Move in
2200 Words
CHAPTER 3
Camilla staggered at the sound of Astra's voice. She rushed over from the dining area to the door. She pulled Astra away from the door and spun her around.
"Astra, even if your late father appeared to me right now and demanded that you sign a contract with the Caldwells, I would turn it down... I've lost one of my daughters, I can't lose another," she stated, with tears rolling from her eyes.
Astra stared at her mother, feeling hopeless and tired at the same time.
I'm sorry, Mum, but this is the only way I can avenge my sister. She was killed by the Caldwells. I can't just let them have their way in our lives like they own us. This madness of a debt has to end, she said in her head. She sniffed back her tears and then gently took her mother's hands off her wrists.
"Mum, I have to do this. They just set my clinic ablaze. A clinic I spent years trying to build. They shattered my dreams like they're nothing. And I can't sit back and watch them come for our house too—" she paused, looking around the living room with a sad smile on her lips.
"This is all we've got left, Mum... We can't lose this too!" she added, almost in a reassuring whisper.
She turned back to Finn and snatched up the paper that was already in his hand.
Astra ran up to her room and shut the door so her mum wouldn't change her mind and make things difficult for her.
She walked quickly to her study table and then switched on the reading lamp. She grabbed a pen from her drawer and put on her glasses before scanning through the conditions for the marriage.
The contract was similar to Allegra's, but for a longer span. She was to stay married to Matteo for five years and then get a divorce afterward.
Her gaze rested on the clause stating that she would have to attend all social invites and parties with him no matter what. The image of the CEO of Caldwell must be protected.
Astra clenched her fist angrily, as that clause made her skin crawl.
She had a quick imagination of being surrounded by cameras 24/7. If there was anything she hated so much, it was being in the spotlight. It had never been her thing since they were little.
She shook her head in a grimace to get the thoughts out of her head.
I'll do anything to avenge you, Allegra. They'll never tell me the truth about what really happened to you. It's left to me to find out on my own and give you the justice you deserve. They have no clue what's coming their way, Astra thought as she clutched her pen, almost breaking it in two.
Minutes later...
Astra stepped out of her room and went back to the living room. Finn was seated comfortably, with Camilla glaring at him with hate and disgust.
"Here you go!" she said and handed the paper to him.
Finn took it and glanced at it. He stood up from the sofa, adjusting his jacket before turning to her.
"Do you have anything you wish to bring along with you?" he questioned in a professional tone.
Camilla sprinted from where she was. "What do you mean by that?" she fired before Astra could.
"She's leaving with me because Mr. Caldwell has an important event tomorrow morning, and Mrs. Caldwell's presence is required. It was stated clearly in the contract. You'll attend every event and party together no matter what..." Finn informed them.
Astra's gaze went cold. Without any words, she went back to her room. She grabbed her phone, pulled out a drawer next to her bed, took a little white envelope, and then slipped it into her pocket before she came out.
Finn headed for the door. Camilla pulled her daughter in for a hug, which lasted more than just a minute.
"I don't know why you're doing this, but I need you to be careful. If anything happens to you too, I'll definitely be joining y'all!" she sobbed, her tears soaking Astra's shirt.
Astra patted her back, holding in her tears.
"Nobody's joining anybody... I'll come check up on you every day. If things get tough alone, come live with me at the Caldwells. At least you'll get the chance to look after me yourself," she suggested, and Camilla broke the hug.
Wiping off the tears on her face with all seriousness, Camilla said, "I know you're not the type to make hasty decisions, and if you're going there for a fight, I wouldn't want to be another eye for you to look out for. Be careful and never let anyone step on your toes."
Astra nodded positively, and her mother kissed her cheeks as she watched Astra shut the door behind her.
THE CALDWELL ESTATE
Astra arrived at the Caldwell mansion.
The driveway opened onto a breathtaking multi-level fortress of glass and concrete. Terraced like a futuristic hanging garden, the property descended the hillside in dramatic, sweeping steps. Each level offered a new layer of luxury: wide-open lounging decks, hidden outdoor bars, and a sharp infinity pool that seemed to hover over the valley. It was the kind of home designed to look down on the world—both literally and figuratively.
Astra wasn't enticed by the beautiful interior of the building. She had way more things weighing on her mind. She was just about to step into a space her sister had lived in for the past few years, wear the clothes she wore, and probably even lie on the bed she had laid on.
Astra sucked in her tears. She knew coming here wasn't to show how weak she was, but how mysterious she was.
Finn walked her to the entrance door and left for his car.
Astra walked into this expensive and chic-looking space that looked more like a cage made of cold.
Walking to the center of the vast living room, she was clueless about where to go from there. She turned around to get directions from Finn, but just like a flash, he disappeared from sight.
She slid her hand into her sweatpant pocket to take out her phone when Matteo's voice dropped on her from the landing of the stairs where he stood. "Upstairs!"
Astra turned in his direction. His hands were in his pockets arrogantly as he stared at her, as though he was staring at a new maid just hired out of grace.
