The car stopped in front of a gray-painted building. It was as huge as a hotel and fountains were around the entrance. It had well-defined floral decorations outside, by the garden, it was a mansion, but it was 10x bigger than where Avyanna used to live. Like a castle, one glance and one could tell the amazing foundation of the structure of the building.
The driver opened the door and escorted them to the living room. Lined up inside are maids, but what caught her attention were those bright lights that gave Avyanna an eyesore.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Thaddeus." they greeted simultaneously.
"Y-Yeah pleased to meet you."
An old woman approached Avyanna and Narcester, she smiled and spoke. "Evening, Mr. Thaddeus."
He was stern and did not talk, different from how Avyanna knew him from before they came here. She can't tell apart from which if that's how he acts from person to person or his actions toward her were just stunts.
"Congratulations on your wedding. The maids will get your luggage from your household, Mrs. Thaddeus. In the meantime, I should escort you to your room. Everything needed is already prepared inside as well."
"My room?" she wondered.
"Do you wish to sleep in mine, then?" he asked sternly.
"No, certainly not," Avyanna replied immediately.
Narcester gave a short nod and replied, "Same goes for me." He left afterward, to the staircase and halted midway up.
"Ms. Aetos, send me a meal in my bedroom. A light meal, preferably."
"Yes, sir." the old woman replied. She looked into other maids and selected a young one. "Diana, escort Mrs. Thaddeus to her room."
"Yes, ma'am." the maid nodded.
Unusually it was all quiet inside the house — even outside. None of these maids speak, not even their footsteps sounded. The whole mansion was evenly catered with decorations and furnishings yet it felt so unlively, like an empty box of the present, on the outside, it appeared as a source of excitement but on the inside, the excitement one build-up would stumble down when the inside is seen, upon all the hopes of something good you'll get inside the present box.
Even as to where she lived, Avyanna could talk to the maids and even dance with them. Shop in the mall with them, treat them to a snack, and go to a restaurant with them, the unusually heavy and unfamiliar atmosphere in the new household she will live in is worrying her. It vaguely felt like a house at all.
It felt restraining.
Like it had only been the gray walls and the light bulbs, yet there was not a brighter aura that comes inside. It all felt heavy as if a large boulder is carried onto her back. It seemed very heavy that she can't seem to grasp and feel a lightweight from the atmosphere.
'It's suffocating.'
Upstairs, some doors represented rooms, she was directed to a bedroom with floral patterns on the sheets. In the bed, a rose sits still as a letter was under it.
"Thank you, I can do it myself," she said.
"Yes, ma'am." the maid spoke as she left.
Avyanna approached the bed, she took the rose and beamed softly. She took the note and unfolded it, it revealed very neat handwriting with the signature of Narcester Thaddeus.
The words, "Welcome, Mrs. Thaddeus" were written on it. But Avyanna smiled, subconsciously.
She felt the butterflies running inside her, once it approached her notice, she immediately threw the note, hesitatingly. She looked around to witness that the rose was still lying on the bedside, she scurried to shut it in a drawer and breathed heavily.
'What's wrong with me?' She consecutively smacked her face to 'wake' her to 'reality'. 'Come on, Avie, a little kindness won't draw you closer to this man.'
She went to the bathroom to bathe herself and hopefully sink all the humiliation she had herself inside the tub.
She felt the veins in her body relax to the sound of the pouring from the shower. It doesn't seem normal to appreciate the little sounds but it was better than not appreciating anything at all.
Avyanna's back was soaked in the water, she constantly felt heavy in the eyes while bathing.
The sweet aroma that was scented inside the bathroom was soothing, it was as if someone prepared such fantastic hospitality just for her. She can't help but feel happy, the scent reminded her of the mother she lost.
How she wished to see her mother alive, she would be a little glad if she would've seen how she walked down the altar.
But enough of all the thinking, Avyanna can't help but feel drowsy. She coated herself with a white, bathrobe dried her hair, and covered it with a towel to contain the water from her hair to travel down her body, avoiding continuous dripping. The moment she got out a knock simultaneously hit the door.
She was still dripping with the excessive water from her body, it was pretty unusual for her for someone to knock on the door of her room at night. She was treated differently inside the new, unfamiliar household than would be her 'home'.
She went by the door and twisted the knob, Narcester was standing in front of the door. He was shirtless, more so, she was only robed, nothing underneath.
Realization struck both, she rushed to hide behind the door, and with an annoyed tone on her voice, she spoke. "Why are you here?"
Narcester was out of words, he was looking at her face. Narcester quickly shook her head when his senses snapped him out of his daze.
He replied, trying to conceal his voice that cracked the sounding of humiliation. "I was just...inviting you for a glass of wine downstairs. The moon is beautiful today so I thought you would like to...see it with me, with...the wine." he gauchely spoke.
Her lips curled into a grin and a tiny scoff went across the air. She replied, "Then, what if I don't join you? Would you get angry?"
"No, certainly not. It is your decision to join me or not to. I would gladly respect you and your decision." he replied wearing such an innocent face.
'Such a kid...'
"Then, have a good night, little Avie." he smiled and left.
Avyanna hurried to close the door, she flustered at what embarrassment it was. She sighed heavily and went to change her clothes. She tucked herself to sleep, she had gone through a lot of embarrassments today.
The sun shone through the windows of Avyanna's room. The sun reflected through the glass windows, rustling curtains that swayed with the rhythm of the wind, she awoke to a peaceful morning.
She rose from the bed and directly went out of her room. Rubbing her eyes, she cast a little yawn and went down the staircase.
In the living room, Narcester was seen asleep on the couch. She giggled silently and smiled.
'Must've fallen asleep here yesternight.'
She approached him to check his well-being, a tycoon sleeping on a couch, would not feel comfortable for him.
She looked at his face, she was flustered to see the features she overlooked from before.
Now that she sees it, this man's features are amazing. She knew he was fine but as soon she saw the relaxed face of a man that sleeps so tenderly, fine became an understatement.
Chiseled jaw, long lashes, slender fingers, smooth hair, high nose bridge, nice bodybuild, and fair skin, he was like a man that came out of a fairytale or a comic book itself. He was ravishing.
She approached to touch his face when those sharp, deep, dark, brown eyes gazed up at her and gave her a facetious look.
"My, my, little stalker. What could you be doing such early in the morning?" he chuckled.