Chapter 11
As Miles drove slowly toward the open gate, a mansion with its lights burning brightly came into view, hinting at someone waiting for a late arrival. A vacant house sits to the mansion's right, however.
"Miles, let me ask you something about that house next door, it appears so deserted."
“Oh, that house. It’s always been empty. Nobody doesn’t want it.”
Kathy wondered why the house wasn't selling and thought she should ask Anthony. Pulling up to the mansion, he turned off the car. As they got out, Kathy grabbed her bag as Miles handed her the car keys. They walked toward the mansion, climbing the steps to the large double doors. The building loomed above them, its elaborate façade adorned with intricate carvings and large arched windows that reflected the faint moonlight. The air carried a faint scent of aged wood and blooming jasmine from the garden that sprawled around the estate.
Kathy paused for a moment, her eyes lingering on the towering structure. "It feels... alive," she murmured, the ethereal glow of the lights giving the mansion an almost sentient presence.
Miles glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That’s the charm of this place. It has a way of making you feel like you’ve stepped into another world," he said, his voice low, as though not to disturb the quiet mystery of the surroundings.
As they reached the doors, one of them creaked open slightly before Miles could even touch the handle. Kathy froze for a split second, gripping her bag tighter. A moment later, the soft, warm light from the foyer spilled out. It was as if the mansion had been expecting them.
"Don’t worry," Miles reassured her, stepping forward confidently. "Servant must’ve left it open for us. Let’s head in." Kathy followed, her curiosity piqued further by the uncanny atmosphere. The interior was just as grand as the exterior, with high ceilings adorned with ornate chandeliers, a sweeping staircase, and walls lined with antique paintings that seemed to watch them with timeless eyes.
She couldn’t help but feel that the mansion held secrets, whispering silently through its walls, waiting for the right moment to reveal its story.
“Come on Kathy, his room is upstairs he been waiting for you,”
“Alright. Who else lived here?”
“Um.... His parents, my wife, along with the servants and guards. Overnight stays are welcome. The building has three floors; I'm on the second, but Mr. Thompson and his parents are on the third. Please ask me or a staff member if you need anything. However, please be careful not to wander around the mansion, as it's easy to get lost.”
Kathy nodded, her eyes lingering on the Anthony family pictures lining the hallway as they walked by. She yearned to stop and look, but she had to keep moving. They walked to another floor and stopped at Anthony's room. Miles knocked, but got no answer. However, the door was unlocked, so he opened it for Kathy. She entered cautiously, looking over her shoulder while Miles remained outside.
“Are you coming in?”
Without his permission, I am not permitted to enter his room. He is likely showering because I can hear the shower. Just wait on his sofa—he should return shortly.”
Miles shut the door, while Kathy glanced around Anthony's room before settling on the couch; the sound of the running shower was audible. On his dresser, she saw photos of his teenage years with Miles and the other boys, proudly displaying their catches. A growl from Kathy's hungry stomach reminded her she needed food. She hesitated, wondering if she should ask Miles before going upstairs. She discovered ten missed calls and more than twenty texts from her father demanding her immediate return home when she checked her cellphone. Or else she threatened to prevent her from inheriting her mother's business. Kathy is aware of her father's behavior as he is most likely waiting for her to return.
She settled down for a moment, placing her head on the pillow and her bag on the floor next to her. Her eyes just fluttered closed.
A towel was all Anthony wore as he exited the bathroom; the aroma of his mate—apple spice and brown sugar—filled his nostrils. She was sleeping soundly on the sofa, so he chose not to wake her. Entering his closet, he donned boxers and sweatpants—no shirt—and exited to the sound of her ringing phone. As he approached the source of the sound, he answered the phone to a young woman's voice.
"Kathy, Dad is angry at you." Get home now; consider yourself fortunate that Mr. Harvey Crawford is proposing marriage. Your life with him will be great, and he is a very generous man who gives your father a lot of money. Hello Kathy, can you hear me?” said Skye.
“This is not Kathy. This is Anthony, her husband. Who is Harvey Crawford?”
"I apologize; I seem to have the wrong number."
The speed with which Skye hung up the phone infuriated Anthony, who learned Kathy's father would marry her off to a stranger for money. He placed her phone back where it belonged, then sat down next to her on the floor, tracing her cheek with his finger and watching her peacefully sleeping smile.
“Anthony, I am sorry,”
Confused by Kathy's apology, Anthony doesn't see why she's sorry since she hadn't harmed him. Anthony tried to mind-link Miles on his Beta, but received no answer. Not wanting to leave Kathy on the couch, he picked her up and placed her in his bed after he got up from the floor, then he slept on the couch. As he laid her down and removed her shoes, he noticed a scar on her right side under her shirt. He draped the blanket over her, got a spare blanket and pillow from the closet, and he slept on the couch.