Amelia and Nick stared at each other, their tension palpable. "They're different genders! How's Sean supposed to sleep in a pink room?" Nick's frustration was clear in his voice.
"So where am I supposed to sleep?" Amelia shot back, even more irritated. She had no intention of sharing a room with Nick. "We could make the room two-tone. Half pink, half blue."
Nick's expression darkened. "Did you forget? Are you playing hard to get, now? The last time we were here, that room was ours. It was our love nest, remember?"
Amelia's cheeks flushed a deep red at the memory. Sean, always curious, asked, "What's a love nest?" His innocent question only made the situation more awkward.
"Oh, Sean … that's … oh … nothing." Amelia quickly turned on Nick, scolding him for his choice of words in front of the kids.
Their bickering continued, escalating until Harry, Nick's secretary, looked visibly uncomfortable. Finally, Amelia had enough. "I'm not going along with any of this if you keep pushing me, Nick."
Realizing he was losing the battle, Nick relented. He picked up Maddie and carried her to the bedroom, gently laying her down on the bed. Sean, however, was visibly upset, his expression sour as he took in the overwhelmingly pink decor. "Nick, is your secretary an idiot, or did you just forget to tell him I'm a boy?"
Nick felt his ears burn with frustration. The urge to snap at Sean was strong, but he held back. Inwardly, he cursed the boy's father, imagining him as some rude jerk who had no manners.
"Listen, kid, you're just staying here for free. So stop complaining," Nick said, forcing a tight smile.
Sean, not backing down, shot back, "Listen, old man, I don't remember asking to stay here! If I wanted, my grandpa would buy me the biggest mansion in this city."
Nick clenched his fists, barely restraining himself. In his mind, he swore to find out who Sean's father was and settle the score with the jerk. 'Amelia was so well-mannered, it must be the father.'
Meanwhile, Harry was giving Amelia a rundown of the house and the items available. He offered to run out and pick up anything they might need. Amelia, still tense from the earlier argument, thanked him but insisted she would handle the shopping herself. "You should rest, Harry. I can get whatever's missing."
Before Harry left, Amelia asked, "How long has this house been unoccupied?"
Harry hesitated before answering, nervous about saying too much. "It's been a while since Nick last lived here."
Amelia was surprised at how well-kept the house seemed despite its apparent abandonment. "Well, it's in pretty good shape," she remarked, glancing around.
Harry nodded, relieved she didn't seem too upset. "The house has been … uhm … maintained regularly," he explained awkwardly.
As Amelia began to explore the house, she opened a few drawers in one of the rooms, casually checking for anything that might need tidying up.
However …
Her hand brushed against something soft, and when she pulled it out, she froze. It was a bra, and not hers.
Amelia's face went rigid, her mind racing as she stood there holding the unexpected discovery.
"Oh, shit!" Harry's eyes widened in shock. "It's not what you think!"