THE TYCOON'S NEW FAMILY

The music was low enough to disappear beneath the sound of the Texas wind. Anastasia Westbrook sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, her phone resting loosely in one hand as she stared at the messages on her screen. You seriously haven't met them yet? She smiled. No. Dad says they'll be here today. A reply appeared almost immediately. And you're not nervous? Anastasia glanced toward the enormous windows overlooking the Westbrook estate. Beyond the glass, the afternoon sun spread across acres of green land. A few horses moved lazily near the distant fence line, while the old oak trees shifted gently in the breeze. She looked back at her phone. Why would I be nervous? She paused. Then added: Okay. Maybe a little. Her friend sent a laughing emoji. Anastasia rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She wasn't exactly excited about having a new family. She wasn't against it, either. Her father had told her enough over the past few months for her to understand that this wasn't some sudden decision. He had met Victoria in Boston. They had spent time together. They had talked about marriage. And eventually, Richard Westbrook had done something Anastasia had never expected him to do. He had gotten married. Not secretly. Not impulsively. Just... quietly. And now Victoria Brentworth was coming to Texas. With her two sons. Anastasia locked her phone and let it fall onto the bed. "Well," she murmured to herself, "this should be interesting." A knock came at her door. Before she could answer, it opened. Her father stood there. Richard Westbrook. He was already dressed perfectly. Anastasia stared at him for a second. Then she laughed. "Dad." "What?" "Why are you wearing that tie?" Richard looked down at it. "It's a tie." "I know what a tie is." "Then why did you ask?" "Because you're fixing it for the fifth time." Richard immediately stopped touching it. "I am not." "You absolutely are." He gave her a look. Anastasia smiled. For a man who could walk into a boardroom and make an entire room go silent, her father suddenly looked strangely nervous. She slid off the bed. "You're nervous." "I'm not nervous." "You are." "I'm simply making sure everything is perfect." "That's another word for nervous." Richard sighed. "Your mother—" He stopped. Anastasia noticed. There was always a small silence whenever someone mentioned her mother. She didn't say anything. Richard cleared his throat. "I mean Victoria. She's arriving soon." "I know." "You'll like her." Anastasia raised an eyebrow. "You've told me that approximately twenty-seven times." "Because it's true." She smiled. "Okay, Dad. Relax. I'm not planning to scare her away." "I'm serious." "So am I." He looked at his daughter for a moment, then smiled. "I just want today to go well." Anastasia's expression softened slightly. "It will." A doorbell echoed through the house. Both of them froze. Richard looked toward the hallway. Anastasia looked at him. Then she grinned. "Your timing is terrible." Richard straightened his jacket. "Come on." --- By the time they reached the entrance, Richard had somehow managed to fix his tie again. Anastasia noticed. She said nothing. The front doors opened. A dark SUV had just pulled into the driveway. Another vehicle followed behind it. Anastasia stood beside her father, watching as the doors opened. Victoria Brentworth stepped out first. She was elegant without looking as though she had tried too hard. Her smile appeared immediately when she saw Richard. "Richard." He walked toward her. "Victoria." They embraced. Anastasia watched quietly. There was something different about seeing her father with someone else. Not bad. Just unfamiliar. Then Victoria noticed her. Her entire expression brightened. "And you must be Anastasia." Anastasia smiled politely. "Hi." Victoria walked toward her. "Oh, sweetheart." Before Anastasia could say anything else, Victoria gently took her hands. "You are even prettier than Richard described." Anastasia laughed softly. "Thank you." "I'm so happy to finally meet you." "Me too." Victoria looked genuinely pleased. She glanced toward the cars. "Your brothers are still getting the luggage." Anastasia turned. "I can help." "You don't have to." "It's fine." She stepped down the front steps. The afternoon air was warm, carrying the faint scent of grass and horses. She reached the back of the first vehicle just as someone came around the other side. They nearly walked straight into each other. "Oh—sorry." Anastasia stepped back. The young man did the same. For a