Chapter 3: Why That One?

ODESSA

I woke up with Callum’s voice still in my head.

“Can Aunt Vivian be my new mommy now?”

And Adrian’s answer came right after it.

“Soon, Callum. Soon.”

I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, then pushed the thought away. I wasn’t going to spend the morning crying over something I already knew was coming. If they wanted Vivian to take my place, fine. I still had six months left, and I wasn’t going to waste them falling apart.

I got dressed, fixed my hair, and went downstairs to start Vivian’s training like I promised.

The breakfast table looked different.

I stopped beside my chair when I saw the dishes laid out. The food I usually chose for breakfast was gone, replaced with several things I never ordered.

“Who changed the menu?” I asked.

One of the staff members looked at Vivian. “M-Miss Vivian said she wanted—”

“I changed it,” Vivian cut in with a smile. “I thought everyone might enjoy something different today.”

I looked at her.

Was this woman really that desperate to become Adrian’s wife? She was moving so fast, like she couldn’t wait for me to leave the house.

I pulled out my chair and sat down.

“Good morning, Odessa,” Vivian said pleasantly.

“Morning.”

She started eating as if nothing was unusual.

I picked up my fork and looked across the table at her. If she wanted to learn how to run this house, I would teach her.

We were still eating when Vivian suddenly looked up from her plate.

“Speaking of training, what does Adrian do when he’s sick?”

I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth. “What kind of question is that?”

“I’m trying to learn everything I can,” she said. “There are probably things I should know.”

I lowered my fork. “Such as?”

She thought for a moment. “The food he likes when he’s sick. His medicine. His migraines. Whether he wants someone around or prefers to be left alone.”

I stared at her. “Why do you need to know all that?”

“So I know what to do if he gets sick.”

“And what makes you think he falls sick often?”

“I don’t.” She shrugged and took another bite. “It’s just part of taking care of someone.”

I looked down at my plate. She had a point. Adrian told me to teach her everything she needed to know, and if she was serious about taking my place, these were things she would need to learn too.

“When he’s sick, he prefers simple food. Soup, toast, sometimes tea. He hates taking medicine, so you usually have to remind him.”

Vivian nodded and waited for me to continue.

“He gets migraines sometimes. When that happens, keep the room dark and quiet. He doesn’t like anyone hovering around him.”

“So he wants to be left alone?”

“Most of the time.”

She nodded and returned to her breakfast. I picked up my fork too, but my appetite was gone. I kept eating anyway, because I wasn’t about to let Vivian see how much those questions got to me.

I finished my breakfast and called one of the maids over to clear the table. Then I left the dining room and went to the sitting room. I figured I could watch a movie or read a novel and stay out of Vivian’s way for a bit.

I sat on the couch and reached for a novel when my phone started ringing.

I pulled it from my pocket and saw Julian’s name on the screen.

I didn’t want to discuss my work in the middle of the house, so I went upstairs to my room before answering.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Odessa. I’ve gone through your portfolio,” Julian said. “There’s some really good work here. I’m interested in discussing a few possible projects with you.”

“You are?”

“Definitely. But I’d rather talk in person. There are a few things I want to ask about your experience and the kind of work you’re looking for.”

“Yeah, that works for me.” I couldn’t help smiling.

“Great. How about we meet at Rexos Café later this week?”

“I can do that.”

We agreed on a day and time before ending the call.

I put my phone away and started back toward the sitting room. I was almost there when one of the staff members approached me with a form in her hand.

“Mrs. Sterling, Callum’s school sent something about his swimming lessons. You usually take care of those. Where should I put it?”

“Just leave it in—”

“Give it to Vivian,” Eleanor said as she walked in. “She’ll take care of it now.”

I stopped. “Vivian?”

Eleanor looked at me like she’d said the most obvious thing in the world. “Yes.”

I let out a shaky breath. “She’s been here for what, barely a week? She hasn’t even learned everything about Callum yet.”

“She will,” Eleanor said. “That’s why you’re training her.”

I stared at her. “So I’m supposed to hand over everything I do for Callum while I’m still teaching her how to do it?”

Eleanor’s smile didn’t change. “You wanted her to learn, didn’t you?”

The staff member stood there awkwardly, still holding the form.

Eleanor finally turned to her. “You can give it to Vivian.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The woman quickly walked away.

I watched her go, then looked at Vivian. She was already reaching for the form.

I didn’t say anything. There wasn’t much I could say without sounding like I was fighting her for something I’d already agreed to give up.

I went back to the sitting room and picked up my novel again. I read a few chapters, though I couldn’t tell you what they were about. My mind kept going back to the same conversation.

Eventually, I finished the book and decided to go upstairs and get some rest.

I was almost inside my room when something about the wardrobe caught my attention.

It looked slightly different.

Maybe I was overthinking it, but I walked over anyway. One section was sitting slightly open, even though I clearly remembered closing it earlier.

I pulled it open and checked inside.

Everything looked fine. My clothes were where I left them, and the boxes on the lower shelf were still in place.

Then I noticed my portfolio. I pulled out the printed pages and flipped through them.

One was missing.

It wasn’t just any page either. Someone tore out one of my best designs, a civic tower I worked on before I got married.

I checked the pages again, hoping I’d somehow put it somewhere else.

Nope.

It was gone.

I stared at the empty space in the portfolio, trying to figure out who would even bother taking one page of my work.

And why that one?