Chapter 4: The Night Everything Changed

KEIRA’S POV

When I finally returned to the dining room, my hands still trembled slightly. I tried to act normal, even though my lips still tingled from what had just happened. Drake was already back at the table, seated beside his father as if nothing had occurred.

His eyes flicked toward me for a brief second—just one—but it was enough to make my pulse skip. I quickly looked away and sat beside my mom, forcing a polite smile even as my heart refused to calm down.

The air between us felt heavy, almost suffocating. I tried to listen as Edward and my mother exchanged a few quiet words, but I couldn’t focus. Every move, every breath, every quiet sound reminded me of what had happened in that hallway. The taste of it still lingered on my lips.

Edward cleared his throat softly, pulling my attention back to the table.

“Keira, Drake,” he began, his tone carrying weight. “We have something important to tell you both.”

I looked up, sensing that this wasn’t just casual conversation. Mom’s hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently.

“Catherine and I have decided to live together under one roof,” Edward announced.

For a moment, I thought I had misheard. My heart skipped, and I turned to Mom, searching for any sign that this was some kind of misunderstanding. She only smiled faintly, her thumb brushing against my hand as if to calm me.

“Isn’t it too soon for that?” Drake’s voice cut sharply through the silence, colder than I’d ever heard it.

“I understand your concern,” Edward replied evenly. “But we need to do this before making any decisions about marriage. It will allow us to see if you both can adapt to our new family arrangement.”

Marriage. The word rang in my head like a warning bell.

Edward continued, his expression softening as he turned to me. “Keira, you and your mom will be living here. I want to give you the kind of life your father couldn’t provide.”

I could barely breathe. The thought of living here—under this same roof—with Drake—was enough to make my chest tighten painfully.

Mom nodded, her voice calm but firm. “Everything we’re telling you today has been carefully discussed and planned.”

Drake scoffed under his breath. “Planned? You’ve already decided everything. So why are we even here? You’re not asking for our opinions—you’re just telling us.”

“Drake—” Edward started, but Drake’s tone rose, sharp with frustration.

“You’ve both made your choices about your lives. Fine. But don’t drag me into this!”

The tension in the room thickened. My mother stood and slowly walked toward Drake, her expression soft but steady.

“Can you please give me a chance to be a mother to you?” she asked gently. “I’m not trying to replace your mom, but I want to give you the experience of having one—just as I’ve done for Keira.”

For a moment, Drake’s face went still—caught between disbelief and anger. Then he pulled his hand away from hers sharply.

“Stop acting like you know me so well!” he snapped.

“Drake!” Edward’s voice boomed across the room, but his son didn’t flinch.

“If you want to play happy family, fine. Just don’t expect me to join in,” Drake said harshly before storming out, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

The silence that followed was suffocating. I stared at my untouched plate, unable to move or speak. My mother slowly returned to her seat, her expression fragile yet composed.

Edward sighed heavily. “I’m sorry for his behavior. I know this isn’t easy for him, but I hope you can be patient with my son,” he said, turning toward us. His voice softened when he looked at me. “Keira, I hope you can find a way to get along with him. He may be difficult, but he’s still my child.”

I nodded faintly. “I understand, Mr. Ashford.”

“You can call me Dad,” he said kindly, a faint smile touching his lips. “I can see Catherine raised you well. That’s why I chose her to be a mother for Drake.”

I managed a small, polite smile, but deep inside, my thoughts spun in chaos.

Edward.

Mom.

Drake.

And me.

Under one roof.

The idea alone sent a chill through me.

***

Later that night, even though Mom and I got home late, we still started packing. She and Edward were in such a rush for us to move into the mansion that, even if I didn’t want to, I had no choice but to start stuffing my things into boxes.

“Mom,” I started hesitantly. “Do we really have to live in that house? We have our own house. There’s no need to move into theirs.”

“Keira, please try to understand. We’re doing this for you—and for Drake,” she said softly, her tone patient, as always.

I let out a long breath. “Mom, Drake and I will never get along. I can’t live with him.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Give them a chance, Keira. Don’t judge too quickly. You haven’t even tried.”

“Then you live in their house,” I muttered, half-joking, half-serious. “I’ll stay here in our old house.”

She stopped folding clothes and sat beside me, her expression turning serious. “Keira… it’s not that simple.”

Something in her voice made my chest tighten.

“Truth is,” she continued quietly, “I’ve been trying to be strong for a long time. But it’s hard being alone. I’ve carried everything for years—our life, your future, my work—and sometimes, I feel like I can’t do it anymore.”

Her voice broke, tears glinting in her eyes. “There were days I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t. Because I had you. I couldn’t stop, because mothers don’t get to stop.”

I froze. My throat ached as guilt washed over me.

“Mom…”

“I’m tired, Keira,” she whispered. “But I still want to give you more—a better life, a real home. And Edward… he makes me feel like I can finally rest.”

That was it. The crack in my heart deepened, but I finally understood.

I pulled her into a hug, tears spilling freely. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t know you felt that way. I’ll support you, I promise. If this makes you happy, then I’ll do it.”

She smiled through her tears and brushed a hand through my hair. “Thank you, Keira.”

As she stood and walked out of my room to finish packing, I sat alone on my bed. The walls felt unfamiliar now, the air too still.

I looked at the suitcase beside me, half-open, and sighed.

I hadn’t realized how fast life could change.

Tomorrow, everything would be different.

And somewhere down the hall—in one of those rooms—was the boy who made my heart race and my world tilt, the one person I wasn’t supposed to want.

I didn’t know if moving into that mansion would make my life easier… or completely destroy it.