Twisted Fate

It's finally the weekend, and I'm packing up everything in my room because we're leaving the dump we once called home. My niece Aria and I are moving out, and I'm beyond relieved. We moved in together when I started college, it was the best option, considering I needed to save up for tuition and living expenses. Let's just say I wasn't born into a wealthy family.

Aria suggested we live together the moment I got enrolled, even though the apartment is an hour's drive from school. I'm still not sure why she chose this old building, but I guess it was affordable. I'm 20 now, and Aria's turning 27 soon. You might be wondering how she's my niece.I get that a lot. My brother had Aria when he was 21 and our parents had me 6 years later. Which makes the age gap between my brother and I 27 years and between Aria and I 6 years.

Despite the age gap, Aria's more like a big sister to me. She's been there for me since my parents passed away.

Aria and her dad have a complicated relationship, lots of ups and downs. She got kicked out of college and disowned due to her irresponsible lifestyle, which strained their relationship. Despite that, she's been working hard for a better life. She waits tables at a popular restaurant across the street and has been saving up to start her own business and go back to college.

Recently, Aria got into an online relationship with a Norwegian billionaire .I'm still in shock. At first, I doubted her truth, even after seeing pictures and chats. But I looked him up online, and it's true, he's a descendant of the Norwegian royal family with a billion dollar empire.

I was very skeptical. I guess being in law school could make one overly judgmental about situations like this. They had never even had a video call. Not once. I even joked that the pictures of him could be AI-generated or something straight off P*******t. So, I dared her to ask him for money, just to test him and see if he was legit.

And guess what? He actually sent her $15,000. Just three days into their so called relationship! I heard her scream from her room, I literally thought something had happened. It was crazy!

Since then, we’ve been getting all kinds of gifts and money. It’s been life changing. I paid off my school debt and can finally afford things I need.

Just yesterday, he got her a new apartment, and now I'm racing against the clock to pack up all my stuff. Aria's determined to leave this old place behind, and I'm dragged along for the ride. I've yet to see our new digs, but I hope it's a stunning upgrade.

As I finished packing up, a horn blared from downstairs. I peeked out the window to see a moving truck and Aria stepping out, looking radiant. She climbed in with the movers, wearing a plain white top and loose shorts. I headed to the door to greet her.

"Hey," she said with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hey, billionaire's girl look at you," I teased, taking in her carefree vibe.

She rolled her eyes and touched my shoulder. "Don't say that," she said with a chuckle.

As the movers started loading up our belongings, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation for our new life.

As we drove away from that shithole, I gazed out the window, taking one last look. "Goodbye" I whispered, feeling a mix of relief and excitement.

We pulled up to our new place, and the fancy buildings were a welcome sight. I sucked in the fresh air, feeling a sense of possibility. This still felt surreal like we were living someone else's life.

We stepped into the lobby, and it was like entering a different world. The reception area was straight out of a luxury magazine. I'm guessing this place had penthouses galore.

As the elevator doors closed, Aria and I exchanged a look and giggled like fools. "Just wait till you see our apartment," she said, barely containing her grin. "You're gonna freak out."

As soon as she unlocked the door, Aria let out a loud, gleeful exclamation, spinning around in a 360 degree turn. "Take a look around, you see our new home?? See what happens when money is on your side, baby! Huh, feel at home, Judi ,this is our fucking new life!"

this is a fucking penthouse," I said, my voice filled with excitement.

"What did you say the guy’s name was again?" I asked, barely containing my curiosity.

"Aleksander!!!" she shouted back, her voice echoing through the penthouse. "That's my fucking man!"

She disappeared into the kitchen, calling out, "Let's grab a bottle of champagne!"

Excitement filled me as I took in our new surroundings, a huge grin spreading across my face. This penthouse was unbelievable.

Everything was still sinking in, but Aria and I were too busy celebrating to care. We popped two bottles of champagne, toasting to our stunning new home. The penthouse was enormous, with two sprawling sitting rooms, plush furniture, artwork adorning the walls, and a massive kitchen. The balcony offered a breathtaking view of the city ,it had everything we'd ever want in life.

My bedroom was a palace, almost as big as our entire old apartment. It boasted a king-size bed, walk in closet, en-suite bathroom, and private balcony. With everything unpacked, we spent the evening indulging in Chinese takeout, savoring the flavors of our new life.

"So," I broke the silence, mid bite, "when are you guys finally meeting?"

Aria nodded for me to continue, her eyes locked on mine. "You know he can't do all this for free without ever seeing you," I gestured to our lavish surroundings.

Aria hastily finished her food, washed it down with a sip of wine, and let out a soft "hmmm." "Honestly, I don't know," she admitted, shrugging. "I've been pushing for it, but he brushes it off, says he's busy... I don't know." She shrugged again, "I'm not complaining, though , if he didn't care, he wouldn't do all this for me."

I nodded in agreement but pressed on, "But it feels off. If not meetings in person, why no video calls? It quite suspicious."

Aria's tone turned slightly annoyed, "Maybe I would, but I don't want you to tell me otherwise after all he's done. Just be happy for me and stop pushing it."

The rest of the night went by so fast. We were all in high spirits laughing, smiling, just soaking it all in. I walked into my ridiculously big bathroom, stepped into the shower, and breathed in this fresh, clean scent that weirdly reminded me of everything that’s changed lately.

As the water ran over me, I just stood there, eyes closed, trying to process it all. A few weeks ago, Aria met this billionaire guy, and now somehow we’re living in a penthouse. Like, what? It doesn’t even feel real.

It’s like one of those cheesy romcoms where the girl hits her head, wakes up in a fairytale land, and suddenly everything’s perfect. The fancy apartment, the love story, the career… all of it.And I can’t tell if I’m the one dreaming. Or maybe Aria is. Either way, it’s wild.

When I was done with my bath, I wrapped a towel around me and got back into my bedroom. I looked at my luxurious bed with a deep sense of satisfaction. I just knew I was about to have one of the best sleeps of my life.