Second Love Story

Chapter 5: Nostalgia

Later that night, the Cooper Mansion had fallen into its usual evening hush. The soft hum of night settled over the house like a blanket, quieting the day’s bustle. Cool air drifted inside through the open windows, but neither Ash nor Violet felt the peace that the night promised. After dinner, both had retreated to their rooms, their minds buzzing with chaotic thoughts. They just knew they couldn’t keep avoiding each other forever.

The atmosphere in the mansion was charged with the knowledge of their history—most of the staff knew what had happened between them years ago, and it was only a matter of time before Ben and Iva found out. Ash doesn’t care much about Ben’s feelings, but he can’t bring himself to be indifferent to Iva’s feelings. He knew Violet’s concern for her mother’s happiness. Violet, in the past, wished for her mother to be happy and rid of loneliness. Seeing how Iva had become radiantly cheerful about her marriage, Violet wouldn’t want to do anything to spoil that.

Ash sat in his study, leaning back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as the weight of their complicated situation pressed on him. He had spent all day grappling with the reality that Violet was now his stepsister. The realization that their past would eventually come to light gnawed at him. To keep Iva from learning about the past, he decides to let the employees know what they should do as he was just about to reach for the intercom button on his desk after mulling over it for an hour when a soft knock at the door came.

“I’ve brought you the milk, sir. May I come in?” It was Rita, one of the younger maids.

Ash opened the door and took the cup from her. “Perfect timing, Rita. Summon Thomas and Sherin to my study, please,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

Within minutes, footsteps echoed in the hall, followed by a light knock. “Come in,” Ash called.

Thomas, the head butler, entered first, followed by Sherin, the chief chef. Both had served the Cooper family for years, long enough to know Ash better than anyone else in the house.

“You probably know why I’ve summoned you,” Ash began, his voice measured, as he took a seat behind his desk.

Thomas nodded, his expression calm and composed. “It must be about ensuring that nothing is said regarding you and Miss Violet, sir.”

Ash leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his hands clasped. “That’s right. I don’t want anyone, inside or outside this house, mentioning anything about the past between me and Violet. That includes Aunt Clara. If she asks about my ‘so-called little sister,’ you’ll tell her I’ve forbidden any conversation about it.”

Thomas and Sherin exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken but clear. “We’ll follow your word, sir,” Thomas replied.

Sherin, however, couldn’t keep her concern hidden. She softened her voice and asked, “But are you alright, my dear?”

Sherin, Thomas, and another senior maid, Florence—the head maid, had been with the Cooper family for as long as Ash could remember, even before he was born. These three weren’t just employees—they were family. Sherin, in particular, had always been maternal towards him, often dropping formalities in moments of concern.

“Yes, Sherin, I’m fine. Or at least, I can pretend to be,” Ash said with a small, weary smile.

Sherin smiled back, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She knew pressing him wouldn't help, but that didn't ease her worry. Thomas, too, gave a slight nod, understanding the weight of the situation but knowing there wasn’t much he could do.

With that settled, Thomas and Sherin left the study to pass along Ash’s instructions to the rest of the staff, ensuring that no one would breathe a word about the past relationship between Ash and Violet.

---

A week later, across the countryside, the sun set behind the rolling hills surrounding the ancestral Cooper farmhouse, casting long shadows over the fields. The vast greenery was beautiful, yet it offered little comfort to Clara Cooper, who sat on the creaking porch swing, her phone in hand. It had been a week since she’d last spoken to Ash, and each attempt to contact him had been met with silence.

Clara scrolled through the long list of unanswered calls and unread messages.

The peaceful countryside, which had once been a welcome retreat after the bustle of the city, now felt stifling in its isolation. Clara had raised Ash like her own after his mother passed away, and she knew him better than anyone else. He had always been strong, capable, and determined, but Clara also knew that beneath the surface, he carried scars from the past that he rarely allowed anyone to see.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she quickly glanced down, hoping it was Ash. But it was just a spam message. Clara sighed, leaning back on the swing as the cool breeze brushed her face, but the worry in her heart didn’t ease. Something was wrong—she could feel it.

She dialed Ash’s number again, but after a few rings, knowing that this too would go unattended, she hung up and immediately called the mansion landline.

“Hello, Good evening, Cooper Mansion,” came Robert’s polite voice over the line. He was one of the new hires at the mansion.

“Robert, it’s Clara. I’ve been trying to reach Ash all week, but he hasn’t responded. Is he alright? Has anything happened?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

There was a brief pause before Robert replied, “Master Ash has been very busy with work, ma’am, but… he’s fine. He and Mr. Johnson have been working on the company’s projects. However, I’ll make sure he knows you’ve been trying to reach him.”

Clara sighed, her worry only deepening. “Thank you, Robert. Please tell him I’d appreciate a callback.”

“I will, ma’am,” Robert said before the line disconnected.

Clara stared out at the horizon, her heart heavy with concern. She knew Ash too well to believe everything was fine. He was hiding something, and she wasn’t sure how long she could wait before intervening.

