Chapter 26
The car rolled to a gentle stop on the immaculate drive, the late afternoon sun glinting off the polished windows of the house before them. At last, Kathy and Anthony had arrived, with Miles peering curiously through the glass, taking in the pristine facade. Everything was flawless—fresh paint, manicured hedges, not a single thing out of place. The atmosphere was still, almost unnaturally so.
Kathy stepped out first, her heels clicking softly on the stone path as she made her way to the security panel by the gate. With practiced hands, she entered the code, a quiet beep signaling the lock’s release. Behind her, Anthony approached, his presence steady and familiar. He wrapped his arms around her waist, an attempt at reassurance but also a gentle reminder of the tension that lingered from earlier.
Miles remained by the car, his gaze sweeping the silent surroundings. He noticed the absence of the usual staff—no guards at their posts, no sign of the maid or butler. The house, though welcoming in appearance, seemed to hold its breath. Kathy paused, unease flickering across her features as the gates eased open, granting them entry into a domain that, for the moment, felt both brand-new and strangely unfamiliar.
As the truck arrived at the house, the gate opened, Kathy retrieved the hidden key from the flowerpot, and then used it to unlock the door. While everything is where it should be, there's still an issue.
"Something feels off, Anthony."
"I feel it as well; have my men search the area, and I'll accompany you into your room."
As Kathy and Anthony walked upstairs, hand in hand and at a leisurely pace, they reached her door, which she then unlocked, and upon opening, found everything in its proper place. Kathy released Anthony's hand and began to leave the room, while her father Edward slept with his new wife and Skye was not in their room. Since everything is empty, they have left. Go back into the room; her mate is standing and watching. Anthony's men went upstairs, carrying empty boxes, and placed them on the bed. They begin packing everything together, while Kathy puts everything in her big backpack in the bathroom.
Four hours after the fact, everything was loaded into the truck, and it was strange that her father and his family were still absent. So, Kathy took out her phone and called her dad, who picked up.
“Father, why is the house is empty? Where are the servants and butler?”
"Since I let them go, Skye's fiancé moved us into his mansion, so I want nothing to do with the house anymore. We transferred our possessions to our new house. It's your call whether you want to sell it or hold on to it. I know your mother stole the company before we end this call. The amount of funding is currently undetermined.”
“I didn’t know, Father.”
“Sure, you do. Now enjoy your so-called husband and don’t come running back when he dumps you,”
After Edward hung up the phone, Anthony watched, then saw her smile back at him.
“My love, what’s on your mind?”
“Um…. We will need more boxes because father and his family have relocated to their son-in-law's home. I'm putting this home up for sale; all my most cherished belongings will be coming with me. We have to discard any food that is not consumed; we are unable to store it. "We will need more help, I am afraid," she said.
“Allow me to take care of that,” he offered.
Anthony pulled out his cellphone and, with a tap, dialed a number; a gentle voice, belonging to an older woman, answered, and he gave her the address, requesting a thorough cleaning of the house.
“They should be around 20 mins. What about the furniture?”
"I would require those donations that are being received."
"Don't worry about it, it's still in perfect condition, and the new owner can take it. We should start cleaning now. “
Barely twenty minutes had passed before the cleaning staff arrived, their arms laden with supplies and their faces bright with professional anticipation. Kathy greeted them at the door, her voice warm but businesslike as she explained what needed to be done.
“We need a thorough clean—every corner, every cupboard. All the food is to be thrown away, not a crumb left. And I want the blankets, sheets, even the pillows, if possible, to run through the washing machine downstairs in the basement. There's detergent on the shelf. If you run out, let me know.”
The staff nodded, splitting up with practiced efficiency. Some moved kitchen items to the trash, others stripped beds and carried linens down to the basement. The rhythmic hum of the washer soon echoed up the stairwell, mingling with the sound of boxes being taped and furniture covers being draped.
Kathy lingered for a moment in the hallway, watching the quiet flurry of activity, her hands folded as if holding something delicate—her relief, perhaps, or the memory of all the years she’d spent under this roof. Then she turned to Anthony, determination lighting her features. “Let’s get this finished. We’re almost there.”
Everyone was tired as they loaded the moving truck at night. She needs to call a realtor to sell the house.
"We'll eat leftovers when we get home."
“I paid everyone for the work they did today. Let get you home,”
Kathy slid into the back seat, the car door closing with a tired thud. She let her head rest on Anthony’s shoulder, the cool leather a brief comfort against her sweat-damp skin. Every muscle ached, her hair clinging to her forehead, and her mind replayed the endless list of tasks. More than anything, she longed for a hot shower—just to wash away the day—and to finally sit with whatever leftovers they’d scavenged from the fridge.
As Miles started the engine, Kathy’s eyes fluttered closed, but a sudden bolt of remembrance jolted her upright. “Wait, I… I just remembered—I left my things at the hotel. My suitcase, the charger, all my stuff. And…” Her voice trailed off, caught by something tender and weighty. “My mother’s ashes—they’re on the little table by the window.”
She exhaled, worry etching lines on her face. “I don’t think I have the energy to go back tonight. Do you think you could ask Miles to stop by the hotel and pick everything up for me? Just tell him the ashes are in the small brass urn on the table. I don’t want to leave her there, not even for a night.”
Anthony squeezed her hand and nodded, already reaching for his phone. The night pressed in around them, but in that moment, Kathy felt a glimmer of relief—knowing, at least, there was someone to help carry what she couldn’t.
Anthony noticed Kathy had fallen asleep on him, so he covered her with a blanket from the house to keep her warm as Miles drove them to Kathy's new house.