Chapter 4
346 Words
The Hemsworth estate was bigger than her father’s whole house.
Stone walls, black gates, and silence. No one came out to greet them. Just staff lining the driveway, heads down, like they’d been told not to look.
Liam got out first. No hand for her. No “wait.” Owen opened her door instead.
“Your room is in the east wing, Mrs. Hemsworth,” a housekeeper said softly, already taking Reilly’s single suitcase. One suitcase. That’s all Selene had allowed her to bring.
Liam was halfway up the marble stairs before Reilly even touched the ground.
“Liam,” she said it once. Quiet.
He stopped. Didn’t turn. “What.”
“Nothing. I'm sorry" She swallowed.
He kept walking.
The east wing was cold. Literally. The air smelled like old stone and lemon polish. Her room was huge. Four-poster bed, walk-in closet, windows that looked over the garden. It should’ve felt like a palace.
It felt like a hotel room.
“Your things will be brought up,” the housekeeper said. “Dinner is at 8. Mr. Hemsworth prefers to eat alone unless the madame is visiting.”
“Okay,” Reilly nodded. “Thank you.”
The door clicked shut behind her. Lock, but no key. She wasn’t a prisoner. Just… not included.
She ran her fingers over the duvet. Everything was new. Unused. Like no one had ever lived here. Maybe no one had.
She walked to the window. Down below, Liam was getting into his car. Tailored suit, no glance up at her window. The driver closed the door and he was gone.
Six months, he’d said. We don’t pretend at home.
She pressed her forehead to the cold glass.
“Mom,” she whispered. “What did I do?”
Downstairs, the front door shut. Final. Like he’d already forgotten she was there.
- Writer
