Chapter 1

Maeve’s POV

I stood before the mansion in shock. I could not believe my eyes or even at the location pin that my mother had sent me when she had asked me to spend my holidays with her and her newly wed husband.

My new step-father. Brian Peters, a millionaire, by the looks of it.

It was a cavernous mansion. Not a simple big house in the suburbs at all. When Mom had said that she was marrying, I was stunned. The most shocking part being I had never heard of this guy and suddenly she was getting married.

How had Mom landed a husband like this in the first place I was stunned about that. I had asked her about it but she had remained vague and cryptic.

I stood outside the door as I texted her.

“I am here. Standing outside, if this is the right house then.”

Moments later, the front door opened and my Mom came out in a beautiful summer dress with her hair perfectly made up and in the middle of the day she had her make up on. What the hell had happened to my mother I could not even fathom. Behind her came a guy whom I had never seen before. Not even in pictures.

Yes, I know how odd it sounds but I am a med school student and I literally did not have any time for this.

“My darling girl, you are home,” said my Mom as she came down from that porch with her arms outstretched and I felt like I was in the middle of some sit-com. How on earth could someone change like that in just a span of a year?

I nodded at her. My trolley stood beside me and my rucksack on my back was still hanging as I stared at the man behind her.

My breath hitched for a moment. Rarely had I encountered such a guy with such a face and a body and as he smiled at me, my heart skipped a beat.

To say he was handsome, would be an understatement. He could easily be on the cover of any magazine and women would be drooling over how he looked topless. Of course, yes, I could visualise him without his t-shirt, he was that muscular. Not exactly bulked up but his curves and ridges were well pronounced. He crossed his arms before him and the veins of his arms popped and I gasped.

“Is everything alright, Maeve?” asked Mom as she gestured towards a servant to take my luggage.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Just tired from the journey. It took almost two hours from the airport…this place is..”

“Yes I know it is remote..but I really love it here, baby. I know that you will love it too. Brian has chosen a room for you…you see…come and I will show you.”

Brian smiled again and this time I nodded towards him. I was confused at the fact of how I was supposed to behave with him…it was all so awkward.

“She has always lived in the city so it might seem a bit odd for her,” commented Brian and I almost stumbled at how sexy that man’s voice was. It was like straight molten chocolate that touched your tongue and sizzled.

“True but once she is here, in a few days she will know why I love living here,” said Mom as she held my hand and pulled me inside. It was a bit weird to see my own mother who gad worked three jobs all her life now behaving like a typical happy suburban wife.

I entered the house and my feet sank in something soft and I found that it was a carpet. The entire floor was covered with carpet and the living room was huge. There was a massive fireplace in the front and there were so many knick-knacks from all over the world, covering the walls along in a tasteful way.

“Come baby, I will show you to your room and you can freshen up,” Mom said as she gestured along the hall way and I nodded and followed her. I could feel that it was awkward with me and Brian but what would you expect meeting the man your mother had married for the first time and coming into his house.

“Are you sure Brian doesn’t have a problem with me being here? I mean, we are strangers after all..” I began but Mom opened the door to a beautiful room and gestured me inside.

“This is the room that he has chosen for you to say. He has bought a designer and got you an entire wardrobe full of designer clothes just so that you can have some fun…I know that it feels odd sweetie but you have believe me when I say that he is a very good man. He loves me very much,” she said earnestly.

I dropped my bag on the floor and said with a smile,” I am happy for you, Mom. I really am. I am happy that you have found someone to share your life with…no one should be alone all these years,” I said as I hugged her tightly and I could feel her relax in her embrace.

I raised my face up and suddenly saw Brian’s reflection in the mirror. He was watching us both…where from?

Had my Mom married a paranoid guy or what? As I raised my head his reflection was gone and I thought maybe I was seeing things. Mom was smiling and she looked really happy. I looked around the room and found that it was a really beautiful one.

“You can decorate it however you like it. Brian has told me that since he never had any kids he could never enjoy these things with anyone. He wants you to do whatever you want with the place. And once you are done, we can have a spa weekend. Brian’s treat. There is really beautiful place there where we can relax for the entire weekend. Doesn’t it sound fun?”

I had no idea how to respond so I smiled and nodded.

This was going to be a very long summer indeed.