Chapter 2: Aiden’s House

Nadia’s POV

The move into Aiden’s house happened faster than I could have imagined.

Aiden had arranged everything down to the last detail—bringing along a couple of maids to pack up all of our things. It was like we didn’t have to lift a finger.

Mom couldn’t stop smiling the entire time, her excitement bubbling over as she chatted with Aiden. She waved goodbye to our neighbors like she was ready to shed her old life and step into her new role as the perfect rich wife.

Meanwhile, I sat silently in the car, staring out the window, ignoring Aiden’s attempts at conversation. Jasper, predictably, was unbothered, laughing along with Mom and Aiden as if this were just another adventure.

I felt like an outsider, completely out of place, as they chattered away like some happy little family. My grip tightened on my seatbelt as we drove deeper into the heart of Aiden’s estate.

When we finally pulled up, my breath caught in my throat. It wasn’t just a house but a castle—stone walls stretching up toward the sky, turrets and all. A dozen Filipino maids stood at the entrance, bowing as we stepped out. It was like something out of a movie, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disbelief. I didn’t belong here.

Aiden led us inside, his smile wide and welcoming as he played the perfect host. “Make yourselves at home,” he said, waving a hand around the grand entrance hall.

I sank into one of the sofas, feeling small and overwhelmed. Jasper, on the other hand, was immediately drawn to the massive swimming pool visible through the glass doors at the back of the house.

He gawked at it like he’d never seen anything like it before. “Look at that!” he exclaimed, practically bouncing on his heels. “That’s huge!”

I rolled my eyes. “Calm down, Jasper. It’s just a pool.”

Aiden chuckled. “Feel free to take a swim anytime, Jasper. It’s heated year-round.”

Jasper’s face lit up even more, and he darted off, babbling about diving boards and cannonballs. I just shook my head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

He looked like a kid in a candy store, and it was hard not to feel secondhand embarrassment.

Aiden turned to me then, his smile still in place. “Let me show you to your room, Nadia.”

I followed him upstairs, trying to keep my expression neutral. The house was even bigger on the inside than it looked from the outside, with hallways that seemed to stretch on forever.

When we reached my room, Aiden opened the door, revealing a space that was far too luxurious for someone like me.

I walked to the window, looking out, and instantly, my eyes landed on a figure—a boy striding through the garden below. He was tall, lean, his dark hair a calculated mess that seemed just thrown together but likely took hours to perfect. He moved among the roses like he was somewhere else, somewhere that matched his dark jeans and fitted jacket that screamed designer without trying too hard.

“That’s Ethan,” Aiden said, noticing where I was looking. “My younger son. He’s only a few months younger than Mason, but they’re both eighteen. They’re in the grade above you at school.”

I nodded, watching Ethan move through the garden with a sort of brooding intensity. He had this lazy elegance about him, like he owned every inch of the path he walked on. His steps were so measured and unhurried; it was like he had all the time in the world.

He seemed lost in thought, his lips barely curving in a contemplative frown, a prince of gloom in an unfairly bright and alive setting.

At that moment, he looked up, and our eyes locked. There was an undeniable intensity in his gaze that immediately drew me in—a quiet, compelling force that seemed to bridge the space between us. Feeling the weight of the connection in that brief exchange, I reluctantly broke eye contact.

Clearing my throat, I shifted the focus. "Where's Mason?" I asked, trying to distract myself.

Aiden smiled, a little too cheerfully. “Mason’s out right now, but he’ll be back in time for dinner. We’ll all eat together.”

Dinner was a grand affair, the table filled with dishes that looked like they belonged in a five-star restaurant. Mom was practically glowing, her smile never faltering as she tried to make polite conversation, clearly trying to impress Aiden. It was sickening. Jasper, of course, couldn’t wait, and started digging in the moment he sat down. I shot him a look, but he ignored me.

“Let’s wait for Mason,” Mom insisted, her tone sweet, too sweet. She never cared about these kinds of things when it was just us. She was putting on a show for Aiden, and it was embarrassing to watch.

Aiden smiled politely. “No need to wait. Let’s start.”

I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy, but I kept my mouth shut, focusing on the untouched food on my plate.

The minutes dragged like hours, and by the time Mason finally swaggered in, the food was cold and forgotten. He slung a casual "Hey" towards Aiden, barely acknowledging the rest of us as if we were merely part of the decor.

"Mason," Aiden snapped, the irritation clear in his tone. "At least greet our guests properly."

Mason didn't even look our way, his disinterest palpable. "Not in the mood," he drawled, then without missing a beat, he summoned two maids to help him switch out his designer shoes, flaunting his entitlement as though he were royalty. Aiden's smile tightened, barely concealing his frustration. "Mason, stay for dinner," he tried again, his voice light but strained.

"I'll pass," Mason dismissed the invitation with a careless shrug, turning to head upstairs without another word, leaving us in a sinking silence. I felt a twinge of discomfort from Mom, her smile wavering for the first time.

