Chapter 3: Little Guppy Comes Home

Because filming ended late, we stayed there that night.

Harper walked me to my bedroom door, gently tucking my hair behind my ear. "Go to bed early. Tomorrow, I'm taking you to meet someone."

The next morning, I stood outside Harper's house, nerves buzzing through me.

I clutched my bag anxiously. "We're just... into each other, right? Isn't meeting your parents a bit soon?"

She smiled. "Not at all. Mom's been wanting to meet you."

While I was still dazed, she pushed me inside.

Standing in the entryway, she couldn't wait to shout, "Mom, I brought my girlfriend home!"

I blushed. "Not yet! Don't say that."

"Oh," she blinked innocently, then called again, "Mom, I brought Little Guppy home!"

During the show, I'd wondered about that nickname, but with everything going on, I'd forgotten to ask.

Just as I was about to ask why she called me that, a woman rushed in with a kitchen knife, startling me. My brain did a full 'what the hell?' spin.

Harper squeezed my hand and whispered, "Don't be scared, that's my mom."

I nodded, struggling with how to greet her, when the woman tossed the knife aside and pulled me into a hug.

She was trembling, voice choked, so emotional she couldn't speak.

I froze for a few seconds, not sure how to react.

Her embrace was warm, with a familiar scent. Dazed, I blurted out a name: "Mama Grace?"

The woman shuddered, then let me go, lips quivering. "Yes, it's me."

At last, I understood where that sense of familiarity came from.

I was born in a remote Appalachian town, where sons were prized over daughters.

I was too young to understand much, but my father called me a burden, blamed me for my mother's death.

When I was five, strangers came to our house. My father gave them a lot of money, and they left a woman behind.

That night, my father tried something, but came out bloodied and cursing.

When he wasn't looking, I snuck in.

She looked wary at first, but relaxed when she saw me.

She beckoned me over, her voice gentle. "Hi there, come sit. My name's Grace. What's yours?"

I hesitated, but walked over. She smelled nice, warm like sunshine.

She pulled something from her pocket, took a small bite, then handed it to me. "Try this, it's chocolate. It's delicious."

I took a lick. The sweetness burst on my tongue like fireworks. I took a big bite, then tucked the rest in my pocket for later.

She noticed, just smiled and patted my head.

She asked me lots of questions, and I answered them all.

Finally, she asked, "Little Guppy, will you help untie me so I can leave?"

I stared at her in fear, shaking my head like crazy.

I blurted, "Dad will kill me," and ran.

For days, I didn't go near that strange woman again.

My father kept going in, chaining her up, and always came out cursing and holding some new injury.

One night, I heard him say, "Damn, this was a waste of money. Maybe I'll just kill her."

I was little, but I knew what death meant.

Biting my lip, I waited until he was drunk, then trembling, stole his keys and ran to the woman's room.

It took a few tries, but I finally unlocked her chain.

She was so thin by then. Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, "My dad said he's going to kill you. Auntie, you'd better run."

I'd never left the town, but I knew the roads. I led her through twists and turns until we were far away.

"Auntie, this is as far as I can take you."

Biting my finger, I hesitated. "Auntie, can I hug you? You really remind me of my mom."

She choked up, opening her arms.

I dove in, but to avoid being found, could only cry softly. "Mama Grace..."

She asked, "Little Guppy, do you want to come with me?"

I shook my head, managing a smile. "It's okay, Auntie. Don't worry, I'll be fine. He's my dad, after all."

I watched her leave, but couldn't bring myself to go home.

I was sure my father would kill me.

I cried as I wandered aimlessly, eventually collapsing on a main road.

Next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital.

I had a high fever and barely remembered anything, instinctively blocking out those memories and developing a love for sweets.

The police couldn't do anything, so they sent me to a foster home. At least I was fed and clothed.

Later, I joined showbiz. During a wire stunt on set, I fell and the memories came flooding back. It was like the past had finally caught up with me.

When I asked Savannah to look into it, I learned my biological father had died years ago—drunk, he fell off a ridge.

The shadows finally lifted, but I never expected to meet someone from my past again.

I briefly told Mama Grace about my life. She looked at me with nothing but pain in her eyes. "You've suffered."

I smiled. "It's okay. I'm fine. It's all in the past."

The mood grew heavy.

Harper, sitting nearby, finally piped up to lighten things. "Alright, enough gloom. It's a happy ending now."

She paused. "Do you know the first thing my mom said to me when she came home?"

I looked at her, waiting.

She blinked. "She said she'd set up a childhood 'engagement' for me—a family-arranged match."

I nearly choked.

Mama Grace glared at her, then squeezed my hands tightly. "After I came back, I tried to find you, but couldn't. I thought... Later, I saw you on TV and just knew it was you. Luckily, I was right."

She turned to Harper, sounding exasperated. "I gave you so many chances, but you still haven't won her over. Useless!"

Harper looked innocent, but when she saw me smile, she immediately said, "Who says I haven't? Riley just agreed to be with me."

Me: "?"

Mama Grace looked at me, eyes shining. Harper put her hands together behind her, pleading.

I had no choice but to nod. "Yes... I just agreed."

Mama Grace was overjoyed, hugging me tight. "If this brat bullies you, tell me, okay? No matter what happens, you're my daughter—always."

My eyes stung. I took a shaky breath. "Okay."

Harper somehow ended up beside me, pulling me out of Mama Grace's arms. "Mom, we just started dating—can't you wish us well?"

She laughed. "Fine, fine. You two talk, I'll go cook."