The rain started early in the morning, whispering against the tall windows like soft fingertips. Bly Manor felt colder, quieter today. The sky outside was a dull gray, and the air inside smelled of wet wood and something old.
Kate stood in the kitchen, hands wrapped around a warm mug of tea. She looked tired, her eyes still heavy from sleep. Mrs. Grose was nearby, wiping down the counters like she always did—quietly, carefully.
Suddenly, the old house phone rang. The sound was sharp and unexpected.
Kate glanced at Mrs. Grose, who looked up but didn't say anything. Without a word, Kate set down her mug and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said, voice calm.
"Miss Mandell?" a man's voice asked on the other end. "This is Mr. Albridge, headmaster at St. Thomas Academy. I'm calling about Miles Fairchild."
Kate straightened. "Yes. I'm listening. Is something wrong?"
There was a pause. Then the voice came back, more serious now. "I regret to inform you that Miles has been expelled from the academy."
Kate's fingers curled tighter around the phone. "Expelled?"
"There was an incident," Mr. Albridge continued. "A serious one. Miles attacked a group of boys in the school restroom. It was violent. One of the students ended up in the hospital. Broken bones. A fractured wrist."
Kate's heart dropped. "Oh my God."
"We've been trying to contact his guardian, but the manor is difficult to reach. We were told he returned to Bly recently. I thought you should know."
Kate stood in silence for a moment, her hand cold around the phone. "Thank you for calling," she finally said, and slowly hung up.
Mrs. Grose had stopped cleaning. She watched Kate carefully.
"That was the school," Kate said, her voice thin. "Miles was expelled. He hurt someone badly."
Mrs. Grose's face didn't change. "Oh."
"That's it? 'Oh'?" Kate's voice rose slightly.
Mrs. Grose set her cloth down. "He's always been... difficult. Especially since their parents passed."
"Difficult?" Kate repeated. "He put someone in the hospital."
Mrs. Grose said nothing more. The silence between them stretched like a crack in the floorboards.
Kate turned and left the kitchen.
Ivy sat in the sunroom with Flora, the two of them playing a card game on the floor. The little girl's laughter echoed lightly off the walls.
"I win again!" Flora cheered. "You're terrible at this, Ivy!"
Ivy smiled. "Maybe I'm just letting you win."
"No way! I'm too good!"
Kate stepped into the room, her face pale. "Ivy, can I speak to you for a minute? Alone?"
Flora's smile dropped. "Is she in trouble?"
Kate gave a small smile. "No, sweetheart. Just a sister chat."
Ivy followed Kate into the hallway. The door closed behind them.
"What is it?" Ivy asked.
Kate's voice was low. "I just got a call from Miles's school. He was expelled."
Ivy blinked. "What? Why?"
"He attacked some boys. One of them is in the hospital." Kate looked at her sister, eyes filled with concern. "Ivy, this isn't normal. This is serious."
Ivy looked confused. "Are you sure it wasn't a mistake?"
"They have witnesses. Teachers had to pull him off. This wasn't just a fight—it was brutal."
Ivy's mouth opened, then closed. She didn't know what to say. "He's never acted that way around me..."
"You've barely known him a week," Kate said. "You don't see what I see."
Ivy turned her eyes away. For some reason, she felt a strange pull in her chest—like something was trying to protect Miles in her mind. But why?
"He's different here," Ivy whispered.
Kate touched her arm gently. "Please, Ivy. Be careful around him."
That evening, they all sat down for tea in the dining room. The rain had finally stopped, but the sky remained cloudy.
Miles entered the room, calm as ever. He took a seat across from Kate, his expression unreadable.
"So," he said, voice light, "any interesting phone calls today?"
Kate's eyes snapped up. Ivy looked between them, heart beating faster.
Miles smiled—not wide, not fake. Just... knowing.
Kate stood up quickly. "Excuse me."
She left the room, and Ivy was alone with him.
Miles reached for the teapot and poured himself a drink. "She doesn't like me very much," he said casually.
"She's just... worried," Ivy murmured.
Miles looked at her. His eyes seemed darker tonight.
"Good," he said softly. "She should be."