning up and making the bed.

The puppy circled his feet. After a moment of thought, Zane Donovan rustled up a beanbag chair from somewhere and fashioned a makeshift dog bed out of it.

"There, this'll have to do for now. We'll go buy you a new one first thing tomorrow."

Zane Donovan looked at me, his expression serious.

"From now on, this is your home. I've got your back."

"I don't think that's appropriate."

Even though we were childhood friends, we actually hadn't seen each other in years. Zane Donovan had only returned from abroad last year.

I casually picked up a glass of water from the table and took a sip, only to notice that Zane Donovan's ears had turned a little red.

'Seriously? Is doing a few chores that tiring?'

"If you think it's inappropriate, then you can be my wife to pay me back."

PFFT.

The next second, the water I'd just sipped went flying right into Zane Donovan's face.

He froze on the spot, his handsome face now splattered with water.

"Sorry."

I rushed to grab a tissue, but Zane Donovan was still standing frozen in place.

"I'm serious, Aria Sterling. Even if your parents kick you out, I'm willing to split my home with you."

As he said this, he pulled a key from his pocket.

Zane Donovan forcefully pressed the key into my hand. Its lingering warmth thawed my frozen fingers a little.

"From now on, if anyone bullies you, just tell me. Just like old times."

His expression was more serious than I'd ever seen it, his usual carefree smile completely gone.

After saying goodnight, Zane Donovan left. I glanced around the empty room.

Amid the cool, monochrome palette of black, white, and gray, a small pink blanket stood out.

If I hadn't seen it again, I never would have remembered that I'd once bought a blanket and left it at Zane Donovan's house.

Back then, my parents were always busy, and our nanny always wore a cold expression.

It wasn't like Zane Donovan's mom, who always loved to bake batches of cookies for us to try.

That's why as a child, I'd often hang around Zane Donovan's house, refusing to leave. After snacks, we would lie down on the sofa and nap together.

Kids catch colds when you least expect it. That very afternoon, I started running a fever.

The doctor said I probably caught a chill during my afternoon nap.

Because I was sick, Mrs. Sterling told me not to go out for the time being.

I was bored out of my mind at home for three days, until Zane Donovan knocked on my door.

"Come with me."

A driver took us to a department store, where Zane Donovan pulled me by the hand straight into a home textiles shop.

"Pick one out yourself."

I looked at him in confusion, then glanced at the dazzling array of blankets before casually picking a pink one.

When it was time to pay, Zane Donovan finally revealed what he'd been clutching to his chest the whole time.

It was a piggy bank. He smashed it right there on the spot and emptied out all the money from inside. It was a pile of crumpled, wrinkled bills and coins that the cashier spent ages counting.

"Where are your parents, little one?"

"They're busy."

"So you came to buy something for your little sister all by yourself? It's so nice to have a big brother."

Zane Donovan, holding my hand, blushed and shook his head. It took him a long moment before he finally spoke.

"She's not my sister."

But when we got back, Zane Donovan confiscated the little blanket.

"Didn't you get it for me?"

"It is for you, but you have to keep it at my place. That way, when you come over next time, you can take a nap here. And you can have some of my mom's cookies, too."

Zane Donovan looked at me and suddenly started to stammer.

"You haven't come over in so many days."

Even now, I can't help but smile when I think back on it. I regret not telling him then.

'You silly boy. It had only been three days.'