Enthrall

Chapter 5

House Hunting and Hidden Truths

Evie

My alarm went off at 9:30 AM, but I felt like I hadn't slept at all. I'd quit social media temporarily to focus on Enthrall, and honestly, my hands felt empty without my phone constantly buzzing with notifications. It was strange, this quiet space between my old life and my new one.

I shuffled to the living room to find Lizzie exactly where she'd been yesterday, but today she was dressed up and ready to go out.

"Good morning, Liz. You look all dressed up. Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes, house viewing with you, then flat viewing later on." She said this matter-of-factly and didn't even wait for me to respond before heading toward the door.

"Wait, how did you even know about the house viewing? You were asleep when I came back last night."

"Oh, I checked your messages and schedule." She said this like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Lizzie, what have I told you about going through people's phones without permission?"

"That I shouldn't go through people's phones without their permission, but you're not just anyone. You're Evelyn. Besides, I wanted to research the neighborhoods beforehand to ensure they met our safety and accessibility requirements."

I couldn't argue with that logic, even if her methods were questionable.

We met Sera, the real estate agent, in the lobby. She was a perfectly put-together woman in her forties with a bright smile that dimmed considerably after the first hour with Lizzie.

The first house was stunning but cold. All marble and sharp edges.

"Too impersonal," Lizzie declared. "It looks like a museum."

The second was flashy, with gold fixtures and unnecessary luxury touches.

"Ostentatious," was Lizzie's verdict. "It screams 'new money' in the most uncomfortable way."

By the fourth house, Sera was practically gritting her teeth. "Perhaps Miss Jones would prefer to view properties alone?" she suggested hopefully.

"No, Lizzie stays with me. Her opinion matters."

Finally, we found a four-bedroom flat in a quieter suburb. It had character exposed brick walls, large windows, and a kitchen that felt warm and inviting. Most importantly, it felt like home.

"This one," I said immediately.

"Agreed," Lizzie nodded. "Good natural light, reasonable noise levels, and the neighborhood has a low crime rate."

As we signed the initial paperwork, Sera seemed relieved to be done with us. Lizzie, meanwhile, had already found her own student flat – a practical one-bedroom place near the university that she'd chosen in approximately five minutes.

"It has everything I need and nothing I don't," she explained when I asked if she was sure. "Efficiency is important."

That evening, as we ordered takeaway and planned our move, I realized how different this felt from when we'd left Canada after Mom died. Then, we'd been running away from grief, trying to find somewhere to hide and heal. Now, we were running toward something – a future we were choosing for ourselves.

"Are you nervous about starting university?" I asked Lizzie.

She considered this carefully, as she did all questions. "Not nervous. Concerned about the social aspects. The academic work will be fine."

"You know you can call me anytime, right? If you need anything at all."

"I know. But Evie, you don't need to worry about me as much as you do. I'm not the same broken fifteen-year-old you came home to."

She was right, of course. Lizzie had grown into this incredible young woman – brilliant, independent, and strong in ways I was still learning to understand. But letting go of that protective instinct was harder than I'd expected.

"I'll try to worry less," I promised.

"Good. You have enough to focus on with your secret assistant plan."

"You think I'm crazy for wanting to do that?"

"I think you're being strategic. You want to understand your company from every angle before you reveal yourself. It's actually quite clever, though potentially complicated."

Potentially complicated was an understatement. In three days, I'd be meeting the Evans family and beginning a deception that could either give me invaluable insight into my own company or blow up spectacularly in my face.

But for tonight, I was content to sit with my sister, planning our new lives in a country that was slowly starting to feel like it might become home.