Chapter 3

Selena already knew there were people in the house, but she didn't bother to check or go downstairs. She didn't care if they were there to offer their condolences or if they genuinely wanted to see them. None of that mattered. But when she heard footsteps, she knew her aunt had come again with the visitors, and that annoyed her because Moraine knew she didn't want to see anyone.

Then she heard the voice of that familiar young boy. And the threat. That annoyed her even more. Before she could think everything through, she had already opened the door in anger.

“What did you just say?” She finally came to her senses and saw the people standing at the door. She also recognized the voice. But instead of getting a response, Lucian simply smiled, while her aunt hugged her very tightly, weeping profusely.

“Why are you doing this to yourself?”

Selena felt bad now because she realized when she opened the door that the threat had only been a ploy to get her out of her room. The Knights eventually hugged and consoled her, and they all ate together as Moraine convinced them to stay for dinner while she made more food.

Selena and Moraine agreed to be at their house on Friday, and Louisa promised to send a driver for them once they got back to their city. She also told them that if they needed more time, they should take it. Selena strongly refused.

Moraine had tried to get them to stay, but they said they had already gotten an inn nearby for the night. They said their goodbyes, finished with more hugs, and left.

Moraine sat down with Selena and talked to her, wanting to know how she was feeling. She also apologized for calling the Knights when Selena had strictly told her not to. Selena didn't dwell on it. They consoled each other, did the dishes, and went to bed. But Selena went to her aunt's room because she didn't want to sleep alone.

The Knights came to see them the next day before they left.

Lucian and Selena had a little chat. He apologized for yesterday and for the way he had behaved at the competition, and Selena forgave him. He explained that he had been jealous when his parents were talking to her because he was an only child. His parents had always wanted three children, but after complications with Louisa's fertility treatments, having more children became difficult. His mother eventually decided against trying artificial insemination. That day at the competition, something had simply ticked in his head. He had convinced himself that his parents were going to adopt Selena and that all their attention would suddenly be on her. Selena laughed at that.

His parents were nice people, but she wasn't sure they would let anyone take the place of their son.

“You're such an overthinker,” she told him.

“Maybe.”

“You're not just an overthinker. You're a professional overthinker.”

That earned a laugh from him. And it was genuine.

They hugged each other before he left and said their goodbyes.

“You like him.” It wasn't a question. Moraine had been watching them earlier and had seen the way Selena smiled around him.

"Who?” Selena looked at her aunt and saw her grinning then she shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“Alright.” But Moraine was still smiling, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“I'm serious. I was sitting on my own and he came to apologize.”

“Alright, alright. I heard you.” They started walking back inside to begin packing.

“For now, let's just pack everything that can fit into the boxes. The truck will be here soon.”

They brought out all the moving boxes and began packing everything.

The truck arrived, but they weren't even halfway done. They didn't really have much—just the main essentials and a little more—but they were only two women trying to handle everything themselves.

The truck driver and his assistant eventually joined in, and by 7:16 p.m., they were done packing and loading everything onto the truck. The driver and his assistant left with the truck.

Selena and Moraine both lay down in the middle of the empty sitting room, talking about the memories they had made in the house. It was inevitable. They were both going back to the city, so there was no other choice but to sell it.

And the buyer was coming tomorrow.

Friday had come so quickly. They had actually sold the house the previous day, and the new owner had given them one more day to stay. Now they were already leaving. They filled the car trunk with Selena's luggage and set off. Selena felt hurt that she was leaving. She didn't know what the world outside this town was really like. She had heard stories, and she had been mesmerized by the tall buildings and busy life when she visited the city for the competition, but she had never imagined that she would leave this place completely one day. And not without her parents. She cried one last time before finally saying goodbye to the town.

She knew she would always come back to visit her parents' graves and bring her new family here too.

They arrived in the city, and just as Lucian's parents had promised, a driver was waiting for them at Brine Hotels and Suites, one of the city's most luxurious hotels. He was waiting in the parking lot.

Selena found herself in awe of the place, and Moraine smiled at her.She wondered why she had never brought Selena here before. Oh, her brother. He had always tried to protect his daughter from the world and keep her grounded.

And here she was now, admiring a hotel she would normally have only passed by without ever seeing inside. And she hadn't even seen its full glory at night. In the parking lot, the driver brought down the luggage and loaded it into the other car. They left Moraine's car at the hotel because once she was sure her niece was safe, she would be heading back to her own city. The break her school had given her was over, and she needed to resume work.

If Selena thought the hotel was impressive, the house was on a whole other level. Even Moraine was surprised. She knew the Knights were rich, but she hadn't expected Neoclassical ultra-luxury mansion kind of rich. Selena was amazed beyond belief as they got out of the car and walked towards the house. Several maids in uniforms were waiting outside, and several bodyguards came forward to help with Selena's luggage. They didn't even let her carry a single bag herself.

“Is this even a house on Earth, or have I transmigrated to heaven, Aunt?” Moraine laughed and shook her head. The maids stepped forward to welcome them, and the Knights also came outside to welcome them and usher them in.

Immediately, Louisa welcomed them to the dining table, and the maids began serving dinner under her directions. They were both hungry because they had only had a burger for brunch, so they dug in before they even finished properly settling down. Their hunger earned a hearty laugh from the family, including Lucian, who had surprisingly been smiling since they arrived.

Dinner was over, and the food hadn't even settled when Selena asked, “So I'll be living here with you?”

The couple looked at each other before smiling. “Yes. But not only that. You'll have your own room upstairs, right beside Lucian's.” Selena was so happy and relieved, and Moraine and everyone else were happy to see her smiling again.

But Moraine still felt uneasy because she had to ask about the school. She was a principal herself, and she had seen firsthand what some wealthy students could do to scholarship students. She had even seen situations where students had suffered terribly because of bullying and harassment. The Knights took her to another room so they could talk privately about it, leaving Selena with Lucian. The lounge was very beautiful, with expensive couches, polished wooden floors, large decorative pieces, and huge windows overlooking the property. It was pretty, but that wasn't why Moraine was in there. She needed to lay down some ground rules and make sure Selena's safety was going to be taken seriously.