The Billionaire's Game(26)

“But what if it’s all a mistake? What if she just happened to have the same name or something?” Every part of her wanted to believe she had these two extraordinary people for a brother and sister, but it was so surreal that she just couldn’t believe it. Things like this didn’t happen to her.

Max dug out his wallet and pulled out a picture. “Here. This is our mother. She was very young at the time. It’s the only picture I could locate.”

Asha took the small picture from him, her heart racing with fear and anticipation. She studied it, biting her lower lip in concentration as she looked at the likeness, a woman who looked very much like Maddie—and a younger version of her own birth mother. Stroking a finger along the edge of the small picture, she murmured, “She does look like my mom.”

“Do you have a picture?” Maddie asked excitedly. “I’d like to see it.”

“I do. I have a picture of her and my father before they died.” Asha handed the picture back to Max.

“Do you remember them?” Max asked, placing the photo back in his wallet. “I know they died in a car accident. Your father was drinking and driving, according to my information.”

“Your information was wrong,” Asha answered defensively. “My father wasn’t driving and he didn’t drink. There was no alcohol in his system. But the guy driving was intoxicated. They had all gone together to a holiday party for his work. My mom and dad were in the back seat, and everyone in the car died instantly when the driver swerved and they were hit by a semi-truck.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “And no…I don’t remember them. I was only three when they died. I don’t have much left from either of them. Once their estate was settled, there was nothing but a few personal belongings.” Actually, she had gotten quite a few of her parents’ belongings, but everything had been sold off by her foster parents, supposedly to pay for her expenses, leaving her with nothing but a few photos.

Maddie put her arm around her, as though she sensed Asha’s sadness. “Let’s go look at those pictures.”

“I’m sorry, Asha,” Max said remorsefully. “No child should have to lose both of her parents so young.”

Asha shrugged. “We all did.” She knew Max had been adopted by good parents, but Maddie had done the rounds of foster homes and knew what it was like to feel alone.

“I was luckier than you and Maddie,” Max answered contritely.

She looked up at Max, and wanted to hug him again when she saw his rueful expression. “I’m glad at least one of us got adopted. It’s not your fault that I didn’t. I survived. I had foster parents who fed me and gave me a roof over my head.”

Maddie chuckled. “Don’t bother trying to tell him that. You’ll soon learn that Max feels like a brother who should have been there for his sisters, even though he didn’t even know we existed. Maybe together we can convince him that he’s not psychic and isn’t responsible for our problems.”

Asha smiled shyly at Maddie. “Things happen. It’s nobody’s fault.”

Shooting Max a warm smile, she let Maddie and Mia lead her toward the stairs.

“We’ll throw something on the grill. I’m starving,” Kade grumbled. “Don’t be gone long.”

After the three women climbed the stairs and entered Asha’s temporary bedroom, she looked at Mia and Maddie and said, “They’re actually going to cook?” She’d never once seen her foster father cook, and her ex-husband certainly hadn’t.

Mia and Maddie both flopped on Asha’s bed, making themselves comfortable. “Kade is a little scary in the culinary department, but Max is a decent cook. And Maddie’s husband, Sam, almost always cooks. He makes some incredible food,” Mia answered, folding her legs beneath her on the bed and looking at Asha with a perplexed look. “You look surprised.”

“I’ve never seen a husband who actually cooked,” she answered, still surprised that Maddie’s billionaire husband actually spent time in the kitchen.

“Sam hasn’t let me fix a meal since I got pregnant,” Maddie said with a sigh. “He’s a little freaked out that I’m having twins. Kade told us that you were married for seven years. Don’t tell me that your ex-husband never made a meal.”

Asha shook her head. “Never. My foster parents were very conservative Indians and so was my ex-husband. Men don’t cook.” She watched Maddie as she stretched out on the bed, noticing for the first time that her new sister had a baby bump. She hadn’t seen it beneath the flowing shirt Maddie was wearing, but it was pretty recognizable now that she was lying on the bed with the material stretched over her distended belly. “You’re having twins?” she asked, her tone slightly awed.