Chapter 8

I had no idea how I ended up here, walking down the familiar, grand path to the Hawthorne mansion. My father led the way, moving with his usual air of confidence, while I trailed behind, every step heavier than the last. I didn’t want to be here. I hadn’t even agreed to the marriage, but here I was, about to get a glimpse of the life my father seemed so determined to shove me into.

As the mansion loomed closer, its elegant stone facade and arched windows staring down at me, a wave of nostalgia hit. Memories I hadn’t thought about in years floated to the surface—the laughter, the adventures, the reckless games Theodore and I used to play. This place was a piece of my childhood, yet now it felt distant, like something from a story I’d once read.

Crossing the threshold, I felt a strange warmth, mixed with something bittersweet. I could almost hear the echoes of our laughter, of our footsteps racing down the hallways, daring each other to break the rules. I remembered the first time I’d come here, a shy little girl with pigtails, staring wide-eyed at the grand staircase, the tall portraits on the walls. Theodore had grabbed my hand, and with a mischievous grin, he’d shown me how to slide down the banister, like we were some sort of rebels.

Standing in the foyer now, I looked around at the polished marble floors, the chandeliers hanging overhead, the rich scent of freshly polished wood. It was all the same, yet somehow, everything felt different. Like I was a stranger here, a ghost in my own memories.

“Diane!” Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and before I knew it, she had me wrapped up in one of her warm, familiar hugs. She smelled like flowers and sunshine, and for a second, I felt my guard slip.

“Oh, my dear, look at you!” she said, pulling back to get a good look at me. “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman! It feels like ages since I last saw you.”

I managed an awkward smile, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. “Thank you, Mrs. Hawthorne. It’s... it’s good to see you too.”

“Please, call me Amelia,” she said with a grin, her eyes warm and full of affection. “You’re practically family, after all.”

Then Mr. Hawthorne stepped over, giving me a nod and a kind smile. “Diane, you look lovely,” he said, his voice deep and reassuring. “We’ve missed you around here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne.” My eyes drifted around the room, taking in the lavish decor, the luxurious touches that once felt magical but now seemed like a gilded cage. The air felt almost too perfect, as if trying to hide the tension hanging over us.

We exchanged some small talk, but I couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room. The whole reason I was here was hovering between us, unspoken but heavy—this ridiculous marriage arrangement. I glanced around, trying to spot Theodore, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Is Theodore around?” I asked, my heart doing a little flip at the thought of seeing him again. I hated that it still did that.

Mrs. Hawthorne—or Amelia, as she wanted me to call her—gave a small, casual wave. “Oh, he’s out on business,” she said lightly, like it was no big deal. “But he’ll be back soon.”

I nodded, feeling an odd mix of relief and disappointment. It was probably for the best. I had no idea what I’d even say to him after the way we ended our conversation the last time. Just the thought made my stomach tighten, so I mumbled an excuse and slipped away, letting my feet carry me through the halls.

The memories were thick in the air. Every corner, every shadow seemed to hold whispers of our past—the hideouts we’d created in the garden, the silly games, the dreams we’d shared. Back then, Theodore’s face would light up with excitement whenever he talked about all the places he wanted to go, the things he wanted to do. He’d once promised me, “No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.”

It felt like a cruel joke now, that promise. Just another ghost haunting these halls.

I found myself wandering upstairs, my fingers brushing along the familiar banister. Family portraits lined the walls, including one from a long-ago summer picnic with Theodore and me, both of us grinning like we didn’t have a care in the world. There was a homemade cake on the blanket, lopsided and ridiculous, but we’d been so proud of it.

For a moment, I smiled, remembering how carefree we’d been. But then something nagged at me—wasn’t Daphne there too? She’d been right beside us that day. So why wasn’t she in the photo? A strange chill ran down my spine, but I shook it off, telling myself I was reading too much into it.

My feet led me to Theodore’s old room, and I paused outside, feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. Would it still look the same? Would it still feel like him?

I pushed the door open, the familiar creak echoing in the silence. The room was exactly as I remembered it—the blue walls, the posters of bands he’d loved, the bed neatly made. Stepping inside felt like stepping back in time. My eyes fell on a small box on his desk, and before I knew it, I was reaching for it.

Inside were little trinkets from our childhood—old action figures, marbles, a crumpled note I’d written him when we were kids, declaring in messy handwriting that we’d be “best friends forever.” I chuckled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. And then I saw it—a faded bead bracelet.

My breath caught. I picked it up, running my fingers over the worn beads. I had made this for him on his birthday, each bead a different wish I had for him. I’d been so sure he’d forgotten about it, but here it was, kept all these years. Why had he kept it? The string looked fragile, like it could snap any second, but it was still here.

A strange warmth settled in my chest, mixed with sadness. I put the bracelet back, letting it sit with the other pieces of our past. As I closed the box, something else caught my eye—a crumpled business card shoved into the back of a drawer. Ethan’s business card.

I frowned, holding it up. Why would Theodore have this? After some thought, I concluded that it was probably nothing—maybe they had business dealings. Still, it felt odd, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit.

Before I could think too much about it, footsteps sounded in the hallway, and my heart leapt into my throat. I scrambled to my feet, instinctively darting into the closet and closing the door, just as the door to the room swung open.

Theodore walked in, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a low, intense tone. I couldn’t make out every word, but the sound of his voice brought back memories, tugging at something deep inside me. This wasn’t the carefree boy I’d known. His voice had a hard edge to it, something frustrated and... tired.

I held my breath, not daring to move. “You have to convince Bianca, Martin,” he said, his tone laced with irritation. “I’m not sure how long I can keep pretending everything is fine. She’s the only hope I have left to help her recover.”

Recover? Who was he talking about? I strained to hear more, but he went quiet, listening to whoever was on the other end.

After a pause, he let out a frustrated sigh. “I’ll deal with it when I get back. Just… I’ll call you later.” He hung up, shoving his phone into his pocket, and for a second, he just stood there, staring out the window.

In the dim light, he looked… lost. Like he was carrying some heavy weight I couldn’t see. A part of me wanted to step out, to ask him what was wrong, but I held back, frozen in the shadows. What would I even say?

The minutes stretched on, and my heart pounded in my chest, a mix of curiosity and guilt. I shouldn’t be here, hiding and listening like this. But seeing him so vulnerable, even for a moment, tugged at something inside me. I hated that it did, but I couldn’t deny it.

Eventually, he turned, his eyes clouded with something I couldn’t quite read, and I ducked lower, holding my breath. Please don’t see me, I thought, clutching the edges of the closet while somehow managing to keep my fingers crossed, my pulse loud in my ears, almost audible for him to hear it as well.

Despite my pleading for the universe not to forsake me, It went against me just like every other time.