Chapter 3

The following day, a car arrived at the Stewart mansion. A white Escalade as I peeped from the attic windows of my room.

I didn’t get a wink of sleep the whole night. My eyelids burned at the lack of moisture but I didn’t even care.

“They’re here for me.” I whisper to myself. Okay, this was really happening.

Emily was not here, this was really happening. I was getting married to him still.

Maybe I should have slept actually, maybe then, I could wake and this would all be a bad dream. I’d have asked one of my siblings to pinch me awake but we weren’t that close.

Not a minute after, a knock came, incessantly and loud. “Brianna, it’s time to go.” That was Ezra. “Dad said to bring you downstairs. Are your bags packed?”

That was my cue, it wasn’t a dream, it never was. It was my reality and it was time to face it.

I didn’t respond, there was no need to. I was really leaving now.

I moved forward towards my small door frame and yanked it open. “I’m still set, I just need a little help…” He left.

Ezra had always been weird, he was about twenty six now and still lived here with us. Not like he had much of a choice, the whole family lived here. This house didn’t live much independence for its habitants.

He was the exact replica of father, same cold grey eyes, thinly sliced lips and dismissive stare. If anything were to happen to father, he would be fit as a replacement. He already worked closely with him as COO at the company.

Letting out a soft sigh, I began dragging my suitcase out, one after the other. I didn’t have much, but I suppose if I was moving my whole life, I needed at least three suitcases.

Well, I had four boxes and a duffel bag. They carried my entire life and existence.

After dragging the final bag out of the door, I stopped to take a final look of the place I’d called my home, it wasn’t grand or perfect but it was mine. I’d come to love my little basement room.

Closing doors as I closed the final chapter of my life here at the Stewart house, I make my way down the stairs.

Struggling with one box and duffel bag, I trudge my way down. Below the stairs I find an unfamiliar face, a man clad in an all black fitted suit. He looked like he came straight out of a spy movie scene.

“Miss, do you have more luggage’s to haul down the stairs?, the man asked.

I stared confused, not sure who he was speaking to.

“Me? Are you talking to me?”

He let out a small smile that seemed to make his already small eyes smaller. “Yes, miss. Of course. Now do you have any more luggage?”

“Oh, uhm. Yes.. I do,” I stuttered, heat crawling up my neck at the sudden niceties. “There are a couple boxes more up there.” I gestured up the stairs.

He nodded and got to it, carrying the boxes in twos, he brought down the rest of my luggage. All I could do was watch awkwardly.

He hauled them all to the vehicle and I was left in the living room of the place I called home.

No one was home to bid me good-bye. Not father, not mother. Not any of my other siblings. I knew they didn’t care much but this was glaringly obvious.

I let out a deep breath, my nostrils filling with the home smell I’d grown accustomed to. It didn’t smell wake or homey, it smelled like a clean, artic igloo. An unmemorable scent.

As I move to head out of the house or the last time, thinking if I’d ever have the chance to return, father walked in.

“Be on your best possible behaviour, child.” His voice thundered as he stood at the top of the stairs. “You will not soil our good name. Okay?”

My heart thudded, he came. It wasn’t for a teary farewell but he came. I guess that was good enough.

“Yes father.”

With one last cold glance, he walked away. And I bid my farewell to the only home I’d ever known.

With one last cold glance, he walked away. And I bid my farewell to the only home I’d ever known.

After about an hour, we arrived at the Maserati estate. It was magnificent and expansive. We drove through the automated gateway that led to the most beautiful home I’d ever seen.

I started to blink as I watched through the windows, maybe this really was a dream. It was nowhere near what I expected.

I expected a dungeon like stonewall building that resembled the ones that mother gothel lived. Not this.

When we got to the entrance of the main building and I couldn’t keep my mouth closed. Up close, the house was even better. The building sat in the middle of an expansive stretch of land. Easily about five hectares.

I was welcomed at the entrance like royalty immediately I got down. My boxes and bag already being hauled inside.

“Welcome Young miss.”