CHAPTER THREE

I should have known my mother's words, "There's someone I want you to meet," would change everything.

By the time I arrived at the address she sent me, I was so pissed off I could have just ignored her.

I stared through the car window at the enormous metallic gates.

They slowly opened.

Beyond them stretched a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, tall trees, and carefully arranged flowers. At the end stood a big mansion. 

“Are you sure this is the place?” I asked.

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Yes, ma'am.” Ma'am?

I looked back at the mansion.

The car stopped in front of the entrance.

I paid the driver and stepped out, adjusting my bag over my shoulder.

Before I could even knock, the front door opened.

“Nyla!” My mother's voice instantly softened the tension in my chest.

She hurried toward me and pulled me into a hug.

I hugged her back, although my body remained stiff.

“Hi, Mom.”

She pulled away and looked me over.

“You look tired.” “I am.”

“You didn't eat, did you?”

“Mom.”

“What?”

“I came because you said you wanted me to meet someone.”

Her expression changed slightly.

“I know.”

She reached for my hand.

“Come inside.”

I followed her.

The moment I stepped through the door, I stopped. The foyer was breathtaking.

A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the polished marble floor beneath my feet. A grand staircase curved upward along the wall, while expensive-looking paintings decorated the room.

I slowly looked around.

“Mom, is this your home?”

“Our home now.”

I stared at her, and she smiled.

“You'll get used to it.”

“I don't think I will.”

She laughed and pulled me inside. I tried not to stare, but everything about the place screamed money even the furniture looked too expensive to touch. 

A man in a dark suit passed us and greeted my mother, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Knight.”

“Good afternoon.”

I waited until he disappeared before looking at her.

“Mrs. Knight?”

She smiled.

I sighed.

“So this is real, your marriage.”

Her smile faded slightly.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything sooner.”

I looked away.

“I understand.”

No, I hadn’t fully accepted it. Dad’s death still hurt too much to imagine Mom moving on, but I wasn’t going to argue with her today.

A deep male voice came from behind us.

“I hope I'm not interrupting.” I turned.

A man stood at the entrance to the sitting room.

He was older than my mother, tall, solidly built, in a perfectly tailored navy suit. Calm faced, yet commanding.

My mother smiled.

“Xavier.”

He walked toward us.

“Nyla.”

I straightened.

He knew my name. Of course he would. My mother had probably told him everything about me.

“It's nice to finally meet you,” he said. “You too.”

He extended his hand. I shook it. His grip was firm but polite.

“I've heard a lot about you.” I forced a small smile.

“Only good things. 

“Xavier has been looking forward to meeting you,” my mom said.

I glanced at him.

“Really?” “Of course.”

His voice was warm.

“This is your home too, Nyla. Feel at home.”

“Thank you, sir.” “You don't have to thank me.”He smiled. “You're family.”

The word made my chest tighten.

“Come. I'll show you your room.”

 Family photographs lined the walls of the hallway.

I stopped when I noticed one of them.

A young boy stood beside Xavier.

I couldn't see his face clearly from where I stood.

“Who is that?”

My mother glanced at the photograph.

“Xavier's son.”

“Oh.”

I looked at it for another second.

The boy had grown into a handsome young man in the later photographs nearby, but I barely paid attention.

I continued walking.

My mother opened the bedroom door, and stepped inside. My mouth agape.

The room was beautiful. A queen sized bed stood in the center, covered with purple colored sheets. Large windows overlooked the gardens, and a walk-in closet occupied one entire side of the room.

“This is mine?”

My mother smiled.

“Yes.”

“I didn't come here to stay, Mom. I only followed you up here so it wouldn't look awkward in Xavier's presence.” 

“Please, Nyla, just stay a few days if you're uncomfortable, you are free to move out.” My mom pleaded.

I nodded slowly.

There it was again.

That strange feeling of being welcomed into a life that didn't belong to me.

“You've been alone since your father's death. I don't want you living by yourself anymore.”

“I can take care of myself, Mom.”

“I know.” She sat on the bed.

 “I want you here, darling.”

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

“Besides,” she continued, “you need a fresh start.” I shrugged.

“Is that what this is?” “A fresh start.”

I looked around the room again.

Maybe she was right.

Everything in my life had fallen apart within the same week.

Maybe staying here would keep me distracted.

“Fine.”

My mother's face immediately brightened.

She stood and hugged me.

“Thank you.” I laughed softly.

“You're acting like I just agreed to save the world.”

“To me, you did.” I shook my head.

She kissed my forehead before heading toward the door.

“Dinner is at seven.”

“Okay.”

“And dress nicely.” I frowned

But she was already walking away.

I sighed.

There was clearly no point arguing with her.

Once she left, I dropped my bag onto the bed and walked toward the window.

From there, I could see the entire estate.

Everything was beautiful, too beautiful. I had spent most of my life living simply.

My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen.

A message from Audrey.

AUDREY: Are you alive?

I smiled.

ME: Barely.

Another message came almost immediately.

AUDREY: You're not home.

ME: My mom's new house.

Three dots appeared.

AUDREY: How rich are we talking?

I looked around my room.

ME: Embarrassingly rich.

Her reply came instantly.

AUDREY: Girl, marry into it.

I rolled my eyes.

If only she knew.

I tossed my phone onto the bed.

My mind unexpectedly returned to the stranger from the previous night.

Lucian.

 I'd told myself it meant nothing, One reckless night, one stranger. That was all.

 I heard Footsteps.

I looked toward the door, and they stopped.

Then came a knock.

“Come in.”

The door opened slightly.

A housekeeper stood outside. “Dinner will be served soon, Miss Nyla.”

“Thank you.”

She nodded and left.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Maybe my mother was right, a fresh start.

I took a deep breath.

Then I changed into a simple black gown and headed downstairs.

Xavier sat at one end of the dining table, and my mother sat beside him.

“There she is,” my mother said.

I smiled and took my seat.

Xavier looked toward the empty chair across from me.

“Lucian should be here soon.”

My fingers stopped moving.

Something about the name sent a strange shiver through me.

I looked at him. “Lucian?”

Xavier smiled. “My son.”

I forced myself to relax.

It was only a name. There were thousands of men named Lucian. It couldn't possibly be

 The large door opened slowly.

My heartbeat suddenly quickened for reasons I couldn't explain.

Xavier looked toward the doorway.

“He's here.”

I turned. And then I saw him, the man from the hotel.

The man whose name had occupied my thoughts since that night.

Lucian Knight.

His dark green eyes met mine.

He stopped dead.

So did I.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

My mother's smile faded as she looked between us.

Xavier frowned, his face cold 

“Have you two met before?”

Lucian's jaw tightened. I couldn't breathe.

Then, slowly, my mother spoke.

“Nyla, this is Lucian.”

She smiled, completely unaware that my entire world had just tilted beneath my feet.

“Your new stepbrother.”