Page 163 of Luxe

“Don’t. Talk?” I force out.

“Good job. Shesh,” she laughs. “Matthias was right.”

“Ma-tee-ass here?”

“STOP TALKING!”

I pout, but obey, reaching my hand out. Somehow that hurts too, but it doesn’t make me want to scream.

She takes it. Even without seeing, I know it’s her hand, I would recognize it among a million different hands.

“Everyone’s here. All your brothers, your dad, Nathan, Odette, Julie. I don’t think Odette and Nathan should be in the same planet though. Wow, I thought you talked a lot. Oh, and My-Linh, she’s the one holding it all together.

“How long?” I say.

“You’ve been out for about five days. Being a sleepy head.”

“Frank?”

“Frank is okay. He wasn’t hurt. But. He got my stalker. He’s gone.”

“Good.” That one was worth the pain.

“I have something for you. Our family lawyer gave it to us. It was something Dad left for you. I… read it. I just wanted to make sure if it was something you should hear …in case you…”

“Read.”

She clears her throat and straightens out the paper so she can read.

“Dear Kylian,

The first time I met you, you came up to me, held out a sandwich you had made from the ingredients in my fridge and said, “Dude. This ham is amazing. You should eat some. Have my sandwich, I can make another one.” And then you poured me a glass of coke and made me sit down while you told me about what you’d learned at school that day. You were more at home in my house than I was. And you made everyone everywhere you go feel like family. You got that from your grandfather. He’d be proud of who you are now. There is no doubt.

I'm not leaving you much in the way of money or assets, you could buy me out multiple times over. But what I want to give you is this -- my blessing. Maybe you don't know it yet, or maybe you do and don't know what to do because you're afraid of what we'll say, so let me tell you this: You have my blessing. You two are like sunshine and rain, Kiara and you. It was the same with my wife and I, and out lives were blessed with endless rainbows. Now you know the real reason for my asking you to help me. Love my daughter for me. She has always loved you.

Finally, I wish I could leave Watch to you. Unfortunately, I can’t. But I have seen what you have done with it, and if my son sees any sense, then he will make sure that you and only you get it. I look forward to watching you achieve all the things you told me you were going to do that day.

You are one of a kind, son.

Don’t waste it.

Be brave.

Love,

Dennis Yin.

Her voice cracks at his name. I don’t even know how she made it through the whole letter. My eyes are even more blurry than they were before from the tears.

“So… I guess he had a little idea about us,” I say, ignoring the pain.

“Before we did.”

“Kiara. I want you to know something, if that letter had said something else, that he didn’t want us together, I would have loved you anyway. For the rest of my days.” Each word feels like a knife to my chest. But it’s worth it.

She leans in, her lips wet from her own tears as she kisses me. “I love you.”

“Really?” I say hoarsely, teasing her.

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