Moving

Brielle's Pov:

Three days later~

“What?” My hand froze midair, almost dropping my fork. I lifted my gaze to meet my mother's— startled. “What do you mean we are moving out?”

“Yes, Bree,” she nodded, her voice soft and a little tired. Bree— the way she loved pronouncing my name, like second nature.

“We are moving out, I can't afford the rent anymore, and the landlord has tripled it, so we have to move out.”

“Where are we moving to?” My younger brother Caleb piped in. Munching on his food. He was more interested in stuffing his face than the fact that our mother just announced us moving— again.

A smile crossed our mom's face when Caleb asked that. “You'll love it. It's the only way I can cover your tuition and your brother's too.”

I should be happy—relieved even—that we are finally leaving this godforsaken house—neighborhood. The house was not well to do, the rent was ridiculously high, I constantly overheard mom arguing with the landlord, fights that led her to tears.

I hated seeing her like this. Working overtime just to keep a roof over our heads, pay our tutions— and cover everything else. The ceiling in my room leaked, the kitchen too. The floorboards were old and unruly and no matter how many times mom begged the landlord to fix them, her complaints were ignored— dismissed.

Instead he kept raising the rent.

“Bree, you'd love your new home.” Mom said, casting me an apologetic glance with a small smile.

I recognized that look. she was probably worried about how this would affect me. We had moved from Boston to New Jersey after she got a job at a diner. Life in Boston hadn't been easy, but it wasn't as hard as it'd been here. No matter where we moved, my weight was constantly rubbed in my face. I was always reminded I didn't belong. That I'd never would.

“What about the diner? You're quitting?” I queried, pushing my food around on the plate, losing my appetite. Trying to absorb everything she was saying— not that I had a choice.

“Oh no, Bree,” she smiled. “I'm still working there. I just need extra zeros in my paychecks to make ends meet. Plus your hospital bills need to be taken care of as well—”

My heart sank at those last lines. Most times, I felt like a burden. Mom was doing everything to give Caleb and me a good life, and here I am— a sickly child, draining her financially because of some nameless illness doctors couldn't cure, only manage.

“Do I have to change schools again?” I asked quietly, still absentmindedly twirling my pasta as memories from three days ago stormed in. The school play I was tricked into— my crush who blatantly rejected me in front of everyone, and Killian Lancaster— the school bad boy— kissing me in front of the whole auditorium.

And the words he said to me on that stage hung in my mind like a fog that didn't want to clear.

“Never let guys like him be the reason for your tears— he doesn't deserve them.”

Killian had whispered close to my ears. His breath was warm, carrying a faint blend of mint and something earthy, almost woody— strangely comforting and dangerously close.

I remembered the taste of his lips against mine. It was my first kiss. I never imagined him to be the one. I always dreamt of having my first kiss with Jake Lewandowski but I guess fate had other plans.

His breath ghosted and lingered over my lips, slow and deliberate, sending a jolt down my spine. And when he wiped the tear that rolled down my right eye that I wasn't aware of— I froze.

And just like that, he walked off the stage and out of the auditorium to everyone’s astonishment and disbelief. Like that never happened—- like he didn't just do the unthinkable and unimaginable. Like he didn't drop everyone's jaws.

“Did he just kiss her?” A girl gasped in the background. Shocked.

“Killian Lancaster kissed her—-” Another voice inserted. Stunned. “Someone wake me up from this dream…..”

June and her minions, including Jake, were utterly dumbstruck, unable to rationalize what just happened…..

“You won't have to change schools,” mom's voice cut through my thoughts, dropping my fork. It clattered against my plate, the sound sending a chill through me. “You and your brother get to stay in your various schools.”

I already started preparing at the thought of switching schools like always— only for it to be crushed. I deliberately skipped school for three days on the pretext that I was sick, just to avoid Killian and the rest of them. I wasn't ready to face any, especially him.

“I didn't say we're moving towns or states,” mom clarified. “Just from Poughkeepsie to Scarsdale. It's only a one hour thirty minutes drive. So you don't have to worry, Bree. I won't be the reason you get separated from your friends, again.”

Friends? I huffed inwardly. Like I had any.

“So be of good cheer, this job pays well, it'll cover our family expenses, we will have a good roof over our heads. You and Caleb will even have your own separate rooms.

