Mrs. Smith was very happy to know the result of Harper's interview. Mr. and Mrs. Smith agreed to join them in their get together. For the first time in her life Harper thought that something good is happening to her.

Colton called Lilly and asked her to meet them in Heavens for lunch, he wanted to call his friends too but he knew that Harper will not speak a word in their company. She was not an introvert or lonely outcast as the half of the university campus thinks, rather she is the gem who have forgotten to shine due to the adversities of the life.

"Earth to Colton" Martha Smith said. "What were you thinking so deep about?"

"Nothing mum, just about Harper." Colton replied

"What about her?"

"Just how brave she is. How she is acting as the alpha of her family and how selfless she is. How she is managing to pay the fee for her brother and how she is saving each penny for her mother's treatment. She is just 21 and look how mature she acts and behaves.No one knows what a diamond she is except fare few"

Mrs. Smith looked towards Harper who was busy laughing with her husband. She was happy that Harper was so close to their family. Dave her elder son always considered Harper as his sister and was quite protective towards her. Harper was like the daughter she never had and always wished. Martha still remembers that day when she asked her husband Jonathan to legally adopt Harper but when they thought of Colton and how he cares for her, they decided against it  as they doubt that somewhere he likes Harper more than a friend and didn't want to create an awkward situation. But they never mentioned that to Harper or Colton so that they both can figure it out themselves. She smiled watching the scene getting unfold, Jonathan and Harper were both behaving like a normal father and daughter. Their bond made her smile.

"Mum" Colton called his mother who was happily watching them. "You know I am jealous of the way you are looking towards Harper with so much love."

Martha laughed and slapped Colton on shoulder playfully.

"Go you buffoon" Martha pestered him. Colton laughed and hugged his mother tightly and kissed her on her cheek.

Fifteen minutes later Colton saw Lilly entering the restaurant.

"Hey Harps, your annoying little pixie is here." Colton yelled so that Lilly could hear his teasing when she entered the restaurant.

"Don't you dare call me pixie you moron" Lilly yelled while going towards Harper.

Harper who was busy chatting with Mr. Smith looked towards Lilly and Colton and rolled her eyes at their childish nature.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Lilly greeted and then pointing towards Colton asked them "Are you sure this chimpanzee here is your son?" Colton groaned and Lilly laughed at his uneasiness.

Lunch was a calm affair. They talked about each and every thing. Harper laughed whole heartedly with tears of joy in her eyes on Colton's jokes and his high school stories. Lilly was no less and she too narrated her childhood stories. When Harper told them that she was the head of cheer leading in her high school, they both looked bewildered towards her. She too shared her high school stories and soon noon was turned into evening.

"We must leave now, or else we will get late." Colton chimed in between their talk. Harper and Lilly nodded and they left.

When they reached their apartment, they found Dave sitting with a female in the living room. He smiled when he saw them and whispered something in the female's ear and got up. He took Harper in a warm embrace.

"Congratulation kiddo"

Harper smiled "Thank you Dave. Lilly and I both got selected."

Dave looked surprised towards Lilly and congrats her too. When Colton cleared his throat and pointed towards the female, Dave looked sheepish and cleared his throat. "Guys this is Anna. She works with me. Anna this is my brother Colton, Harper she is like my sweet little baby sister and this is her friend Lilly"

Anna smiled towards them and when Harper tried to shake hands with her, she surprised her by embracing Harper. Harper patted her back awkwardly and Dave chuckled at her awkwardness. Anna left Harper to hug Lilly who looked like a deer caught in headlight. Anna then surprised everyone when she hugged Colton and Colton being himself wiggled his eyebrows suggestively towards Dave  and Dave just shook his head at his brother's childishness.

Dave cleared his throat once again to gain their attention and said "Anna and I are dating from past 2 weeks. I thought tonight's party might be a good thing to introduce you guys with her."

Harper smiled and Colton smirked.

"I am happy for you brother" Colton patted his back and congratulated him.

Ringing of doorbell broke their conversation. Colton went to open the door and in entered Colton's friends and Colton left to attend them. Sometime later Mr. and Mrs. Smith came with food and drinks and the atmosphere was becoming lovely. The light music at the background thanks to Lilly for her awesome music collection and delicious food to eat made by Martha was splendid. Harper was enjoying her evening very much.

After some time Jason Maxfield showed up at their apartment door, Dave and Anna was surprised to find their boss there. Dave was bemused to know that Harper know the owner of Maxfield industries.
Jason was an easy going person and soon the awkwardness of boss and employee was sorted out. Later that evening when door bell rang, Harper was about to go open the door when Colton stopped her and went himself to answer the door. When he opened the door, Alex entered along with his mother in a wheel chair accompanied by a nurse and Harper's grandparents. Harper gasped looking towards the scene that was unfolding in front of her.

"Mum!" She asked befuddled.

"Surprise!" Alex and Colton screamed.

Harper embraced her mother and kissed her on forehead. Then she embraced her granny and her grandpa lovingly. She looked towards Colton with teary eyed smile and muttered a thank you. She engulfed Colton in a warm hug. She introduced her mother  and her grandparents to everyone. Some of the Colton's friends were whispering some not so good things about her. When Dave heard some of the whispers, he scolded them and asked them to leave if they do not wish to stop all the things they were presuming falsely.

The night was folding merrily for Harper and she was at the ninth cloud. She was enjoying her life for the first time after so many years to her fullest. Around ten the door bell again chimed.

"Are you expecting someone else?" Harper asked Colton. He shook his head as no and then she looked towards Dave but he too denied. She crossed the hall to open the door. She gasped in surprise to see the person on the other side of door. Dave looked worried  when she did not return with the guest. So he went to look into the matter himself

"Who is it Harper?" Dave asked.

Harper did not reply but moved aside so that the person standing outside can enter in. When the person entered in the hall, Alex and Julian gasped in surprise. Jonathan looked worried towards them.

"Is everything okay?" Jonathan asked.

Harper just nodded. She cleared her throat and said "This is Ethan Wright everyone, my friend"

"Just friend Harpy, if I remember correctly I used to be your best friend" Ethan replied with tight lips.

Harper looked painfully towards him and she smiled dryly.

"Ethan!" Jason asked coming out of one of the rooms. "What is sole heir of Wright industries doing here?"

Gasps were heard from across the room.

"Well I was visiting my best friend." Ethan replied to Jason and shook hand with him.
Ethan looked expectantly towards Harper and said "What? No hugs for me Harpy. I thought you will screech excitedly and will go mad with glee. After all we are meeting after three years"

She looked towards him and knew that he was being sarcastic even if he was smiling warmly. She know him like the back of her hands

"I guess it would be good if you take your guest in your room, you guys are meeting after long time" Colton suggested after sensing the awkwardness between them

Ethan looked towards him. "Ah, Colton Smith I presume if I am correct".

Colton nodded and shook hands with him. Harper excused herself and took Ethan with her. Once inside Harper locked her door she said only thing that she should not have said "Sorry" and Ethan's face contorted from passive to rage.