Unexpected bond

‎ ‎(Alice’s POV) ‎I stood by the window, watching the sunrise as the cold morning breeze swept in, sending a chill through my body. It was a beautiful morning—one that usually leaves you refreshed and ready to face the day. A complete contrast to how I felt standing alone in my new room in the Livingston family villa. ‎Just a few days ago, I was happy, with my parents by my side. Now… now I was mourning the loss of the two most important people in my life. ‎“Alice, are you awake yet?” Aunt Rose called softly, knocking on my door. ‎I turned away from the window and slowly walked over to open it. ‎“Good morning, Aunty,” I greeted her. ‎“Morning, dear,” she replied warmly. “Did you sleep well?” ‎“I slept perfectly fine, Aunty,” I said with a soft smile—though it was clearly forced. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate her kindness; grief still weighed too heavily on my heart. ‎“Come on, freshen up and come downstairs to have breakfast with us,” she said, the same gentle smile she’d worn every day since I arrived. ‎“Okay, Aunty. Just give me a few minutes,” I replied. ‎She nodded and turned to leave. I closed the door quietly behind her and leaned against it, the silence of the room pressing in on me once more. ‎ >>>>>>>>>>>> ‎A few moments later, I walked down the stairs dressed in a casual T-shirt and jeans. ‎“Good morning, Uncle,” I greeted, wearing my usual forced smile as I reached the long dining table laid out with different varieties of breakfast dishes. ‎Shedrak Livingston, seated at the head of the table, lowered his magazine and looked up at me. A gentle smile crossed his face. ‎“Morning, dear,” he replied. ‎Uncle Shedrak was a business tycoon who owned several companies. He was one of the most successful businessmen in B City. Although my family had our own business, it couldn’t compare to the vast Livingston empire. ‎Uncle Shedrak and Aunt Rose had been close friends and business associates of my parents. After I lost my parents in a tragic car accident a few days ago, the Livingston family decided to adopt me. I had been living with them for a week now, and so far, they had taken good care of me—more than I ever expected. ‎Still, no amount of kindness could fill the emptiness my parents had left behind. ‎I pulled out a chair and sat quietly, my eyes drifting over the spread of food without any real appetite. ‎“Alice, you should eat,” Aunt Rose said gently as she placed a bowl of fruit salad in front of me. “You’ve barely touched your meals these past few days.” ‎“I will, Aunty,” I replied softly, picking up my spoon even though my heart wasn’t in it. ‎Uncle Shedrak folded his magazine and set it aside. “You don’t have to force yourself, my dear,” he said kindly. “But you need your strength. Your parents would want that.” ‎My grip on the spoon tightened slightly at the mention of them. I nodded, afraid my voice might betray me if I spoke. “Do you have any plans for today?” Aunt Rose asked, trying to lighten the mood. ‎“Not really,” I said after a brief pause. “I thought I’d stay in my room… maybe read.” ‎“That’s fine,” she smiled. “But don’t isolate yourself too much, okay?” ‎Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the stairs. ‎“Good morning,” a deep male voice greeted calmly. ‎I looked up instinctively, my heart skipping for reasons I couldn’t explain. ‎Uncle Shedrak smiled. “Good morning, son. Come join us.” ‎Alexander Livingston took a seat across from me, his presence commanding yet quiet. ‎He only nodded to me in acknowledgement his gaze briefly meeting mine.which I replied with an equal nod, lowering my eyes quickly. ‎For a moment, the table fell into an awkward silence—one filled with unspoken emotions, grief, and something unfamiliar stirring deep within me. ‎ We had breakfast mostly in silence, with only Uncle Shedrak and Alexander discussing business from time to time. I had learned during my stay that although Alexander was still in university, he actively helped Uncle run the family business. Aunt Rose and I remained quiet until she finally decided to break the silence. “Alice, dear,” she began gently, “I was wondering if it would be a good idea for you to transfer from your school to the one your brother attended, since it’s closer to the house. Would you mind?” At the sound of her voice, I slowly lifted my gaze from my plate. I took a moment to think about my answer. I was in my second year of senior high school, and transferring would mean leaving my school—leaving behind what remained of my old life, including my friends. Just like I had been forced to leave my home. The thought alone made my chest ache. But it would also mean a fresh start. And maybe… just maybe, with time, I could begin to heal from the loss of my parents. “It’s okay, Aunty,” I finally said, offering a soft smile. “I don’t mind.” That smile, like most these days, didn’t quite reach my eyes. I wore it anyway—I didn’t want them worrying about me more than they already were. “Alright, dear,” Aunt Rose said warmly. “Your uncle and I will take care of everything concerning your transfer.” After breakfast, I quietly returned to my room. There was nothing else for me to do downstairs. Uncle soon left for work, and Alexander headed off to school shortly after. Aunt Rose mentioned she had a few things to take care of and also went out, leaving me alone in the large house with only the house staff. The silence that followed felt heavy—too heavy. >>>>>>>>>>>> I woke up to the sound of my alarm. It had been a few days since Aunt Rose and I discussed my transfer, and today I would finally be starting at my new school. I swung my legs off the bed and onto the floor. Pushing myself up, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up and get ready—I didn’t want to be late on my first day. It was only 6 a.m., and the world outside was still wrapped in early-morning darkness. A faint ray of sunlight slipped through the slightly opened window, quietly announcing the start of a new day. ‎ ‎ ‎