CHAPTER NINE- Not one of Us

Tristan’s POV

By the time I pulled into the driveway, the sky was fully dark. The estate lights were shining as bright as the stars , the house was still and cold as always. I sat in the car for a moment, letting the engine run. I kept thinking about what Louise said before getting out.

“I didn’t wear the dress because I didn’t want to.”

She wasn’t rude when she said it. Just sure of herself. She didn’t try to charm me, didn’t even care if I was pleased or not. She said what she felt, and she said it clearly. Most people, especially in my world, didn’t know how to do that.

I walked into the house, already sensing someone was awake. The faint sound of music coming out from the sitting room, and as I stepped in, I wasn’t surprised to see Olivia curled up on the couch, drinking wine like she owned the night.

“Well,” she said, tilting her head, “how was dinner with the princess of broke-land?”

I rolled my eyes. “Hi, Olivia. Good to see you too.”

“I’m being polite,” she said, grinning. “I waited up. I wanted to hear about the big date with our future sister-in-law. Or should I say, the bride Father chose for you.”

I walked to the fridge and poured a glass of water, ignoring her tone.

“Louise is nothing like what you’re imagining.”

“That bad already?” Olivia asked, feigning a frown. “Yikes.”

I sat across from her, resting the glass on my knee.

“She’s smart. Direct. Doesn’t pretend.”

Olivia’s smile dropped. “So you liked her.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to,” she said. “I can hear it in your voice.”

“She doesn’t want this marriage, Liv. Just like I don’t. She’s not scheming to marry into this family. If anything, she’s trying to keep her pride while everything around her is falling apart.”

“Her pride?” Olivia laughed bitterly. “Tristan, her father’s going bankrupt. The only thing Louise Gael has left is her last name, and even that doesn’t shine like it used to.”

“You don’t know her.”

“I don’t have to,” she snapped. “I’ve read about her and I definitely know her type.”

I shook my head, jaw tight. “You’re not being fair.”

“Oh please. You think this is love? This is a deal. Our father saw a sinking ship and decided to throw them a life jacket and that life jacket is you my dear brother.”

“She didn’t ask for this.”

“But she didn’t say no either,” Olivia said, eyes sharp. “And that’s enough for me.”

Just then, I could hear footsteps approaching, and we both turned to look at who it was, our mother, Clara Pierre, walking into the room.

She looked perfect as always, hair tied back, silk robe tied neatly at the waist, diamond earrings catching the light even in the dim glow of the room.

“Still up?” she asked, giving me a look. “Or just returned from your… charity date?”

I let out a slow breath. “Hello, Mother.”

She sat beside Olivia, who handed her the rest of her wine glass without needing to be asked. Mother took a sip and turned her eyes back to me.

“So?” she asked. “Did the girl pretend to be humble? Or did she show her true colors already?”

“She was polite.”

My mother snorted. “Polite. Oh I see.” She said sarcastically

“You never even met her,” I said.

“I didn’t have to,” My mother replied. “I knew her mother. Briefly. Pretty face, empty head. Wore expensive shoes and thought it meant she had class. Then she died and left that man, Louis to ruin all they worked hard for.”

“He’s still her father,” I said.

“And he had to give up his only child as a bride to save his fallen legacy” my mother responded

I stood up, glass in hand. “Why do you both hate her so much? You haven’t even spoken to her.”

“Because I know what she is,” Clara said. “She’s not one of us, Tristan. The Gaels were never our equals. They had money, yes, but no name. No reputation. Now they don’t even have the money.”

“And yet Father offered to save them.”

Mother’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Because your father sees himself as a good friend. He thinks marrying you off to that girl makes him look like a hero. All it really does is drag our name through the dirt.”

“Why not tell him that yourself?” I asked.

“Oh, I have,” she said. “Many times. He doesn’t listen. He’s blind to the fact that the Gaels are falling apart.”

“And what if she’s not what you think?” I asked. “What if she’s just a girl stuck in the same cage as me?”

Mother laughed softly. “Then she should’ve stayed out of it. No one forced her to say yes.”

“She didn’t say yes.”

“But she didn’t say no either,” Olivia added.

The room fell quiet. I looked between them, both calm, both cold, both so sure of what they thought they knew.

“Olivia’s already planning to make her life hell,” I said.

“She should,” Clara said without missing a beat. “Maybe then the girl will pack her bags and leave before she embarrasses herself.”

I stared at them. “You’re not angry at her. You’re angry at Father. You’re angry he made a decision without you.”

Clara(my mother) stood and smoothed her robe. “Your father does what he wants, but so do I. And I won’t pretend to welcome that girl into this family with a smile. If she thinks this marriage will turn her into a Pierre, she’s mistaken.”

“And what about me?” I asked. “Do I matter in any of this?”

Clara looked at me for a moment, her expression softening, but only slightly. “You matter more than you know, which is why this match disappoints me. You deserve someone better.”

“She might be better,” I said quietly.

Clara said nothing. She picked up the wine bottle and walked toward the door. Olivia followed, silent now, her bare feet making no sound on the cold floor.

Before they left, my mother turned back.

“She’s not one of us, Tristan. And she never will be.”

Then she was gone.

I stood alone in the middle of the room, my hands in fists, heart pounding, not out of anger but confusion. Louise hadn’t even stepped foot in this house and already she was hated. Judged. Rejected.

They didn’t know her.

And yet, maybe they didn’t need to.

Maybe they just needed someone to blame.

And maybe I was starting to blame myself too.