I was stunned. Everyone was stunned.
Especially Oscar... His eyes were wide, his jaw hanging, and the only sound he managed was a strangled gasp.
Larry's interruption had clearly dealt a nasty blow to his overinflated ego.
"This is for you…"
Meanwhile, the culprit strolled right past Oscar and handed me a small shopping bag.
"What is this?" I asked, deliberately ignoring the guy who was still frozen like a statue.
"A Com Orb. You don't have one, right?" he replied, calm as ever.
I nodded, but didn't take it immediately.
How could I accept such an expensive item? What if they discovered I wasn't their true family?
Returning a gift like that later would be humiliating and painful.
But Larry didn't seem to be a patient person. He gently but firmly pushed the bag into my hands.
"The dinner is tomorrow. Let's go together," he said, giving me no time to digest the gravity of the gift.
"You'll come, right?" he asked again, seeing my lack of response.
Before I could ask any further questions, he turned on his heel. "See you tomorrow."
He was truly nonchalant. But I was curious, what did he actually think of me?
The fact that he was fine acting as a courier and inviting me suggested he accepted me, but his reaction was bland.
He showed none of the joy or sadness Luna Eileen displayed.
"You're really disgusting, Clarissa!" Oscar's familiar, mocking voice tore me from my muddled thoughts.
He tried to grab the small bag in my hands, but I quickly stepped back.
"What? Are you trying to steal my things now?" I yelled back.
"W-who would…" He stammered, then pointed an accusing finger at my face.
"Don't dream too high. Someone like Larry Green won't be serious with you. He'll throw you away when he tires of you."
"Butt out!" I snorted, retreating to my chair.
I didn't care what they thought of my connection to Larry. Tomorrow's dinner was far more worrying.
I opened the bag and found the latest version of the Com Orb, clearly expensive.
Nadia, who had been silent through the whole exchange, finally let out a hard gasp.
"It's nothing like you think. Don't read too much into it," I warned her with a stern face.
Nadia, knowing my temper, didn't press further.
...
All night long, I thought about the dinner.
If I showed up, did it mean I was officially claiming my spot in their family?
Or were they just sizing me up? Were they trying to see if someone who grew up without parents could possibly compare to them?
In the end, I only fell asleep at five o'clock.
At six, the Com Orb rang. The blurred small screen showed a number, number 1.
Someone had already connected the orb with theirs.
I didn't know who it was, but I knew that the only way to connect the Com Orb was by touching the two Orbs together.
And the number on the screen indicated the order in which it was saved.
So this caller had to be one of the Green Family.
When I touched the center button, a gentle voice was heard. "Did I wake you up, dear?"
"No," I lied. I couldn't bring myself to make her feel more apologetic.
She continued, cheerfully, "I couldn't sleep, thinking that I'll meet you again, dear. Will you come with your brother and sister? Or do you want to be picked up by our driver?"
"No—no, I'm fine by myself. Just tell me the address."
I had stumbled into a commitment. I still hadn't fully decided if I would go, yet I told her I would go alone.
"That's fine, dear. Oh, and…"
'What now?' I braced myself. 'Would she warn me to wear a good dress so I wouldn't embarrass them?'
"—you didn't call me 'Mom' yet." She sounded genuinely sad.
I facepalmed mentally. I had no idea how to react. Fortunately, she didn't rush me and ended the call.
"Is this what having a mother meant? A call first thing in the morning?" I murmured to myself.
Surprisingly, it didn't feel bad.
That night, I finally arrived at the luxurious restaurant alone. I glanced down at my borrowed blue dress.
Luckily, Nadia had brought this dress for an autumn party. While at that time, I wore my academy uniform instead.
Walking inside, the moment the waiter heard the name Green, they escorted me with the utmost respect to one of the VIP rooms.
The interior was grand, the definition of a high-class establishment, and the VIP room was no less luxurious.
I was nearly gaping at the view when the three people inside greeted me.
"Welcome, dear~" Luna Eileen stood up with open arms.
I was instinctively confused. What was this for? Did she want a hug? Was this the way rich people greeted their guests?
Before I could figure out the answer, someone else already hugged me tightly.
It was the only daughter of the Green family, Shannon Green, my twin sister.
Her soft, straight blonde hair tickled my bare arm, and her scent was sweet and comforting.
"I finally meet you, my dear twin sister." Her voice was also soft.
Perhaps all the women in this family had soft voices, but certainly not me.
Maybe I took after the men of the house, like the uptight Larry, or the troublemaker Edwin.
"Happy to meet you," I managed at last.
After that brief, overwhelming first encounter, I took a seat beside Larry.
He gave me a silent, expressionless nod. Again, I still couldn't decipher what he was thinking.
Luna Eileen and Shannon sat opposite us, both offering me bright, welcoming smiles.
Looking at Shannon and me side-by-side, we didn't strongly resemble each other.
But I could see traces of Luna Eileen in me, and even in Larry.
'Didn't Shannon say she was my twin? Are we fraternal twins, then?' Shannon likely resembled Alpha Green more.
"Sister Clarissa, we already ordered all the food because we didn't know what you like. You can eat as you please," Shannon said, her smile bright and cute.
She was truly the epitome of a beloved younger sister. No wonder Nadia said the Green siblings centered around her.
"Thank you, Shannon," I replied.
Meanwhile, Luna Eileen put away her Com Orb and looked at me with a hint of guilt.
"Sorry, dear. Your father couldn't make it here. The conference was longer than estimated.
Your big brother, Darren, is in the Black Pack territory filling in for your father at a meeting.
And your youngest brother, Edwin, is serving a suspension and is in another region. I can't reach him."
"I'm fine," I assured her.
It was actually better to meet these three calm people first.
Who knew what the remaining three family members were like?
After that, I tried to focus on the food closest to me.
But it wasn't easy to eat while the attention of my new family was fixed on me.
"I'll head to the restroom first." I immediately stood up.
"Take your time," Luna Eileen said, seeming to understand that I needed a moment to clear my head.
But I had only taken one step into the bathroom when I was met with the unwelcome sight of people I desperately wished weren't there.
"Defective omega! What are you doing here?!"
...