Chapter 5:

Chapter 5:

Olivia's POV

The moment we approached the entrance, the massive glass doors slid open on their own, just like the ones I'd seen in expensive shopping malls.

Stepping inside, I came to an abrupt stop.

Two neat rows of house staff stood waiting for us. Maids in matching black-and-white uniforms. Housekeepers. Security personnel.

And at the front stood a middle-aged man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit with white gloves. He carried himself with calm dignity, making it obvious he was the head butler.

The moment Xander wheeled inside, the butler bowed deeply. "Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling."

As if rehearsed countless times before, every member of the household bowed in perfect unison.

"Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling."

I stared at them in disbelief.

There had to be over twenty people.

The entire scene felt less like entering a home and more like walking into the headquarters of a large company.

Before I could recover from the surprise, one of the maids stepped forward carrying a silver basket filled with rose petals.

She gently scattered them across the polished marble floor in front of us.

My eyes widened. Was this some sort of welcoming ceremony?

"Those should have been orchids." Xander's deep voice echoed.

The maid froze instantly.

Before she could answer, the butler lowered his head.

"My apologies, master. The florist ran out of orchids at the last minute."

Xander regarded him for a brief moment. "No need for the flowers, then."

"Understood, sir."

The maid immediately curtsied before quietly gathering the basket and stepping away.

I swallowed.

Xander's gaze shifted to me for the first time since we left the venue.

"Your room is across the hall," he said evenly. "You should get some rest."

I blinked.

Did that mean we weren't sharing one?

Not that I was complaining. Quite the opposite actually.

I felt relieved. I had only met this man today. After everything that had happened, I needed time alone to process it all.

The fact that he wasn't forcing us to share a room made me appreciate him, even if I still couldn't understand him.

One of the younger maids stepped forward with a polite smile.

"I'll show you to your room, Mrs. Sterling."

Mrs. Sterling. The title still sounded strange.

Only this morning, I had been Olivia Brooks. Now everyone addressed me as someone else.

I offered the maid a small nod before following her deeper into the mansion.

The place was even more breathtaking inside.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Modern artwork decorated the walls. Every piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine.

After walking through a spacious living area, the maid stopped in front of what looked like a pair of silver doors.

I frowned.

"A… lift?" I whispered before I could stop myself.

The maid smiled. "Yes, Mrs. Sterling."

I stared at the doors. I had only ever seen elevators in shopping malls and hospitals.

The thought of someone having one inside their own home felt unreal.

"Would you prefer the lift or the stairs?" the maid asked politely.

I glanced to the side. A sweeping staircase curved elegantly toward the upper floors.

"The lift is... fine," I answered softly.

The maid pressed a button.

With a quiet ding, the doors slid open.

I stepped inside a little awkwardly, unfamiliar with the experience, before quickly pretending I knew exactly what I was doing.

A few moments later, the lift came to a gentle stop.

The doors opened once more.

The maid led me down a quiet hallway before stopping in front of a large wooden door.

She pushed it open and I stepped inside.

My mouth fell open.

The room was bigger than the entire apartment my family rented.

Soft warm lighting filled the space.

A king-sized bed sat in the center, dressed in crisp white sheets.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glowing gardens outside, while a walk-in closet stood partially open, revealing neatly arranged clothing.

"May I help you out of your dress, Mrs. Sterling?"

I looked down at the heavy wedding gown and gave a small nod.

"Yes... please."

At that moment, I realized just how desperately I wanted to get out of that dress.

The lace scratched against my skin, the corset squeezed my waist until I could barely breathe, and my feet throbbed from spending hours in heels.

The maid smiled knowingly. "Allow me, Mrs. Sterling."

I turned around as she carefully unzipped the back of the gown.

The weight disappeared from my shoulders almost instantly.

I stepped out of the dress, now dressed only in my undergarments.

"Please, have a seat."

I lowered myself to the edge of the bed with a relieved sigh.

The maid knelt before me and gently removed my heels.

The moment my aching feet touched the soft carpet, I nearly groaned in relief.

"I'll prepare a warm bath for you."

I nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

While she stepped into the bathroom, I leaned back against the mattress.

Even the bed felt unbelievably soft.

A few minutes later, the bath was ready.

It was the warmest bath I had ever taken.

 The heat melted away every ache in my shoulders and legs, washing away the exhaustion that had built up throughout the day.

By the time I changed into a comfortable nightgown and climbed back into bed, my eyelids felt impossibly heavy and sleep claimed me.

***

The next morning...

I slowly opened my eyes and stretched beneath the unbelievably soft blankets.

A contented sigh escaped my lips.

For one peaceful moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.

Then the memories came rushing back.

A gentle knock sounded on the bedroom door. 

"Mrs. Sterling?" A warm, gentlemanly voice came from outside.

"It's Alfred, the butler."

I quickly sat up. "C-come in."

The door opened, and Alfred stepped inside, dressed in the same immaculate black suit and white gloves I had seen the previous evening.

A leather clipboard rested in one hand, with a fountain pen in the other.

He bowed politely.

"Good morning, Mrs. Sterling. I hope you rested well."

"I did. Thank you," I replied, still a little nervous.

"I'm pleased to hear that."

He glanced down at his clipboard.

"I'm here to ask a few follow-up questions to ensure your first morning in the Sterling residence is as comfortable as possible."

I blinked.

"Would you prefer breakfast in your room or in the dining hall?"

"The dining hall is fine," I answered, choosing the first option that came to mind.

He made a neat note.

"And for breakfast, would you prefer the Western menu or the continental menu?"

I stared at him. "There are... two menus?"

A faint smile crossed Alfred's face. "Of course, Mrs. Sterling."

"Oh… The Western menu, I suppose."

"Very good."

He jotted that down as well.

"And lastly, would you like your bath prepared before breakfast or afterward? We can prepare it with lavender, rose, eucalyptus, or leave it unscented, should you have a preference."

I blinked. People actually got to choose the scent of their baths?

"I think... unscented is fine."

"Certainly."

He closed his clipboard. "Is there anything else you require this morning?"

I shook my head. "No. Thank you."

Alfred bowed once more.

"If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to let us know."

With that, he quietly left the room.

Just as Alfred had promised, everything afterward happened with remarkable efficiency.

A maid prepared my bath while another laid out my clothes.

Before long, my clothes had been pressed and laid out, and I was seated before the dressing table while one of the maids gently brushed my hair.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in,” I breathed.

Another maid stepped inside and bowed.

"My apologies for the interruption, Mrs. Sterling. But you have a visitor."

My heart skipped. "A visitor?"

"Yes, Mrs. Sterling."

A frown formed on my face. Who could possibly come to see me?

It couldn't be my parents. I'd only left them yesterday. Curious, I rose from my seat and followed the maid out of the room.

She led me through the grand foyer before coming to a stop.

"She's waiting outside, Mrs. Sterling," she said politely.

I nodded. “Thank you."

Slowly, I stepped outside.

A young woman stood several feet away with her back turned to me.

She wore a pair of dark jeans, a hoodie, and a baseball cap pulled low, making it impossible to see her face.

My brows knitted together. "Excuse me?"

The woman stiffened.

Then, without saying a word, she slowly turned around.

Her fingers reached up and pulled back the hood.

Time seemed to stop. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Vanessa...?"

My sister was standing right in front of me.