“Cool,” Caleb cheered at the part of having separate rooms.

“So your privacy is secured. And we will have proper meals.” Mom went on about the house we were yet to move in like a girl who finally lived her dreams of meeting Santa.

I had no choice but accept this. I didn't want to burden her any more than I already did. If this job secured everything, what harm was one move more?

●●●●●●●●●

I packed my stuff in cartons, carefully not to leave anything behind. My backpack and drawing tablet. I took one last look at the tiny room Caleb and I shared, feeling unexpectedly emotional. We'd made memories here….

We arrived at dusk, around 7 p.m., delayed by mom's shift at the diner. Mom's old saloon car screeched to a halt in front of a massive, majestic gate framed with v8brant flower pots and blooming trees.

A man dressed in a crisp white shirt tucked in brown khaki pants opened the gate for us and we drove in.

“Wow,” Caleb said, the word stolen right from my mouth as we stared through the windshield. “This is—-” He marveled. “You mean to tell us this is our new home?”

“Mhmn,” mom nodded, beaming. “The owner was kind enough to let us stay here when I told him I didn't know how to manage both jobs as a housekeeper and cook, also working at the diner.”

This house was beyond words. I couldn't seem to describe how luxurious the building looked.

This wasn't a house— it was a villa. Or maybe a manor. It had a gothic, modern—traditional blend, with floor to ceiling glass windows and doors. It was basically a glass house but with gothic architecture— like something ancient. There was even a sculpted eagle fountain in the center of the driveway, water cascading from its beak.

“And there's a swimming pool,” mom added..

“Awesome!.” Caleb exclaimed as we alighted from the car.

“You must be Mary Everly,” a man flawlessly cladded in a tailored suit on the front door of the intricately designed front porch welcomed us. “Mr Allister spoke of you as the new housekeeper.”

“Yes, that's me, of course.” Mom smiled nervously, shaking hands with the man.

“I'm Vincent, the house butler.” He introduced. His gaze shifted to me and Caleb— but lingered a bit longer on me, like he was trying to figure me out. “And they must be your kids?”

“Yes. This is Brielle and Caleb.” Mom introduced us.

I offered a polite nod and forced a smile.

“Come, let me show you your rooms,” he ushered us inside, and sincerely speaking, the interior was as mind blowing as the exterior. Every nook and cranny of this house looked like they held secrets of their own.

“Tomorrow, I will give you a general run down tour of the house. It's already late now.”

“I'm so sorry for the lateness, it wasn't deliberate.” Mom apologized.

“Not a problem,” Mr Vincent smiled as he showed us to our different rooms, but for some reason, strangely, his eyes kept darting to me and it made me uncomfortable. All I could was plaster on a friendly smile.

●●●●●●●

LATER THE SAME NIGHT, I woke up, feeling parched. Slipping out of my new bed, a shiver ran through me as the chill of the transparent tiles kissed my bare feet. The sheer magnitude of the room still left me breathless. The bed— alone, lush, expansive, and utterly looked royal. I still couldn't believe it was mine……even if only for now.

We were staying in the guest quarters of the east wing, and from what I had seen, my mom's and brother's rooms were just as grand— equally beautiful and intimidating.

A glance at my phone screen told me it was 2: 49 a.m.

Still half asleep and craving water. I padded quietly through the vast hallway, stroking my arms for warmth. Only the silver spill from the moonlight lit my way, casting soft shadows against the intricate walls.

The kitchen was dim, cloaked in shadow. I groped in the dark, searching for the light switch when my body slammed into something.

Hard.

I gasped as I lost balance, falling flat against the wet surface beneath me. My palms landed on something slick, and I was hit with an earthy, woodsy scent— masculine, unmistakable.

I winced in pain, almost letting out a squeal when whatever I collided with, hovering over it. My hands on the wet surface.

Pain zinged through me, and I nearly cried out…..until I realized I wasn't alone when a big hand clasped over my mouth— silencing me.

I shuddered. Fear gripped me as a thought flashed through me.

A burglar? In the new house?

Just then, the moonlight light streamed across the face of whoever the hand belonged to.

I froze. My breath caught. Eyes widened in shock.

It was—