Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 482: Noah’s Effect On Meira

Aaron was busy handling his work while sitting by the wall-sized glass window of the drawing room in the side residence where he was staying with Serena, all the while keeping watch on her as she sat outside under the shed, looking at the mountains.

Meira was by her side, both of them sitting quietly, precisely lost in their own worlds. Meira looked at Serena’s calm-looking face. Knowing everything about her, Meira now wondered how great it would have been if she were truly her mother.

Sensing Meira’s gaze, Serena looked at her. Caught off guard, Meira pulled out a light smile and said, "Ms Handrix, do you also like to look at the mountains and sky?"

Serena nodded as she observed this young, beautiful girl. She had been watching her for a while now—quiet, obedient, a good girl.

"I like it as well," Meira said.

"Meira," Serena said, only to shock the girl.

"Yes?"

"It’s a good name," Serena commented.

These days, Serena could talk a little better than before—at least one or two sentences without fumbling. Living with family had worked wonders for her condition and she slowly came out of the past that had occupied her mind for almost two decades and was stopping her from accepting the present.

Meira could only hum, but then thought about the man who had given her this name—Aeldric. Did he just randomly give her this name, or did he even give it any thought?

"Thank you," Meira replied, and then added a little hesitantly, "My full name is—Meira Serena Handrix. Umm... Brother Aiden and Aaron had the same middle and last names, so they gave it to me as well. I hope you’re fine with it."

"Sounds good," Serena replied.

Aiden and Aaron had assumed their childhood names—Aiden Serena Handrix and Aaron Serena Handrix. They were both raised by a single mother and never had Alexander’s name associated with them. Neither was Serena legally married to Alexander. But in the information about their father, they definitely had Alexander Riverdale written.

Meira felt relieved and asked, "Then, you are my mother as well."

Serena observed her for a moment and said, "Hmm."

"Then can I..." Meira stopped as she thought, That would be too much to ask for, and said, "Nothing."

Serena simply looked at her. Meira got back to her senses and said, "It’s getting boring, isn’t it? How about we do something interesting?"

Serena nodded, as if to see what she was up to.

Meira instructed the servant to bring some stuff from her residence. Soon it was arranged—a drawing board stand and a small canvas.

"I have a weekly assignment to complete, and for that, I need to draw something. Maybe you can help me decide on what I should draw," Meira said. "It’s a simple assignment with not much credit score, so I can just draw whatever."

Serena was simply observing her making preparations. Meira started drawing, having her one-sided conversation with Serena. "I’m not yet that good, but I keep trying. One day, I’m sure I will master the art...."

The talk continued, with Serena listening to her quietly and watching her draw.

"Ms Handrix, I don’t really talk much, but somehow it’s comforting to talk with you—just like I talk with my friend at university. She is the only friend I have. Maybe I talk with you two because... my friend can’t talk, and you don’t talk much," then she looked at Serena, "Ms Handrix, do you think I only talk with people who talk less?"

There was an affection in Serena’s eyes as she watched the innocent girl talking as she pleased. She almost forgot to respond to her.

Serena’s silence made Meira feel a little guilty, and she asked, "Umm... Am I bothering you... Ms Handrix?" noveldrama

"Mother," Serena said.

"Hmm?" Meira blinked a few times.

"Your middle name is Serena... so I am your mother," Serena replied with the same lines Meira had said before. "You should call me mother."

Meira felt speechless for a moment. Just a while ago, she was going to ask the same—if she could call her mother—but stopped, thinking she might be overdoing it.

"Mother," Meira replied, her eyes moist. Now she was going to have someone she could call mother. In her documents, even her father’s name was mentioned as Alexander Riverdale, just like her brothers. Did that mean she was not an orphan but a person with a complete family?

Serena hummed and looked at the drawing. "You draw really well."

"Thank you... Mother...Umm...Mom," Meira said, as she resumed drawing.