second, neither of them spoke. He looked slightly embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't see you." "It's okay." He gave her a quick, uncertain smile. "Are you... Anastasia?" She nodded. "Yeah." He seemed to realize exactly how awkward he had just made the introduction. "I'm Hayden." "Hayden Brentworth?" "Unfortunately, yes." Anastasia laughed before she could stop herself. Hayden smiled. "Okay. That's a better reaction than I expected." "You were expecting something else?" "Honestly? I don't know." He picked up one of the smaller bags. Anastasia reached for another. "I can take that." "No, you're fine." "It's not heavy." "I said you're fine." Hayden hesitated, then let go. "Okay." A voice came from behind them. "Hayden." Both turned. A taller man stood beside the SUV, one hand resting casually on the open trunk. He looked older, calmer, and considerably less flustered. Everett Brentworth. Anastasia had heard his name before, but this was the first time she had actually seen him. Everett looked toward her. Then toward Hayden. "Are you planning to stand there all afternoon?" Hayden rolled his eyes. "We were introducing ourselves." Everett nodded. "Good." He looked at Anastasia. "I'm Everett." "Anastasia." "I know." There was nothing dramatic about the exchange. Still, Anastasia found herself smiling. "Welcome to Texas." Everett glanced toward the enormous property behind her. "I think we're going to need that welcome." --- The house became louder within minutes. Suitcases moved through the hallways. Staff carried bags upstairs. Victoria stopped several times to admire the paintings and the enormous windows overlooking the property. Anastasia walked beside her. "Your room is upstairs," she explained. "You can change anything you want." Victoria smiled. "You've already thought of everything." "My dad did." "Your father is very thoughtful." Anastasia looked at her. "He tries." Victoria laughed. "I can tell." When they reached Anastasia's bedroom, Victoria stopped. "Oh, this is beautiful." Anastasia smiled. "It's my favorite room in the house." Victoria walked toward the windows. "The view is incredible." "You'll get used to it." "I don't think I will." She turned around. "Actually..." Victoria reached into one of the bags she had brought with her. "I brought you something." Anastasia looked surprised. "For me?" "Of course." Victoria handed her a small box. Anastasia opened it. Inside was a delicate arrangement of fresh daisies in a beautiful ceramic pot. Her expression changed immediately. "You remembered." Victoria smiled. "Richard told me you loved them." Anastasia gently touched one of the flowers. "They're my favorite." "I thought so." There was something unexpectedly warm about the gesture. Anastasia looked up. "Thank you." Victoria stepped closer and kissed her forehead. "I'm very lucky to have you." Anastasia smiled. She wasn't used to hearing words like that. Not from someone she had only just met. But somehow, she didn't mind them. --- Later that evening, the entire family gathered for dinner. The dining room was unusually quiet. Anastasia sat beside her father. Victoria sat across from her. Everett and Hayden sat nearby. For a few moments, everyone seemed to be carefully choosing what to say. Richard finally lifted his glass. "To new beginnings." Victoria smiled. "To new beginnings." Hayden raised his glass. "To surviving the first family dinner." Anastasia laughed. Victoria looked at him. "Hayden." "What?" "You've been here for less than an hour." "Exactly. I'm getting ahead of the problem." Even Richard laughed. The tension in the room finally disappeared. Anastasia looked around the table. Her father. Victoria. Everett. Hayden. Four people who had barely known one another a few hours ago. And yet, somehow, they were sitting together as a family. She looked down at her plate. Something about it felt strange. Not necessarily wrong. Just unfamiliar. Then Richard spoke. "Tomorrow, we'll show everyone around the property." Hayden nodded. "I'd like that." Everett leaned back in his chair. "So this is home now?" Richard smiled. "Yes." Anastasia looked toward the windows. Outside, the last light of the Texas evening was fading across the fields. She didn't know it yet, but the arrival of the Brentworths would change far more than the guest rooms in the Westbrook estate. For the first time in her life, Anastasia Westbrook's perfectly predictable world was about to become anything but predictable. "sometimes, the people who enter your life as strangers are the ones who changes it forever."🌼