Chapter Three
1109 Words
Noelle.✿
“Is everything alright?” Mom asked, jolting me out of my thoughts, as she ran her eyes over my face in concern.
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. “Of course,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You seem…” she trailed off, “ tense. Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, Mom.” I insisted, my voice a little harder than I intended, and I immediately softened it. “I’m just a little tired from the trip.”
She nodded slowly but didn’t look convinced. “Alright. If you say so.”
She gave me a long look, like she didn’t believe me, but I wasn’t about to explain myself. Not with him standing there, smirking like he owned the place.
I tore my eyes away from him and looked around the house instead. It was stunning—gleaming floors, expensive-looking furniture, and decorations that looked like they belonged in a magazine. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, its lights twinkling like tiny stars, every ornament perfectly placed.
It wasn’t like the house I grew up in.
Back then, our tree had been a little crooked, covered in mismatched ornaments I’d made as a kid. The decorations had been simple—warm, not perfect. This place was the opposite. It felt cold, like it was trying too hard to impress.
“You did all this?” I asked, glancing at Mom.
She hesitated, letting out a small, nervous laugh. “Oh, your stepdad has quite the eye for detail.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So, he picked all this out?”
“Well, no. I mean, I helped, of course.” She smiled, but it faltered under my gaze. “He just… has a way of making things look perfect.”
I nodded, but something about the way she said it didn’t sit right with me. She seemed… off. Like she was playing a role, trying to fit into a life that wasn’t hers.
Before I could ask more, I felt Mikhail’s eyes on me again. The heat of his gaze crawled up my skin, making me tense. I kept my head high, refusing to look back at him. Turning around felt too dangerous—like I’d be giving him some kind of power over me.
Mom broke the silence. “Come on, sweetie. Let me show you to your room,” she said, grabbing my hand and leading me toward the stairs.
I let her drag me along, grateful for the excuse to escape his presence. My heart was pounding, but I tried to focus on her voice as she chatted about the house, the holidays, and how happy she was to have me here.
When we reached the room, she pushed the door open with a smile. “Here we are. I hope it’s comfortable enough for you.”
I stepped inside, taking in the neatly made bed and soft lighting. It was cozy, but like everything else in the house, it felt like someone had planned every detail down to the last pillow.
Mom lingered in the doorway, her expression softening. “So… where’s Amaya? I couldn’t wait to meet her.”
I swallowed hard, gripping the strap of my bag. “She’s staying with Mily for now. I didn’t want to inconvenience your husband. You know, with her running around and all.”
Mom’s face fell slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You didn’t have to do that, Noelle. She’s family too.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly. “Really. It’s easier this way.”
She sighed, stepping further into the room. “You know, he wouldn’t mind. He’s a kind man.”
“Maybe,” I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But I didn’t want to take any chances. I’m only here for a few days anyway.”
She frowned, her expression softening. “Noelle… you don’t have to keep me at arm’s length.”
“I’m not—”
“Yes, you are,” she said firmly, cutting me off. “You’ve been distant ever since I got remarried. I know things weren’t perfect when you were younger, but I’ve always done my best for you. I don’t understand why you can’t just be happy for me.”
Her words hit harder than I expected, and I looked away, my jaw tightening. “It’s not that simple, Mom.”
“Why not?” she pressed.
“Because everything changed,” I whispered, more to myself.
I hated that the topic made me emotional.
Dad was a kind man, he doesn't deserve the easy replacement.
“You moved on like it was easy. Like none of it mattered.”
She stepped closer, her face softening. “Noelle, that’s not fair. I loved your father, but he’s gone. I couldn’t stay stuck in the past forever.”
“I’m not asking you to,” I said, meeting her eyes,. struggling with the tears that stung my eyes, “But you didn’t even tell me about Mr Volkov until it was already done. It’s like you wanted to erase everything we had before.”
“He has a first name, Noelle, and That’s not true,” she said quickly. “I just… I didn’t want to burden you. You were caught up on your own life and I thought—”
“That I wouldn’t care?” I interrupted, my voice sharper now.
She flinched slightly but stood her ground. “I thought you’d understand. I wanted a fresh start, Noelle. For both of us.”
The tears finally escaped my eyelids, and I finally broke the stare, looking down at my hands. “Amaya’s not here because I didn’t want her to see this,” I admitted, my voice coming out in messy sobs. “I didn’t want her to feel the way I do.”
Mom opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself, her face clouded with something I couldn’t quite read.
She sighed heavily, brushing a hand over her face. “Please don’t cause a fuss while you’re here,” she said finally, her tone quieter now. “Your stepdad has been so good to me. I don’t want you to ruin that.”
Her words stung more than I cared to admit. “I’m not here to cause trouble, Mom,”
Trouble was already seated in your house, in the form of towering, sexy Mikhail.
But I couldn't tell her that, I just had to steer away from trouble, even when it moved towards me.
- Writer
