Chapter 12 All Alone
I sat on the bed, holding Carson’s note like it was some kind of puzzle.
“There’s a driver downstairs if you want to go out today.”
‘What did that even mean? Was I free to go anywhere now? Or was it just another way to keep an eye on me?”I asked myself, expecting no reply from anyone.
I tossed the note on the side table and sighed. “Whatever.”
I took a quick shower, changed into something simple, and headed downstairs.
The house was quiet, as usual. Cynthia was already cleaning. She smiled when she saw me.
“Good morning, ma.”
“Morning.”
I wasn’t in the mood for small talk. I just kept walking until I reached the front door.
True to the note, there was a black car parked outside. A driver stood beside it, wearing dark shades.
“Good morning, ma,” he said, opening the door for me.
I raised a brow. “What if I don’t know where I’m going?”
He smiled politely. “Mr. Carson said I should take you anywhere you wish,”he said.
“Anywhere?”I asked.
“Yes, ma.”he said.
I got in. The seats were soft, the air conditioning perfect. I leaned back.
“Let’s just drive,” I said. “I’ll tell you if I see somewhere interesting.”
“Yes, ma.”
And we were off.
We drove for a while, passing shops, cafes, and people just going about their day. It was strange how normal everything looked when my life was anything but normal.
After about twenty minutes, I spotted a small coffee shop with plants in front.
“There. Stop there,” I said.
He parked, got out quickly, and opened the door for me like I was royalty. I almost laughed.
Inside, the shop smelled like cinnamon and freshly baked bread. There weren’t too many people. Just the way I liked it.
I walked up to the counter. A girl with curly hair smiled at me.
“Hi! What can I get you?”
“Um… just a hot chocolate.”
“Coming right up.”
I paid, found a small table near the window, and sat.
For the first time in days, I felt like a normal person. No mansion, no strange husband, no stiff silence. Just me, a cup of hot chocolate, and people chatting around me.
I stayed at the coffee shop for a little while longer, just enjoying the quiet. It felt nice to be out of that big house, even if only for a short time.
After finishing my hot chocolate, I walked around the small town a bit, taking in the calm morning air. I didn’t really have any plans, but walking was enough for now.
Eventually, I found a small bookstore tucked between two buildings. The window was full of books, and the sign read “Used Books - New Stories.”
I pushed open the door, and the soft bell above it rang. The inside was cozy, with books stacked everywhere. The smell of old paper filled the air.
I walked down one aisle and picked up a book at random. It was a simple romance novel, the kind I used to read back in school. The cover was faded, but it still looked interesting.
I turned the first few pages, lost in the story. It was funny how reading made me forget about everything else.
For a few moments, I didn’t think about Carson, the house, or any of the confusion that had been building up since I got here.
The sound of the door opening caught my attention, and I looked up to see a man walk in. He had a friendly smile, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt.
“Good morning,” he said, nodding as he passed me.
I smiled back, going back to my book. I wasn’t in the mood for talking to anyone.
I browsed a few more books, trying to distract myself. But it wasn’t long before my mind wandered back to Carson.
Was he really trying to control my life? Was he trying to get close to me, or was everything just part of his plan?
I shook my head. “Stop thinking about it,” I whispered to myself.
But it was hard to stop thinking about it. Everything was so uncertain, and I had no idea where this was all going.
After a while, I bought the book I was holding and made my way back to the car. The driver was still parked outside, waiting for me.
I got in, this time not bothering to say anything. The driver didn’t seem to mind. He just drove in silence, heading back to the house.
As we got closer, I saw the big gates of the mansion. I didn’t want to go back there, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
The car stopped in front of the house, and the driver opened the door for me.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
He nodded and drove off as I walked inside.
When I stepped into the house, everything felt too quiet again. Carson wasn’t back yet, and there was no sign of anyone else.
I went upstairs to my room, feeling a little out of place. The note Carson left earlier still lingered in my mind.
“There’s a driver downstairs if you want to go out today.”
It sounded so simple, but I knew it was more than just a suggestion. Everything was planned, even my freedom.
I sat on the bed, staring at the book I had bought. I wasn’t in the mood to read it, but I opened it anyway.
The words blurred in front of me, and I realized I wasn’t really paying attention.
I put the book down and glanced at the clock. It was almost 3 PM. Carson still wasn’t back.
The house felt empty again.
I couldn’t stand being in that big house alone. I needed to get away, even if just for a few hours. So I grabbed my phone and decided to text someone, anyone, just to break the silence.
I scrolled through my contacts and stopped when I saw Sarah’s name. She was the one person I trusted, even if we hadn’t spoken much in a while.
I typed a quick message:
“Hey, just checking in. I’m here at the house. Hope you’re doing okay.”
I hit send and waited.
A few minutes later, she replied:
“I’m good! I’ve been thinking about you. How’s everything? You okay?”
“It’s... fine. I’m just trying to get used to it here.”i said.
“You sure? You sound like you’re not.”
“Yeah. It’s complicated.”
I didn’t want to say too much. I didn’t know how much I could trust Sarah yet.
“I can come over if you need me. You’re not alone, okay?”she said.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
It felt good to know someone cared. I didn’t reply anymore, but it was nice to think about having someone to talk to.
As I sat on the bed, waiting for Carson to come home, I realized just how lonely I felt. All this money, this big house, and I still felt empty inside.