My body shot up from the bed, so fast I almost gave myself a brain aneurysm as I tumbled down to the floor, tangled in the duvet and crashed to the floor with a hard thud. Wincing in pain, I peeked from beneath the heavy fabric unsure of what I'd find.
Sure enough, Grayson was on the bed, elbows propped up as he stared down at me with that damned smirk plastered across his face. His eyes glinted with something like amusement, like he'd caught me in some elaborate prank, though nothing about it felt remotely funny.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I hissed at him, my voice still laced with disbelief.
His lips twitched as if he was deciding whether to answer me seriously or not, I saw when his decision was made when he opened his mouth to speak, "Why, I'm here to have breakfast with my lovely wife."
"Cut the fucking shit, I am not your lovely anything!" I huffed out as I stood up from the ground, throwing the duvet off me, "So why don't you go ahead and tell me why you are really here?" I queried before I suddenly remembered something.
My gaze darted around the room, searching every nook and canny. "You didn't bring the paparazzi in my room to attack me in here did you?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
Something flashed in Grayson's gaze but it was gone before I could place it. "No." He affirmed before he stood up from the bed, "Just come down from breakfast will you, the whole family is waiting for you."
Now that made me perk up, suspicion rose in my chest as I stared at him. "When you say the whole family, I'm assuming it's not just my family."
"Everyone wants to meet you, so get ready and come down stairs." Grayson offered no further explanation as he turned to leave instead, leaving dumbfounded and clueless.
Well that was just rude! I thought to myself before I let out a groan in frustration. I honestly can't believe this was going to be my life now, I thought as I brushed a hand through the tangled waves in my dark hair.
Releasing a small breath, I let out a yawn and dragged myself to the bathroom. It took a while to get used the settings of the bathroom but I did. I took a quick shower, then stepped out to get ready. There were a bunch of skincare from different brands on the dresser, I didn't know which is which but I just used the basics instead.
Pulling open the drawers, I rummaged through them for my underwear, the soft fabric slipped between fingers, a brief moment of routine in a day that felt anything but. Then the realization hit. I paused staring at the fabric, this wasn't mine. They belonged to Andrea and while I might be getting comfortable using a few of her things, this seemed way too personal for me.
The drawers snapped with more force than necessary. A mental note formed in my head to pick up few of my own things that I know I was going to need anytime I go shopping. Moving towards the wardrobe, I opened it where I was met with varieties of clothes. There was no time to go through them so I moved to the last place where I found a pink crop top and white sweatpants, simple enough for the day ahead.
Throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I decided to step out of the bedroom. Heart thumping louder than expected, each step down the staircase felt heavy, the weight of what waited at the bottom pressing down. Laughter floated up from below, light and carefree. I could pick out my father and mother's voice, there was another addition to it though, one I didn't quite recognize.
Drawing in a deep breath, I decided to make my presence known. Rounding the corner of the living room, the sound grew louder, laughter bouncing off walls. The grand dining table came into view, filled with familiar faces and some faces I've only seen in tabloids that I knew were Grayson's family.
His mother and father sat close, his elder brothers Donovan and Asher sat beside their wives, chatting comfortably with each other. So this was what he'd meant by 'everyone.' I muse as I made my way towards them.
"Good morning." I greeted my voice low and light, yet enough to break the hum of the conversation.
Heads turned in my direction as I made my way towards my seat which was beside Grayson, no surprise there. Sliding into my chair, fingers wrapped around a glass of water to drink as I waited for breakfast to be served when I still noticed eyes lingered on me.
Unable to ignore it anymore, I raised my head up to ask, "Anything anyone wants to say to me?"
Sophie, my mother, leaned forward, a small concerned frown creasing her brow. "Darling, are you feeling okay?"
No, I haven't been feeling okay at all ever since I opened my eyes to find myself in a goddamn wedding dress! Would be the correct thing to say but a practiced smile formed on my face instead, "I'm perfectly fine, why do you ask?"