Astra went up the stairs, and there the view hit her. It looked like a different world entirely from the first floor. The second floor was a vast dining room, as big as a complete flat for a moderate family.
"Come have dinner!" Matteo uttered. Without another glance at her, he left for his seat and sat down.
Matteo's female cousins were all dining at the table, their eyes fixed on Astra like she had invaded their space.
Astra looked at all of their faces, anger already boiling inside of her. She clenched her fist tightly until her knuckles turned white. Every step she took closer to the dining table made her legs feel like lead.
She pulled out a chair for herself and sat down quietly, with everyone's eyes still fixed on her, and hers on them.
In the midst of y'all, one of you killed Allegra, and I'm going to find you... she thought, scanning through every face at the table.
A beautiful, chubby young lady—Matteo's cousin—stood up from her chair angrily, her chair screeching against the floor aggressively.
Matteo lifted his head, irritation at the noise displaying on his face.
"And where do you think you're going, Bailey, when we're just getting started with dinner?" he fired at her in an unfriendly tone.
Bailey glared at Astra.
"Matt, you brought a stranger to our family's sacred dining table and you expect me to sit still and eat! I can't do that..." she blurted arrogantly.
Matteo didn't care about her expression or reaction.
"If you leave this table, you might as well just pack your things and never come back to my house!"
Astra observed under her breath. She looked carefully at Bailey; her hands were a bit shaky. She did everything she could to avoid eye contact with Astra.
She's an accomplice, Astra said in her head and clenched her jaw.
Bellamy clicked her glass with her cutlery.
"Matt, it hasn't gotten to that yet. Bailey, sit!" she ordered and shifted her gaze to Astra.
"You're not going to introduce yourself?" she added, referring to Astra.
Astra straightened her shoulders and looked at Bellamy as though she wasn't talking to her. She stayed silent and picked up her fork, leaving everyone wondering if she was deliberately ignoring Mrs. Bellamy.
Bellamy scoffed in disbelief, then she stood up gently.
"I bet we all saw her at her sister's funeral. Allegra is still mourning her sister Astra, so please, let's look out for her," Bellamy uttered in a low tone that sounded more fake than any fake concern anyone could show.
The girls seated across the table mumbled to themselves as they wore mockery smirks, displaying their satisfaction at Bellamy's words.
Astra looked at Bellamy, her expression blank and cold. She didn't let her emotions show. She knew Bellamy said those words to agitate her, but she remained calm, dipping into her food without putting any in her mouth.
Matteo watched her from where he was seated. Although he couldn't read people's emotions, for some unknown reason a flick of curiosity brushed his thoughts.
Why is she so calm? Days back, she was yelling at me, and now she's so silent, even at the mention of her death in place of her sister's? he thought, still staring.
Everyone seated at the table bore the same thought, even though they tried to cover it up with mocking giggles.
Bellamy scoffed awkwardly and sat down.
Minutes later...
Matteo was done with his food, so he stood up, walked to Astra, and pulled out her chair.
"I'll show you to your room!" he added and walked away without waiting for a response.
Astra trailed behind him.
The girls at the table exhaled deeply, as though they had been holding their breath the whole time.
Bellamy clenched her fists as she glared at the food on the table.
"She's strange, or perhaps weird... Allegra might have been quite the talkative compared to this one. I bet it won't take long before everyone notices she's not Allegra!" Hera blurted with a blank expression. The gaze in her eyes held more than the words she uttered.
Hera was Bailey's older sister from the same parents, and the same age as Astra (28).
"She looks easy to speak with!" Pandora chipped in with a warm smile.
Bailey glared at her.
"Don't you dare befriend her just like you befriended Allegra. You don't want to create suspicions concerning her sister's death," Bailey said seriously.
Bellamy slammed her hand against the table angrily.
"Y'all better watch what you say and how you behave henceforth. I don't believe she came here just to pay off her family's debt. She's probably here for something else, and over my dead body will she find what she's looking for—" Bellamy paused, anger boiling inside of her as her gaze landed on the wedding ring on her ring finger.
"I hate the Valmonts with every fiber and drop of blood inside of me. They all deserve nothing but death!" she added under her breath, her eyes burning with fury.
Pandora stood up first from the table.
"I'll go help Allegra settle in!" She smiled and left quickly before anyone could say anything.
Bailey leaned towards her sister.
"Is she naive or just playing dumb?"
Hera scoffed as a menacing smile appeared on her lips.
Matteo walked Astra up to Allegra's room. He got to the door, locked it with a key, and threw the key into his pocket before turning in the opposite direction, which faced his room.
"Allegra used to have a room of her own, but I'm changing the rules. This time, you'll be sharing a room with me so we can get over and done with the baby-making process. I bet you don't know, but I've always hated Allegra from the very first day we ever crossed paths, and every bit of hatred I have for her has been shifted to you!" he stated brutally with unfiltered words, as though he was hoping to tear Astra apart with his words.
- Writer