Aaron was observing the two from a distance. He didn’t know what they were talking about, but could guess it was something they both enjoyed. Serena looked comfortable with Meira—vice versa.

Justin had come to check on his mother before leaving for the hospital. When he entered Aaron’s residence, he saw the same view as Aaron.

Aaron noticed his presence and said, "They seem to be getting along really well."

Justin hummed, and Aaron asked again, "Any progress with finding our sister?"

Justin shook his head. "They are trying. That old man was really so careful not to leave any traces behind."

"Don’t worry. I’m sure we will find her."

Justin hummed and then went to meet his mother. Aaron followed as well.

Meira stood up to greet her brothers. Serena looked at Justin and asked, "Natalie? Babies?"

"Natalie and both the babies are fine. After a few days, I’ll bring them back home and you can meet them," Justin informed.

Serena nodded while Meira asked, "Brother, do you have their pictures?"

Justin shook his head. "Not yet. But you can come to the hospital once Grandma returns and see them yourself."

Meira was already eager to do that, and now she was even more excited.

The old woman returned home after an hour. The car was ready to take her to the hospital. Once she reached the hospital, she realized she wasn’t aware of where to go. It was a huge hospital, and she felt lost.

She pulled out her cellphone and made a call. "Brother, I’m at the hospital. But I don’t know where to go."

"Where are you?" Justin asked.

"At the entrance," she replied, looking at the place full of people.

"Stay there," he replied. "I’ll send someone to get you."

Meira waited at the entrance and looked around, observing people and the huge place until someone came to get her.

"Ms Meira," a familiar voice reached her, and she almost froze.

Noah, standing behind her a few steps away, thought she didn’t hear him and repeated, "Ms Meira."

Meira got back to her senses, turned to look at him, and offered him a silent greeting nod.

Of all the people, her brother had to trouble this man to get her. Since the day she signed the divorce papers, it was the first time they were alone, and it felt unsettling to her.

"This way," Noah said, ready to lead her way.

Meira nodded and followed him quietly, her gaze observing the tall man in a perfectly fitted suit walking ahead of her, as if he was someone she could only watch from a distance.

They stopped in front of the elevator. When it arrived, it was already filled with people. As they all began stepping out, Noah held Meira’s hand and gently moved her to the side. Only then did she realize she had zoned out, and Noah had to guide her. She glanced at her hand—he was still holding it, seemingly waiting for the spacious elevator to empty.

Once it was clear, he stepped inside, still holding her hand, and released it only after she had entered. Others waiting joined them as well, making the space crowded.

Taken aback by the sudden influx, Meira instinctively stepped back, only to realize she was standing extremely close to the man behind her—and froze. A slight movement and she would’ve bumped right into Noah.

Just as she feared, the person in front of her shifted backward, but before he could bump into her, she felt a pair of firm hands at her waist, swiftly moving her to the side. In the next moment, she found herself trapped between the elevator wall and the tall man standing in front of her. One of his hands rested on the wall beside her, shielding her from the crowd around them.

The elevator doors closed, and it finally began to move upward. Pressed so close to him, her face was nearly at the base of his neck, and his chin brushed over her head more than once.

The scent of his cologne surrounded her completely. Her heart was racing, her cheeks heated, and she couldn’t help but wonder when this ride would end. It was the first time she’d ever been this close to a man, and it was overwhelmingly intense.

’Did everyone in this hospital decide to use this elevator at once?’ she couldn’t help but think and frown inside.

The short ride stretched endlessly as the elevator stopped on various floors—some people stepped out, others stepped in—before it finally emptied on the floor just below the VIP wing.

Noah moved away then and stood at the side. Meira finally felt like she could breathe again. She didn’t dare look at him and kept her head lowered, breathing and trying to calm her heart.

Moments later, the elevator reached the VIP floor, and they stepped out together. Walking behind her, she touched her heated cheeks and exhaled out through her mouth to cool down.