Madelines stay

“Madeleine, stop throwing all your stuff and start packing! You’re going to stay at your sister’s home until you finish school,” Lina said firmly, standing at her daughter’s doorway.

Madeleine flopped onto her bed dramatically, her arms sprawled out. “But, Mom, Eddington is a place for Greeks! I’m a fashion artist, not—ugh—some...ancient historian,” she groaned, rolling over and burying her face into a pillow.

Lina couldn’t help but giggle at her daughter’s theatrics. “You silly girl, Eddington isn’t what you’re imagining. It’s a charming town, and besides, it’s not like you’re moving there forever. You’ll finish school and come back in no time.”

“Charming town? More like charmingly boring,” Madeleine muttered under her breath, sitting up and folding her arms defiantly. “What am I supposed to do there? Knit sweaters and admire pottery?”

“Well, I bet you’ll love it when we get there,” Lina replied, shaking her head as she began folding some of Madeleine’s clothes. “There’s more to life than fashion shows and coffee shops, you know.”

“But, Mom—” Madeleine started to protest, but her mother cut her off.

“Oh, stop whining,” Lina said with a playful smile. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find inspiration in Eddington. Maybe that little town will surprise you.”

Madeleine sighed and reluctantly began to pack her things, her mind still swirling with visions of Eddington as some forgotten backwater full of ancient ruins and quiet streets. But deep down, a small part of her wondered if maybe, just maybe, her mom was right.

**Chapter 3: Madeleine’s Stay – A Comedy of Disasters**

“Ugh,” sighed Emma, watching her maid bark orders at the other maids. Boxes of fancy clothes, shoes, and who knows what else piled up around her. *This is everything a teenage girl could ever want,* Emma thought, standing at the corner of the room, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed. She eyed the chaotic scene unfolding before her.

*Is she really not going to complain?* Emma wondered. *I mean, our families are super rich. Why on earth did they have to enroll Madeleine here, of all schools?* She kicked at an empty box absentmindedly. *I’m sure California has better schools than this. But nooo, of course she has to come here.*

Suddenly, Mrs. Linda burst into the room, all flustered. “Oh no, no, no, Mrs. Hutton, what are you doing? I told you she’s staying in Emma’s room!”

Mrs. Hutton, mid-fluffing one of the oversized pillows, froze. “But ma’am, sir ordered us to make sure Madeleine has her privacy. He was quite specific.”

“Well,” Mrs. Linda waved her hand dismissively, “just do as I say. I’ll handle him.”

Mrs. Hutton shrugged, not one to argue with the whims of Mrs. Linda. “Alright, ma’am.”

“Oh, and change all the decorations!” Mrs. Linda added with sudden inspiration. “My friends are coming over for a get-together, and this room needs to look perfect.”

As she left, Mrs. Hutton sighed. *She’s always about herself,* she thought, glancing over at Emma, who was now staring out the window, lost in thought. *I wonder if Emma’s okay with all this.*

“Emma, dear,” Mrs. Hutton called softly as she approached the corner of the room. Normally, she’d have addressed Emma with a more formal tone, but after raising her from birth, Mrs. Hutton saw Emma as her own daughter.

Emma’s head snapped toward her in alarm. “Ahh!” she yelped, startled.

Mrs. Hutton chuckled, locking the door behind her. “My, my! It’s just me. Don’t worry, I’m not Alan.”

Emma blushed instantly. “Mrs. Hutton!” she muttered, flustered. The thought of Alan was still fresh, and Mrs. Hutton’s teasing hit the mark perfectly.

Mrs. Hutton smiled warmly and helped Emma out of her daydream by fussing over her outfit. “So, I came to check on you. How do you feel about Madeleine staying with you?”

Emma scowled. “What choice do I have? It’s not like Mother’s going to listen to me.”

Mrs. Hutton paused, tapping her chin as if hatching a grand scheme. “Ah, but I have a plan!” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Emma’s frown lifted a little, curious. “What is it?”

Mrs. Hutton leaned closer, giggling. “Get to know her.”

Emma’s face fell, her excitement evaporating. “That’s the plan?” she asked, unimpressed.

Before she could complain further, the door creaked open. Mrs. Hutton quickly tugged Emma to the side as they both turned to face the newcomers.

There, standing in the doorway, was Madeleine, her parents in tow. She was wearing a designer jacket over a casual dress, an ensemble that screamed *I don’t care, but also, I really care*. Her parents, looking every bit as rich as they were, beamed at their daughter’s new adventure.

Emma’s mind raced. *Welcome disaster,* she thought dryly.

Madeleine sauntered in with an air of superiority, taking a glance around the room like she was inspecting a hotel suite. “Hmm, it’s…quaint,” she said, her voice dripping with feigned politeness.

Mrs. Hutton gave Emma a side glance, silently saying, *Good luck.*

Madeleine’s mom, Lina, giggled as she looked at her daughter. “Oh, sweetie, don’t be silly. You’re going to love it here.”

Madeleine rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure, Mom. I’m a fashion artist, not some Greek history buff.”

“Oh, stop whining, dear,” her mom said, patting her shoulder. “You’ll adjust. Trust me.”

Mrs. Hutton raised an eyebrow. *Adjust? In this house?* The thought was absurd, but she knew better than to say anything.

Emma stood frozen, not quite sure how to approach this new reality. *I’m trapped,* she thought, her face heating up as Madeleine’s gaze landed on her.

“Well, Emma,” Madeleine said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “I guess we’re roomies now.”

Mrs. Hutton leaned in, whispering into Emma’s ear, “Remember what I said. Get to know her.”

*Yeah, sure, get to know her. Piece of cake,* Emma thought sarcastically, eyeing Madeleine. As if things couldn’t get any worse, she noticed her mom already planning another grand event in her head, no doubt.

*Welcome disaster, indeed.*

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