Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 140

**Blueprint 140**
**Chapter 140**

**Harper**

“Maddox leaned in closer, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. ‘Beauregard? Landon Beauregard?’ he pressed, his eyes searching mine for a reaction.”

I felt a flicker of annoyance as I narrowed my gaze at him. “That’s an oddly specific name. How in the world do you know that?”

He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as if the absurdity of the situation amused him. “Come on, Harper. It’s not like there’s a crowd of people with that name. Landon Beauregard is practically a legend in the corporate world. He’s like a ghost at public events—no one has laid eyes on him since he took over his father’s empire two decades ago. The man is a titan in tech, influencing everything from software to hardware.”

As he opened the car door for me, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “You’re making it sound like I should be in awe or something.”

I slid into the seat, fastening my seatbelt while my mind whirled with thoughts about what he had just revealed.

Maddox settled in beside me, his own seatbelt clicking into place as he turned his gaze toward me, concern etched on his face. “Hey, you good?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions brewing inside me. “Honestly, I’m not sure how to process all of this. Dean had so much more to say, but it felt overwhelming. I need to talk to Aun. She told me she had no idea who got my mom pregnant.”

“Maybe your mom kept it all a secret back then,” he suggested, his tone thoughtful.

I let out a heavy sigh. “Or maybe they both made a pact to never speak of it again. I’m seeing her tomorrow. I just hope that…” My voice trailed off, my mind racing through countless scenarios.

“Are you ready to head out? Or do you want to go back inside and grab a bite? Your lipstick is still flawless; I doubt you even had a sip of your drink.”

I could sense he was trying to lighten the mood, but my thoughts were too tangled to match his lightheartedness.

Then, he placed his hand over mine, grounding me with his warmth. “Hey, don’t get so worked up. You’ve got to take it easy, alright?”

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my hand, and a flutter of warmth spread through me, coaxing a small smile to my lips. It was a simple gesture, yet it eased some of the weight on my shoulders.

As we drove toward my place, I broke the silence. “When Dean mentioned the possibility of us being siblings, it stirred up so many emotions. It explains why I never felt that kind of attraction to him, yet there was always something special, something unnameable between us.”

Maddox chuckled, shaking his head. “And there I was, acting like a jealous fool for no reason.”

“It wasn’t for nothing,” I replied, grinning at the memory of my earlier annoyance. But the smile faded quickly as I remembered the source of my frustration. “It’s just frustrating that Dean had to be the one to reveal this to me.”

“You’re wondering why it wasn’t your dad who told you,” he said, his voice steady. “And that’s if he’s even your dad. Look, don’t set your expectations too high until you have all the facts.”

I felt a surge of impatience. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to speak with my aunt. Only then would I confront Dean again. His words were just that—words. I needed something concrete, something like a DNA test to ease my mind.

Upon arriving at my place, we didn’t rush inside. Instead, Maddox caught me off guard, pinning me playfully against the car’s hood, his arms encircling me from behind.

“What if it turns out that you and Dean are actually siblings?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

I sighed, gripping his wrist. “If I’m being truthful, I could have ten siblings out there, but—”

“But getting to know them all doesn’t compare to the feeling of reuniting with your sister,” he finished my thought, his eyes sparkling with understanding.

I gazed up at him, a mix of awe and appreciation swelling within me. “What’s up with that?” I asked, a playful tone creeping into my voice.

“Just something I thought about,” he replied nonchalantly, winking at me.

I smiled, feeling the chill in the air. “It’s getting a little cold out here. We should head inside.”

I was about to break free from his embrace when he said, “I have to run somewhere real quick.”

Disappointment washed over me. “I thought you were going to stay for a while.”

He turned me gently, his arm still around me, brushing his thumb over my chin. “I got a text on the way here. They need me urgently. It won’t take long, I promise. It’s only 9:30 PM. I should be back by 11 PM. Then…” He trailed off, his nose brushing against mine, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I can come back here and spend the night with you, or we could head to my place instead. It’s been ages since you stayed over.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling a rush of excitement. “You’re right. Let’s go to your place when you get back.”

He bit his lip, a grin spreading across his face. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll be back before you know it. Just don’t fall asleep on me.”

After discovering the truth, I had left them both at the motel, my heart heavy with betrayal. Tiffany hadn’t even tried to chase after me, and honestly, I was grateful. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if she had.

I had hidden my face behind a mask and sunglasses, my eyes stinging and red from the tears that had streamed down my cheeks. They had puffed up, a painful reminder of my heartache. Yet, even that wasn’t enough to quell the storm inside me.

I had turned off my phone shortly after leaving the motel, not wanting to hear from anyone. The silence felt safer until the sun dipped below the horizon.

But as 11 PM approached, the pain became unbearable. There was only one person I wanted to see—Harper. I knew I had wronged her in countless ways, but at that moment, she was the only person I could think of.

My feet carried me to her doorstep, and surprisingly, I still felt energized. I could have gone anywhere—my hotel, my apartment, even my private jet—but all I craved was her presence.

Standing at her door, I removed my mask and knocked a few times, praying she would answer. I noticed the lights were on, which gave me a glimmer of hope.

“Who’s there?” Her voice drifted through the door, cautious and curious.

“It’s me.”

A long pause followed before she responded, her tone cold. “What the hell do you want?”

“Please just open up. Something happened, and I… I need you. I… please, Harp.” My voice cracked, the emotion spilling over. I felt vulnerable, desperate for her.

To my relief, she finally opened the door, her eyes widening as they landed on my bruised face. I wanted her to step closer, to envelop me in her warmth, but she lingered in the doorway, processing what she saw.

“What happened to you?” she asked, her voice steady but with an edge of concern.

“That doesn’t matter right now.”

“Then why are you here?” Her expression was unreadable, and it hurt to see her so distant. She didn’t want me there.

“I saw Tiffany and Josh together, in bed.” My voice trembled with a mix of rage and hurt. “And I found out she’s not carrying my child.”

Crossing her arms, she rolled her eyes dismissively. “And?”