Sophie's gaze fell down to the pink top I had casually thrown on, an unspoken judgment in her raised brow before lifting back to my face. I understood immediately what she was trying to point out, clearly I had missed the memo. It was just breakfast nothing to serious but everyone was dressed in their finest, even the twins were dressed in their best and Grayson's family. Everyone was dressed as if they were going to be appearing in some fashion magazine cover.
Apparently, I was the only one who hadn't cared enough with appearances and I still didn't care. "It's just breakfast, I do not see what the fuss is about unless there are some paparazzi waiting nearby then I think I'm fine."
I didn't miss the way Grayson tense up beside me at the not so subtle dig but like I said, I still didn't care.
A chuckle sounded from the head of the table and I looked up to see Aiden, my father chuckling, his eyes filled with adoration as he stared at me, not me, his beloved daughter, Andrea. "Well, I think it is high time for a change. Grayson must be doing a great job to make you feel comfortable eh?" He said and then everyone erupted into laughter, although I could tell it sounded a bit forced.
Grayson's family joined in too, faces painted with obliging smiles as if Aiden had delivered the joke of the century instead of a simple statement. Anthony and Lydia, Grayson's parents laughed a touch too loudly, the sort of laughter that said less about humor and more about keeping things agreeable.
My gaze filtered from one polite smile to another, aware of the carefully orchestrated mirage around this table. I noticed Grayson continue to grow uncomfortable beside me and my gaze turned to him. He grabbed the glass of wine and drank it, his face tight and looking as if he would rather be anywhere else than here.
Hmm, so it will appear that he wasn't just comfortable with me too but also his family, huh!
I thought to myself as I reached for a sandwich that was on the table. I was about to eat it when suddenly Grayson's eyes widened in horror before he smacked the sandwich away.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" He asked his voice low but edged with incredulity.
I glared at him, "Trying to eat breakfast but apparently that's a problem!"
"What on earth are you thinking?" Grayson asked a note of anger detected in his tone as if it was his breakfast that was lying scattered across the table instead of mine, "You are allergic to peanut, you've known that your whole life!"
I was? "I was?"
"Oh my God, Andrea!" Sophie gasped out loud along with everyone else on the table who were staring at me with confusion etched on their faces, "Are you sure you are quite well darling?"
Andrea had fucking peanut allergies and I didn't know about it, shit! I mean, how the fuck was I supposed to know? I wasn't Andrea, I have no allergy, none! And yet, here I was trying to live in Andrea's skin which meant trying not to mess up with the smallest details…like a life threatening allergy, fucking fantastic!
"Get that out of here!" Grayson ordered one of the maids, grabbing a tray of bread he placed it in front of me. "You can eat mine instead." He said and my brow went up at that.
"Awwww!" Olivia and Sophie cooed as they stared at us.
Right, I realized that he wasn't doing it out of the goodness of his heart but because of the audience we had. I mumbled a thank you as I grabbed the sandwich but I made no move to eat it instead, just sat it back down on the table as I stared at Grayson who continued eating.
Sensing his gaze on me, Grayson raised his head up to look at me. "What is it?"
"Want to get out of here?" I asked him, my voice just loud enough for him to hear.
Grayson turned to look at me, raising a single brow up in response. His gaze then flickered to the family who were watching us while trying to their best to be inconspicuous about it.
Not bothering to wait in response, I stood up from my seat much to my family dismay. "Thank you for a wonderful breakfast but I'm just going to steal Grayson for a minute." I announced with a smile that was a bit too tight while nudging Grayson to get up from his seat.
Thankfully, Grayson offered no argument and did as I asked. As we walked out of the dining hall, I heard someone say something about 'Young love', if only they knew.
"Get the car started, I just need to grab my purse!" I told Grayson before I raced up the stairs.
Hurrying to my room, I grabbed a Chanel purse when my gaze fell to the diary I had found in the dresser last night and without another thought, I grabbed it. It was what I had read throughout last night before I finally fell asleep.
It was rude to read someone's diary but if I was going to become Andrea, I just needed a little opening into her life and it seemed the universe also agreed because I found the diary in a shoe box. I read it throughout last night, devouring every secret till I came across a shocking revelation.
Unlocking my phone, I scrolled through the contact before I found who I was looking for.
Typing a quick text, I decided to send it.
"Can we meet?"