CHAPTER 2
WILLOW
The world paused, and for a second, I could hear the rest of his unspoken words through the tension-thick air.
My stomach flipped.
Slowly and with measured steps, he climbed down the flight of stairs and stopped right in front of me, letting me breathe in his musky scent.
Closer, it smelled more like danger wrapped in a gift bag, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a lion in… anything dangerous that looked pretty. That was what it was.
His amber gaze glanced over me for a second, as if he were marking out every feature, before he turned to my mother, who embraced him.
"Thank you."
It hit me: he was actually talking to Mother, but his gaze was on me.
I had to give it to him because he was handsome.
Tall and lean, his broad shoulders fit into the suit he wore, with a chiseled jawline, sharp nose, and faint eyebrows. If not for the white hair that stained a few strands of his hair, I would have sworn he was young enough to be my mother's brother.
"And, the young lady must be Willow."
I nodded, but a stern glare from my mother told me to do more.
I let out a weak smile. "Yes."
"I have heard so much about you."
"Same," I lied, blatantly, because I had only heard about him like two hours ago.
"Welcome to your new home." He turned and walked back while my mother, the fellow in the suit, and I waited to process whatever had happened.
New home, meeting a scary, weirdly handsome stepfather.
Not much.
I trailed behind them, stepping into the enormous sitting room.
I froze, my mouth hung open.
This was a palace, a spooky one, with a dim blue glow that ran through every corner. Dark blue couches which had little statues perched at the side.
The room was barely bright, illuminated by the daylight that came from the windows.
"You both must have had a rough drive. The maids will take you to your room. Have a bath and rest. We will all meet at dinner in an hour." He didn't let us reply. He just spun around and vanished into the dark shadows that guarded the stairs.
"Maam, please follow me." I blinked twice. I was younger, probably fifteen years younger, yet she called me 'Ma'am.'
"Don't be scared, my love. This is your new home. Feel free." Mother smiled warmly. "You will be fine, go and rest, and, like your father says, we will be back for dinner."
I gave an answering nod and went with the maid.
When Mother said she was getting married, I expected the man to be a middle-aged man with a comfortable job to put three square meals on the table.
Then the Lamborghini drove in and squashed every thought I ever had. My stepfather was rich, but I didn't expect him to be a fucking billionaire.
I stared at every single inch of the hall. Everything screamed luxury. White and black tiles marred the floor, and a dim purple color bleached the walls, adorned with paintings on each row.
The more I looked, the more I saw every line converging, creating patterns, weaving stories of the image. Stories you wouldn't want to tell your kids at night.
Goosebumps rose on my arms. I wrapped my hands around myself, trying to calm my nerves.
Every corner of this wall held something twisted, like they had heard the tale of agony that was told in this mansion. The walls closed in like they were begging to spill the tale, to uncover the skeleton buried within.
We stopped at the last door, to the left. She turned the knob and pulled it open.
"Your room."
I strode in, my white sneakers clicking against the blue tile. My room was decorated in black with a sprinkle of white.
The maid pulled my luggage in, sliding it into the huge wardrobe.
She bowed, turned, and left.
I sank into the rather comfy bed; my tense muscles relaxed in comfort.
I lay there staring at the ceiling.
Twenty-four hours ago, I lay on my rock-hard bed, gazing at the leaky roof. Now I was here, in a room that was worth more than I had ever earned.
I let out a sigh.
Maybe Mom was right; I was being selfish, I didn't want us to live a good life. Maybe her marriage was everything she needed.
I sat up, deciding to take a bath before going down for dinner.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A knock pulled my gaze from the mirror where I sat trying to comb down my messy hair. I thinned my lips and crept closer to the door.
"W-who is there?" I mumbled. The door pulled open.
"Good morning, Ma'am." The maids greeted. "We are here to get you ready."
"No thank you," I blurted and fell back to my bed.
"Ma'am, please. It's Master's orders."
I cracked my eyes open.
Master?
I sat up, staring at the maids who kept their heads bowed.
"What's the time?"
"5:30."
So early!
"You are to be ready and down before 7."
I blinked, confused. "7?!"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"It's 5. Of course, I will be ready before 7."
"Ma'am, Master instructed us to get you ready."
I let out a yawn, shaking my head. "Don't worry, I will get myself ready." I snapped, entered the bathroom, and locked it.
I didn't want them barging in and intruding my new personal space.
I soaked in the warm water, calming my nerves.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When she said dinner, I expected a table of four with him wearing casual attire, dishing food, and us getting to know each other.
What I didn't expect was a board meeting which was disguised as dinner.
I sat in the second chair to the left, beside my mom, who sat even closer to my stepfather. He wore the same suit and the same unreadable expression as he delved his fork into his steak.
My gaze narrowed to the other end, which held seven more chairs on each side.
Definitely a board meeting.
"Don't you like it?" He said, snapping me out of my trance. His eyes hinted at the food. "You haven't touched your food."
"No, I'll eat. Thank you," I refocused on the plate.
"I would have loved to introduce you to your new brother." My fork hung mid-steak. "But he is rather busy." For a moment, something flickered in his eyes.
Anger.
"Brother?!" I stuttered.
Mom didn't tell me he had a son.
"Yes." He whisked the glass of red wine he held. "Secondly, there are rules you need to know."
"What kind of rules?"
"No talking during dinner."
For all the time I had felt stupid, this had to top it off. I darted my gaze back at Mom, who seemed more focused on gulping down the red wine than on what he said.
I sat quietly, scooping the food that now tasted like sandpaper.
I guessed this is my life.
After twenty boring and slow minutes of munching, dinner finally ended, and by 'ended' I meant he stood up. The maid swooped in and snatched our food right from in front of us.
I heaved a sigh, staring at the ceiling. Unlike Mom, who decided to fight the maids for her food, I decided to crawl back into my room and rest.
I needed rest, but sadly, no amount of sleep could prepare me for my days in this mansion.
I didn't need a soothsayer; I just knew in my gut that things weren't going to go smoothly.
I turned, taking in full details of the palace I was in, and turned on my flashlight to ai
d my poor sight. Just then, my gaze met something in the room.
I sprang to my feet and hurried closer.
I wasn't seeing things, it was actually there.
A camera?!