It had only been a few hours since Jane stepped into the Ts mansion, and already, little pieces of everyone had started to fall into place in her head. The house was big, the kind of place where voices echoed faintly down hallways and laughter drifted from room to room. She had been watching, listening, piecing together who was who.
First, there were Chloe and Kiara. The twins. It didn't take long to notice the way they moved together, always side by side, almost like they shared one heartbeat. They laughed at the same time, whispered in each other's ears, and had that warmth that only people who truly loved each other had. Jane had caught them glancing at Ryan every now and then, and from what she understood, they were his nieces. That explained the way they hovered a little closer to him than to anyone else, like a thread tying them together.
Then there was Tim. Tim stood out quickly. He had that kind of easy confidence that drew attention without him even trying. Tall, lean, with sharp features that told his Asian American roots, he carried himself like someone who knew how to get under people's skin—and enjoyed it. Jane had seen it already: the way he teased Taylor, the way Taylor's jaw clenched whenever Tim opened his mouth. It wasn't hard to see through it. Anyone with eyes could tell—Tim liked Taylor. More than liked, maybe. But the funny part was that Taylor seemed completely blind to it, too caught up in her own storm to notice the way Tim's eyes lingered on her.
And Taylor… Jane wasn't sure what to think of her yet. Taylor was harder to read. There was a sharpness to her, a kind of careless edge that made it seem like she didn't give a flying fuck about Jane's arrival. Maybe Jane was imagining it, maybe not. She replayed their brief exchange in her head—Taylor's quick words, her rushed movements, her distant expression. Was it indifference? Was it just bad timing? Jane couldn't decide. All she knew was that Taylor gave off the vibe of someone who was always in a hurry, someone too wrapped up in her own world to slow down and notice anyone else.
And then… Ivan. Ivan was different. Quiet. Almost too quiet. But in a way that made people lean in, curious, wanting to know what was going on behind those eyes. Jane couldn't ignore the fact that he was attractive—so attractive it almost felt unfair. His smile was what really got her though. When he smiled, it was like the whole room shifted, lighter, easier. It was the kind of smile that made people want to stay, to keep talking, just to see it again.
There was also Britney, though Jane hadn't met her yet. She was supposed to be Jane's roommate, but for now Britney was just a name, a shadow waiting to take shape.
Alya and Rora were impossible to miss. They carried themselves like divas, polished and confident, as if they belonged under a spotlight. But unlike some people who wore that energy like armor, theirs came with softness too. They were playful, sweet even. The kind of girls who knew how to light up a room but didn't let the light blind them.
Steven had caught her attention earlier, too. She remembered seeing him out on the lawn, playing soccer with Ivan. He had the kind of charm that wrapped itself around his grin, mischievous and playful, like he was always planning something. He was good-looking, no doubt about it, but there was a spark in his eyes that set him apart, a mix of trouble and kindness that made him interesting.
And then—Ryan. The one she had been warned about. The one everyone seemed to mention in half-sentences, with a knowing look. The one she had been told to keep an eye on. Ryan didn't bother pretending to care, and he didn't try to hide it either. When she walked into the room earlier, he hadn't offered a proper introduction. Just a glance. A look that burned hot and cold at the same time. He was the kind of man who didn't ask for attention but got it anyway, because everything about him demanded it. He was dangerous, sharp-edged, the one she was supposed to avoid. And yet—he was also the hottest of them all. And of course, he was Chloe and Kiara's uncle.
But if Jane was being honest with herself—painfully, brutally honest—every guy in that house was ridiculously fine. Each one in their own way. And that thought alone made her pulse quicken.
Jane spent some time with Chloe and Kiara, asking them small, careful questions. Nothing too heavy—just little things, the kind of questions that didn't feel like prying. She asked if they had a set time everyone was supposed to wake up in the mornings. She asked if the house gathered for dinner together, like some big family tradition. She asked if Britney, the roommate she hadn't met yet, was nice. And finally, she asked if Ryan was always that cold, that unreadable.
The twins answered her with patience, their voices light, their expressions open. Piece by piece, Jane started putting things together. It seemed like there weren't really many rules in this mansion. People were free to do whatever they wanted—wake up when they liked, eat when they wanted, wander as they pleased. The only unspoken law was simple, heavy, and very clear: don't make Ryan angry.
And Jane couldn't help but wonder, why does everything have to do with Ryan?
The thought kept nagging at her. Ryan's name lingered in every corner of this house, woven into the way people spoke, hidden in the pauses between their words. He wasn't just another person living here—he was something more. Someone more.
Yup. It turned out Ryan kinda, sorta owned the house. And maybe… that explained everything. Still, it felt strange. Heavy. The kind of thing that pressed down on her, making the air feel a little thicker. Ugh, she thought, dragging her fingers through her hair. Shit kept getting weird.
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Eventually, she needed to shake it off. She needed to freshen up, to let the hot water clear her mind.
She slipped upstairs, into the room that was now hers, and shut the door behind her. The shower was warm, wrapping around her like a blanket. Droplets slid down her skin, loosening the tension she hadn't even realized she was carrying. By the time she stepped out, steam fogged the mirror, and she felt lighter, calmer.
She pulled on a soft, plain pair of pink pyjamas. They were simple, comfortable, and that was exactly what she needed. Even though everyone in the mansion seemed nice enough, Jane still wanted to be cautious. She didn't know these people, not really. Careful was safer.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out her phone. She called her mother back in Nigeria, her voice lowering into something soft and reassuring. She told her she was safe, that she had reached the Ts mansion and everything was fine. She left out the details—the strange dynamics, the heavy presence of Ryan. Her mother didn't need to hear all that, not yet.
After hanging up, Jane found herself restless. She wanted to step out so badly.
And so, she did.
She wandered outside, letting her feet guide her. The cold air wrapped around her as soon as she stepped out, but the beauty of it caught her breath. The place looked stunning at night. The air was sharp, the sky stretched wide and clear, sprinkled with distant stars. She tilted her head back, staring up at it, letting herself stand there for a long while. Her thoughts wandered, circling around her life, her choices, the strangeness of where she had ended up.
Professor Kim's words echoed in her head. She had promised her she'd be happy here. She had assured her she'd be comfortable, that this would be good for her. Jane clung to that promise now, hoping she had been right.
"You may catch a cold."
The words broke the silence suddenly, carried on a voice that was deep, but soft—sweet in a way that immediately felt familiar.
"You've been here for a long time," the voice continued.
And just like that, the night shifted.