Sitting there, I remembered the night I brushed past him at the bar, his aloofness then had seemed mysterious, even appealing. But now, watching his childish display of arrogance, that allure was quickly souring. The image of him, once so captivating in its confident mystery, now struck me as just an act, a thin veneer covering something much less compelling. His breezy dismissal of basic social niceties didn't just come off as cool or detached anymore; it was simply immature, and it made me question what I'd found so intriguing about him in the first place.

“Oh, we forgot Ethan!” Mom said suddenly, looking around like she just realized he wasn’t there. “Shouldn’t we call him down for dinner?”

Aiden’s cheeks reddened slightly, and he quickly called over one of the maids. “Please let Ethan know it’s time for dinner,” he instructed.

The maid looked a bit hesitant. “Mr. Ethan went out a short while ago, sir. He didn’t say when he’d be back.”

Aiden’s face flushed even more, clearly embarrassed by his sons’ behavior, but he forced a smile, trying to keep up appearances. “Ah, well, they’re both very busy… Lots going on.”

I glanced at Jasper, who was still happily wolfing down his food, utterly oblivious to the awkwardness around us. I, on the other hand, had lost my appetite entirely. The tension was suffocating, the entire meal a strained exercise in politeness and forced smiles.

Aiden tried to make small talk, clearly embarrassed, but it was no use. The damage was done. His sons didn’t want us here, and they weren’t afraid to show it.

Jasper didn’t care. He finished his meal without a second thought, but I could barely swallow my food. This was my life now—stuck in this house with people who clearly didn’t want us around, my mother trying too hard, and my little brother acting like everything was perfectly normal.

I pushed my plate away, my appetite gone. This was just the beginning, and I already felt in over my head.

…………

Being in Aiden's house felt like living in a strange, cold museum where everything was on display, and nothing felt like home. I couldn’t handle the tension—the constant reminders that Mason and Ethan didn’t want us there, the awkward silence around every corner. I needed to get out, even if just for a few hours, to breathe. I needed Daisy. She was the only thing that still felt normal.

I shot her a text: “Can we hang out? Need to get away.” Within minutes, she replied: “Of course. Come over.”

I left without saying a word to anyone. I doubted they’d even notice I was gone. The walk to Daisy’s was like a weight lifting off my chest, and when I got there, she was already waiting for me at the curb, her bright smile a welcome relief.

“Hey, Nadia!” she greeted, pulling me into a hug.

“Hey,” I said, trying to smile back. “Thanks for letting me escape for a bit.”

“Always,” she replied, hooking her arm through mine as we walked toward her house. “So, how’s life in Castle Gray?”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t even get me started. It’s like I’m living in some twisted reality show.”

Daisy laughed, but I could hear the curiosity in her voice. “Come on, what’s it really like? I mean, with Mason and Ethan around?”

I sighed. “It’s exhausting. Mason’s got this whole angry, brooding thing going on. He’s handsome, sure, but he looks like he’s one wrong word away from exploding. And Ethan… he’s just distant, like he’s got his head somewhere else. I’m over it.”

She smirked. “You’ve heard the stories, right? About Ethan being a total player? Flirts with every girl, but never takes it further?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard.” I was already tired of the gossip. “And Mason’s supposed to have this huge temper. But honestly, I’m just trying to survive without getting caught up in their drama.”

Daisy grinned. “Still, they’re two different kinds of trouble. Mason’s the bad boy every girl thinks she can fix, and Ethan’s the mysterious one no one can figure out. Makes sense why all the girls are obsessed with them.”

“Great. I’m stuck with the two biggest clichés in the world,” I muttered. “Can we not talk about them anymore? I need a break from all things Gray.”

“Fair enough,” Daisy said, leading me inside. “Let’s talk about something else. Or better yet, let’s just hang out and forget about them altogether.”

I nodded, grateful for the change in subject. We headed up to her room, where I could finally relax. We ordered pizza, put on some mindless TV, and for a little while, I managed to forget about Mason, Ethan, and the entire mess of Aiden’s house.

Daisy got up to grab us some drinks, and I stretched out on her bed, letting the comfort of her room settle over me. It felt good to be somewhere familiar, somewhere I didn’t have to worry about anyone watching me or judging me. I turned over and noticed a magazine sticking out from under her bed. Curious, I reached down and pulled it out, thinking it was just some fashion magazine or a celebrity gossip rag.

The pages were filled with images—explicit pictures of women with other women. At first, I thought it was just some men’s porn magazine, but as I kept flipping, it dawned on me. This wasn’t random. This was something more personal. My heart started pounding. Daisy… she’s into girls? My best friend is a lesbian?

How did I not know? I sat there, my mind racing, flipping through the pages as if the pictures would somehow explain everything. A thousand questions filled my head. Why hadn’t she told me? Did she think I’d judge her? Did she not trust me?

Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Daisy. She was coming back. My heart leaped into my throat. The door creaked open slightly, and I could see her shadow on the floor.

“Nadia?” she called, still out of sight. “I got the drinks. You okay in there?”

I froze, gripping the edge of the magazine, my mind spinning. Daisy was right there, just about to push open the door and walk in, completely unaware that her secret was out in the open. My pulse quickened as I stared at the door, undecided on what to do.