Welcome home
1248 Words
“Welcome home,” Noah Winston announced, clapping slowly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The sound echoed in the large living room.
“Your room is on the first floor,” he said to Jace, then turned to face me.
“You can stay with me… but if you don’t want to, your room is next to mine.”
Noah raised his brows twice, he had a strange look on his face.
“There’s no need. She’ll stay with me,” Jace cut in, his voice calm but firm.
“Your brother wants to know if she’ll be qualified to be your wife or not,” Mrs. Winston said with a knowing smirk. “So it’s better she stays next to him.”
They were clearly trying to provoke Jace.
I smiled softly and placed my hands on Jace’s shoulders.
“It’s okay,” I said gently. “I can do it.”
“Yo, Jace,” Noah laughed. “Seems your fiancée doesn’t like you very much, does she?”
He tilted his head, his smile turning darker. “Who knows? Maybe she’ll come to my bed in the middle of the night while I’m asleep.” Noah mocked as his hands touched his chest.
Jace’s grip tightened on the wheelchair. “Since that’s settled,” I said quickly, “I’ll take Jace to his room.”
I didn’t wait for a response.
Noah’s POV
Jace… I’ll take everything from you.
I slipped my hands into my pockets as I walked away, a low laugh leaving my lips.
There’ll be nothing left for you to fight for. Everything you own will be mine… including your fiancée.
I checked the time, It was 11:36 PM. That crippled fool should be asleep by now.
But her room light was still on, she's still awake.
I called for Rielle, the head maid. “Bring me a glass of milk.”
When she returned, I took it and quietly added an aphrodisiac into it. I stirred it slowly, watching it dissolve.
“Give this to the young master’s fiancée,” I said, handing it back to her. “And make sure she drinks it in front of you. Do you understand?"
“Yes, sir,” she nodded, then walked away.
I picked up my whiskey and took a slow sip.
“She climbed into a cripple’s bed…” I muttered, shaking my head.
“What kind of decent woman does that?”
Soon, the light in her room went off.
Good. She must have drunk it.
I finished my whiskey and set the glass down quietly. The hallway was silent as I walked to her door. It wasn’t locked. I pushed it open and stepped inside.
The room was dark.
I smiled and moved closer to the bed.
She screamed. “So,” I whispered, climbing over her, “this proud little thing finally knows how to beg?"
Her scream cut through the silence. Before I could make her keep quiet, the lights snapped on.
“Noah, what are you doing?”
The sudden brightness burned my eyes. I lifted a hand to shield them, squinting.
“Isn’t it obvious?” I said with a lazy tone. “I’m helping my brother test his fiancée.”
I gestured towards the woman on the bed.
“Looks like she failed. Her door was wide open, it seems she was waiting for me. She's so cheap.” I said with a laugh.
A soft laugh came from the doorway.
“Cheap?” a familiar voice echoed.
Jace’s fiancée stepped in, pushing him slightly ahead of her.
My chest tightened as I lowered my hand to look at her.
I froze. I turned to look at the woman on the bed and the woman on the bed wasn’t her. It was the maid.
The same one I had sent with the milk.
She curled into herself, shaking. “I—I only came to clean her room…” Her voice broke. “He… he forced himself on me…”
A wave of disgust rolled through me, I felt like throwing up. I stepped back, wiping my hand against my shirt because I had touched something filthy.
“How did she even get here?” I muttered under my breath.
“Noah!” Mother’s yelled angrily. “Everyone to the living room. Now.”
Daphne's POV
IN THE LIVING ROOM.
Mrs. Winston sat upright when we entered, her fingers tapping slowly against the armrest.
Noah lay on the couch, one arm hanging loosely and the smell of alcohol clinging to him.
I stood beside Jace.
“How could you do something like this?” her voice came low, controlled. “Do you have any idea what happens if this gets out?”
Noah groaned, barely opening his eyes. “Then don’t let it get out.” He waved his hand lazily. “Fire the maid. Give her some money and she’ll keep quiet.”
The room went still.
Mrs Winston's gaze remained on him, she was calculating the best option.
I tightened my fingers around Jace’s shoulder, my voice trembling just enough.
“When he said he wanted to test me… I didn’t think he had improper thoughs towards me…” My words faltered.
“Jace… I’m scared. I want to live with you.”
He looked up at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes before his hands touched mine.
“I..." A sharp force yanked me back and the next second.
Slap. My head snapped to the side.
“Are you trying to play tricks already?” his stepmother hissed.
“You think a little act like that will get you into this family?”
Her lips curled. “Listen carefully.”
She leaned closer, her voice dropping.
“Until the eldest son accepts you… you are nothing.” Her gaze ran over me, cold and measuring.
A small smile touched my lips.
“So,” I said softly, tilting my head, “no matter what Noah decides to do to me… I should just be obedient?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate.
“If my eldest son wants to touch you…” her smile deepened, “then it's your honor.”
The words hung in the air as I tried to process what she had just said.
I let out a short, sharp laugh.
“You’re disgusting.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
She sat back down like nothing had happened, crossing her legs with quiet elegance.
Her attention shifted. “Noah,” she called lightly, “you didn’t get to enjoy yourself last night, did you?”
His grin spread slowly.
“Take her,” she added, her eyes locking onto mine, "and enjoy yourself as much as you like.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Noah sat up and rubbed his palms together, his gaze looking at me in a way that made my skin crawl.
“Guards!!” Mrs. Winston’s voice cut through the room.
Men in black suits stepped out from the shadows.
“Take Jace to his room,” she ordered calmly. “And take this girl… to my son’s room.”
Jace’s hand tightened around the wheel of his wheelchair. “No!”
He held on as the guards reached for him.
“Mother… she’s my fiancée.” His voice sharpened. “She’s coming with me.”
Mrs. Winston stood up and the sound of the slap echoed. Jace’s head snapped to the side.
- Writer