---

Back at the Cooper Mansion, the night sky stretched endlessly above, stars twinkling against the dark canvas. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. A week had passed since Violet’s arrival, and although she and Ash had been civil, there was an undeniable strain between them. Their interactions were limited to brief, polite exchanges over dinner or the occasional passing in the hallway. Both were trying to maintain a calm facade, but the weight of their unresolved past was growing heavier by the day.

Violet, restless and unable to sleep, had taken to wandering the mansion grounds after dinner. The cool night air wrapped around her as she made her way to the terrace that overlooked the small pond behind the main building. She stood there, holding a cup of warm milk, staring at the reflection of the moon on the still waters. The quietness of the night only seemed to amplify her thoughts, pulling her back into memories of Ash—of their past together.

Just then, she heard the door to the terrace open behind her. She didn’t turn around. She didn’t need to. She knew who it was.

Ash stepped onto the terrace, a cup of warm milk in his hand as well. He froze for a moment when he saw Violet standing there, her figure bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. He considered turning back, but something stopped him. She hadn’t reacted to his presence, even though she must have known he was there. Maybe, just maybe, this was the moment they both had been waiting for.

Ash took a deep breath and stepped closer, standing a few feet away from her. For a while, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with unspoken words.

Finally, Ash broke the silence. “We… can’t keep avoiding each other like this…” he said, his voice low but steady. As he continued, “... Violet” hesitantly uttered her name.

She didn’t turn to look at him, but she nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on the pond. “I know,” she replied quietly. “But it’s going to be hard.”

Ash felt his throat tight. He had spent the past week thinking of what he would say if this moment ever came, but now that it was here, the words seemed to escape him. “I don’t know how to start,” he admitted, taking a step closer.

Violet finally turned to face him, her expression calm but her eyes heavy with emotion. “Maybe we don’t have to talk about everything right now.”

Ash paused a moment. He knew that talking about the past now would only muddle things more, and he knew she was afraid of it, too.

Ash clenched his fists at his sides, feeling bitter about their current circumstances. He looked at her, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her features. Her dark blue eyes, illuminated under the night sky, sparkled with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

“Then… maybe we can… start over,” he said, his heart pounding in his chest.

Violet blinked, a little surprised by his agreement. “Start over?”

But before Ash could say anything, Violet continued, “I… think that’s a fine idea. Given our current circumstances and considering Mom, it might be the best way forward.”

Violet took a small sip from her glass. She hated herself for choosing not to talk about their unresolved issues, but she was determined not to give in to her temptations.

Ash stared at her for a moment, processing her words. It wasn’t what he had expected, but she was right. Diving headfirst into their unresolved issues might do more harm than good. Maybe they needed to rebuild something before they could confront the past.

“If you are okay, then… Friends?” Ash in a very low voice, like a whisper.

Violet studied him for a moment, her heart torn between relief and longing. This wasn’t the conversation she had expected, but it was the one she needed. She sipped her milk again, trying to steady her emotions.

She smiled faintly, her eyes softening. “You really think we can pull that off?”

“I… don’t know. But it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Ash was mesmerized by her smile, which was directed towards him after a long time.

Ash’s gaze lingered on her, the memories of their past swirling in his mind—the laughter, the intimacy, the love. It was hard to imagine them as just friends, but he felt that was the only way forward.

“What about Clara?” Violet asked suddenly, breaking the silence. “She’s not going to take it well when she finds out.”

Ash sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t think lying to her is the answer, but telling her now would be a disaster. She’s busy with the farmhouse renovations. We’ll deal with it when she’s settled.”

“Okay,” she said softly.

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight between them lifting slightly. It wasn’t a solution, but it was a start.

A trace of a smile escaped Violet’s lips. She knew that he couldn’t lie to Clara. To him, Clara is a better parent than Ben could ever be. His strategy may look calculated, but that was the only way to buy himself some time. And despite herself, Violet felt a pang of nostalgia at the thought.

“Alright,” she said after a moment. “Friends.”

They shook hands, but the handshake lingered longer than it should have. Violet felt the warmth of Ash’s hand, as soft as it used to be. His nails were neatly trimmed. The same hand that had once held hers countless times before. For a brief moment, she was transported back to their past, back to the days when holding his hand had felt so natural. She glanced up at him, catching him staring at their joined hands, lost in thought.

Ash, too, was pulled into memories of the past. He remembered the way he used to hold her hand for hours, absentmindedly playing with her wrist support, finding comfort in the simple act of touch. A time when he didn’t need a reason to hold her hand, hug her tightly, or even kiss her. Her hands, calloused from years of volleyball practice, had always fascinated him. They were strong yet soft in a way that he found beautiful.

They stood there in the moonlight, the tension between them easing slightly as they shared a quiet understanding. For the first time in days, the weight of their past felt a little lighter. It wasn’t a solution, but it was a beginning.

As the night wore on, they continued to talk, their conversation drifting to lighter topics. For a brief moment, it almost felt like the old days, like they were just two people enjoying each other’s company.

But even as they smiled and laughed in the cool night air, both knew that the real conversation—the one about what had torn them apart—was still waiting for them. And when the time came, they would have to face it.

But for now, they were content to pretend, if only for a little while longer, that everything was simple.

For now, they were just happy to start over.