The Beautiful Nightmare.

(KAIRA'S POV)

I spent the entire drive to the Horton estate trying to convince myself that I could survive living with Slade Horton.

But when the large iron gates opened, I still wasn’t convinced.

I pressed my sweaty palms against the expensive leather seats as the car drove through, my first time taking the main gates instead of the staff' entrance.

I've spent the last five years avoiding Slade Horton with every fiber of my being. And now, I discover that I will be forced to live in the same house with him.

We are about to become siblings.

My bully as my stepbrother?

"We don't have to go on with it. You are my priority, so if you don't want this, then I won't do it," Mum had said to me after she watched me turn into a ghost while I processed the news.

Of course, I wasn't in support of the marriage. But Mum has sacrificed her life for me. I would be a brat not to support her. So I shoved all my feelings down like a big girl, told her I was happy for her and that we could move whenever she wanted.

What I didn’t expect was that in two hours, I would be saying goodbye bye to my room, my garden, my home and the neighbors, Elisha, Corbin and Brent.

Apparently, Tom wants us to move in immediately. ‘For our safety’

Tom Horton, the wealthiest’s man in PineCrest is My Mum’s boss and Slade Horton’s father. Mum has been working for the Horton household for the past decade, it’s the reason why I am on scholarship at PineCrest high and why the other kids refer to me as a freeloader.

I have always seen Tom Horton as a fair man with empathy, but as he welcomed us today, he looked like a man clearly smitten with love.

He had his eyes on mum as the car parked beside a large water fountain that reminded me of my fear of water when I looked a second longer.

I peeped at the mansion from the window. It was the kind of place that belonged in a high profile magazine.

"Are you alright, honey?" Mum's soft voice made me turn to her.

"Yes. I'm fine," I lied.

Tom helped us out of the car, like a proper gentleman.

"Hi," He greeted softly.

"Hi," Mum greeted him back.

I noticed the faint blush on her neck and my hands grasped each other unconsciously.

It was a surprise that instead of getting lost in a bubble, Tom turned to me, a funny look now settling on his face.

"Hi Kaira. How are you?" He asked, and he sounded different from the regular Mr. Horton I was used to. Less warm and friendly, more nervous and uncertain.

"I'm fine, sir."

"I'm sorry about... this whole change. I hope you understand that your mum and I don't want to rush you into this but it’s important to think of safety first."

"Yes," was all I said. All I could say.

He held my eyes like he wanted to say more, but then he turned to Mum and I can swear that I noticed them exchange eye contact.

"So," he said, beginning to lead us toward the house. "Why don't we all come in and get settled? We can have drinks while we wait for dinner." He threw a wink at me. "Kaira, your mum told me about how much you love spaghetti and meatballs. I hope the chef does justice tonight. I want you to have the perfect welcome home meal."

My stomach clenched at the words "welcome home," but Mum glanced expectantly at me and I forced a tiny smile onto my lips while I muttered, "Thank you."

They had no idea that my legs were trembling as we climbed the large front stairs or that I was struggling to breathe as the giant front doors opened and as we passed through.

“Welcome home.” Tom greeted as he waved us in and a wave of relief washed over me as I was welcomed by the empty hallway.

He's not here. Maybe he isn't home. That would be perfect. It'll give me a couple of—

“I really hope you love it," Tom said. His warm smile had returned as his eyes lingered more on Mum.

"His home is beautiful honey, isn’t it?," Mum said softly, marveling at the art pieces and portraits hung at strategic points in the house.

"Our home, dear," Tom corrected, and another exchanged glance between them did not go unnoticed.

Then he turned to me and that guilty look came on again.

"I hope you like it, Kaira," he asked. I wasn't paying attention to anything as we walked but I nodded at him.

Tom smiled and then surprised me by getting in between Mum and I. He took both our hands in his, just as a pair of workers opened another set of doors after a bow.

"Kaira and Shanice ." He glanced at Mum, then, me. I was already looking up at him.

"I want you both to formally meet my son, Slade Horton."

My body froze immediately and I felt suffocated. Tom was staring ahead now and even though I didn't want to, my gaze followed his.

Tom chuckled. “Shanice and Slade know each other but..you know not this way.”

Tom’s voice faded away. He tugged me along so that my heavy legs moved forward and soon, Slade Horton towered over me like a beautiful nightmare.

I wasn't supposed to feel lightheaded; I thought I had prepared myself.

But clearly not.

His green eyes found me and next thing, a glass slipped from his hand and shattered loudly. Mum and I gasped softly, even Tom was clearly alarmed but Slade stood perfectly, unmoving like nothing happened.

"Good evening," He greeted.

Cold. Smooth. Composed. Like he didn’t just drop a glass.

“I’m sorry about that.” His gaze fixated on me.

“It’s okay.” Mum said warmly, then she turned to me, a pleading look in her eyes. “Say hello Kaira.”

I found myself muttering inaudible words and I blame it on the way that cold look of his imprisoned me to the spot.

"Slade, do you mind giving Kaira a tour of the garden lake house while someone cleans this mess?" Tom turned to me an apologetic smile on his face. “I know how much you love flowers Kaira, your mum talks about it all the time.”

I swallowed a heavy lump in my throat.

No. Let him say no.

He will surely say no.

"Of course," Slade answered. "It will be my pleasure."