Chapter 7: Watching eyes
1058 Words
The next morning arrived with soft sunlight pouring through the tall windows of the mansion.
Ava woke up earlier than usual.
For a few seconds, she remained still in bed, staring at the ceiling while the quietness of the house surrounded her.
Then the memories from yesterday returned.
The kitchen.
The laughter.
Jed’s voice calling her interesting.
She turned to the side and buried part of her face in the pillow.
“Why am I even thinking about this?” she murmured.
Ava forced herself to get up.
Today she had decided she would do exactly what she promised herself the previous night—keep her distance.
No long conversations.
No comfortable moments.
Just polite interactions.
Nothing more.
After freshening up, Ava went downstairs for breakfast.
The dining room was bright and peaceful. One of the house staff had already arranged the breakfast neatly on the table.
Ava sat down quietly.
“Did Mr. Leo leave already?” she asked the maid.
“Yes, madam,” the woman replied politely. “He left about thirty minutes ago.”
Ava nodded.
Of course he had.
Leo had been coming home late and leaving early for as long as she could remember.
She took a sip of tea and tried not to think about it.
As she began eating, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching the dining room.
Her heart skipped before she could control it.
Jed appeared in the doorway a second later.
He looked relaxed, his hair slightly messy like he had just woken up.
“Good morning,” he said casually.
Ava gave a polite nod.
“Good morning.”
Jed walked inside and pulled out the chair across from her.
“You’re up early.”
“I usually am,” Ava replied.
He studied her for a moment before speaking again.
“You didn’t seem like a morning person yesterday.”
Ava kept her eyes on her plate.
“I didn’t sleep very well.”
Jed hummed thoughtfully.
“I wonder why.”
She knew exactly what he was implying.
Ava quickly changed the subject.
“Are you planning to go somewhere today?”
Jed leaned back in his chair.
“No plans yet.”
His eyes rested on her calmly.
“What about you?”
“I have things to do in the house.”
“Things like hiding in the library?”
Ava finally looked up at him.
“I wasn’t hiding.”
Jed smiled slightly but said nothing more.
Instead, he began eating the breakfast the staff had placed for him.
The silence that followed felt strangely heavy.
Ava finished quickly and stood up.
“I have to go,” she said.
“Already?” Jed asked.
“Yes.”
Without waiting for another response, she left the dining room.
As she walked away, she could feel his gaze following her.
The sensation made her strangely aware of herself.
Ava spent most of the morning in the garden.
The fresh air helped calm her thoughts.
She walked slowly along the stone path, occasionally stopping to admire the flowers the gardeners had carefully planted.
The quietness helped her breathe easier.
At least here, she didn’t feel that constant tension.
After a while, she sat on a wooden bench beneath a tall tree and opened the book she had brought with her.
For once, she actually managed to read a few pages.
But the peaceful moment didn’t last long.
A familiar voice spoke behind her.
“I’m starting to think you really are avoiding me.”
Ava froze slightly.
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Jed.
Slowly, she closed the book and looked over her shoulder.
Jed stood a few steps away, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
“I’m not avoiding you,” she said calmly.
“Then this is a coincidence?”
“Yes.”
Jed walked closer and stopped beside the bench.
“You seem to like quiet places.”
“They help me think.”
“About what?”
Ava hesitated.
“Nothing important.”
Jed studied her face for a moment.
Then he sat down at the other end of the bench.
The distance between them was small, but Ava could suddenly feel his presence much more clearly.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Jed broke the silence.
“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “my brother really doesn’t deserve you.”
Ava’s head snapped toward him.
“What?”
Jed didn’t look at her.
Instead, his eyes remained fixed on the garden ahead.
“He leaves you alone in this huge house most of the time.”
“That’s not your business,” Ava replied quickly.
“I know,” Jed admitted.
“But it doesn’t mean I don’t notice it.”
Ava felt a strange mix of emotions rising inside her.
Part of her wanted to defend Leo.
Another part of her knew Jed wasn’t entirely wrong.
“He works hard,” she said quietly.
“For both of us.”
Jed turned his head slightly.
“And are you happy with that?”
The question caught her completely off guard.
Ava didn’t answer.
She simply looked down at the book resting in her hands.
Jed noticed the silence.
He sighed softly and stood up.
“Forget I asked,” he said.
“I shouldn’t interfere.”
Ava remained seated as he walked a few steps away.
But before he could leave completely, she spoke.
“Jed.”
He stopped and looked back.
Ava hesitated before continuing.
“You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Like what?”
“Things that make everything feel… complicated.”
Jed stared at her quietly.
Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I have a feeling things were already complicated before I arrived.”
Ava had no response to that.
Jed shrugged slightly.
“Anyway, I’ll leave you to your peaceful reading.”
He turned and began walking back toward the house.
Ava watched him go.
Her chest felt strangely tight again.
She looked down at the book in her hands.
But she couldn’t read another word.
Because now she knew something she had been trying very hard to ignore.
Jed wasn’t just observing her.
He was beginning to understand her.
And that was far more dangerous than simple curiosity.
- Writer
