Episode 1

~Kylenne's Pov~

"We are moving to Sydney tomorrow," mum says and I nearly choke on my food.

"Why?" I ask her.

"Henry wants to spend more time with you, more of a daddy-daughter time," she explains without sparing me a glance.

So we are leaving this house behind just because she got married to another man? Daddy-daughter time? Who on earth would buy this? I have a bad feeling whenever I am around Henry. He looks obviously pretending and I hate that! This house contained all the memories we shared with dad and now mum wants us to leave?

"What about my studies?" I ask trying to give her enough reason to think over her decision.

"Your Principal has given me your educational records so there's nothing to worry about, " she smiles at me.

"No mum. We can't leave this house because of some random man you got married to. Don't you care about this house, about the memories we had with dad? I bet you never loved him as you used to say," I pour out my frustration on her. But in return, I'm rewarded with a slap.

"You do not have any right to judge me of my love for your dad and Henry is not just any random man. He's your stepdad now," she says.

I shake my head, "So unbelievable" I mutter and take my plate to the kitchen and wash it. I move to my room crying. She slapped me because I called Henry a random man? Since dad died, mum has changed a lot. She's no more caring and all she thinks about is Henry! Henry! Henry! I cover myself with the duvet and cry as I replay the slapping scene in my head. I hear a knock on my door and I know it's her.

"I'm really sorry for what happened downstairs..." I hear her faint voice from the other side of the door. "I hope you'll understand why I am doing all this one day. We'll be leaving by 8.30am so please pack. Goodnight" she says and goes, probably to her room.

It seems like she had been crying too and I feel bad knowing I'm the cause of this. I just don't know why I can't bring myself together to accept Henry. Maybe, just maybe I will try to do thar for her sake. But deep down, I know I detest him.

I take out my traveller and stuff it with my clothes. Once I'm done, I switch off the lights and lay on my bed trying to think about leaving this how and how I'm going to cope in Henry's house. Oh gosh! After having several negative thoughts of how I'm going to make Henry's house a living hell for him, I close my eyes and let sleep engulf me.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

~The next morning~

"Crr,Crr, Crr..." the alarm rings and I cover my ear with my pillow, but it's not getting any better. I try to reach out for the alarm on the bed side table but my hand fails me and it falls making it louder than it was earlier. "What the f*ck!" I exclaim and drag myself up from the bed to pick it up only to see that it was already 7.30. "Holy crap!" I rush to the bathroom and do my morning routine.

Thank goodness I had already selected the dress I'll be wearing. I settle in a pair of dark-washed jeans and a lightweight pink pastel sweater. A cross-body bag slung over my shoulder and black ankle boots. I pick my lens from its case and put it on. It was the last birthday gift I received from dad when I turned eighteen.

I walk downstairs as I pull my traveller along. Mum's ready and I can't help but notice how beautiful she looks. She is wearing a stunning yellow sundress with white flowers embroidered around the hem, and her hair was styled in loose waves.

"Good morning baby," she greets and smiles at me.

"Good morning mum," I respond.

"Guess what, I made your favourite - yogurt parfait with granola and fresh berries," she says.

"Thanks mum," I say and she hugs me.

"I love you baby," she says and kisses my hair.

"Love you too mum," I reply.

"It's okay, my stomach is growling already," she jokes and we laugh.

Mum sits and I also do. The table also has other delicious meals set on it: pancakes, fresh fruit, and steaming coffee. We enjoy our breakfast and I feel this is her way of apologising for what she did yesterday although she had already said 'sorry'. After, we head outside as mum locks the door and hands the key over to a man who seems impatient to claim our house as his. He hands mum an envelope and they exchange smiles.

So she just sold our house for a stranger? At least she should have left it in care of her friends so that we could come back to stay there during holidays or something. This time around, I'll just keep quiet. I don't want any misunderstanding to arise between my mum and I. We sit in her car and we drive off to Henry's house.

I pick my phone and log in to my Heartbeat Novels account and continue to read The Stand-In Seduction by Kaia Rylan. In about an hour, we pull up infront of a house. A very huge and beautiful one at that. As we get down, I see Henry infront of the house. We walk to him and he beams with smiles. Why do I always have this nagging feeling that he is a bad man and he's just pretending to be nice?

"Hey kiddo," he says and opens his arms to embrace me but I outsmart him. I intentionally sling my bag from my shoulder and it falls. I bend down to pick it up. Luckily for me, everything in it is scattered, so I had to arrange them back into the bag. I stand up and see the disappointed look look on his face. I want to laugh so bad but the way mum's looking at me, I must behave.

She puts hr hand on his shoulder, maybe to tell him not to mind me. Well, I care less. As we walk into Henry's house, mum decides to go for a tour around the house while Henry offers to show me my room. We climb upstairs and enter the second room on the floor. He opens the door of the room and hands me the key. He walks in and I follow suite.

"This is your room kiddo. I hope you like it," he says smiling at me.

"Well, tell me, what other option do I have other than liking this room?" I ask and he did not say anything. Good he kept quiet as I had expected. "One more thing, My name's Kylenne not kiddo," I tell him and turn away.

"You should be grateful for what he's done for us rather than telling him what to call you," someone says. After all the people in the world, it turns out to be mum. What has he done for me that I need to thank him for?

"Kyle?" mum calls out to me with a stern look on her face. Really? Is she been for real right now?

"Thank you Henry," I say.

"And for your misbehaviour?" mum asks.

"Sorry," I mumble.

Mum hugs Henry and they turn to leave when mum pauses to tell me something.

"Unpack and come down for dinner," she says and leaves with Henry.

I shut the door and sigh of relief. What a day! I now analyze my room well. It's painted in pink and white, giving the room a touch of coziness. The bed is a queen size bed with pink bed spread and white pillows which made a perfect combo.

There was a pink sofa and atelevision plastered on the wall. I unpack my clothes into the closet and OMG! I didn't see there was a dressing table. It has numerous cosmetics, make up set, everything you could ever think of. I fall on the bed and it's as soft as marshmallow! This bed, this room,this house, everything is nothing compared to our house in Newcastle. I'll give Henry that.

I walk to the bathroom and that place is like heaven. After taking my bath, I dry my hair and settle in a purple turtleneck shirt. I match it with a black flare skirt and tie my hair in a messy bun. I slip in my purple slacks, pick my phone and shut the door. I head downstairs.

I had already already spotted the dining hall when Henry showed me my room earlier. I walk to the dining hall and I see mum and Henry already seated. I was welcomed with the aroma of sizzling rice, chicken and beef sauce. There was also grape juice. My mouth began to water at the sight.

I hurriedly pull a chair and sit since it looks like they had been waiting for me. Yet, they did not gesture to eat. Their gaze is fixed on the door. I try to catch mum's attention and ask her why we are not eating but it felt as if they are waiting for someone so I don't eat either. I pour myself a glass of grape juice and sip.

"Hey yo dad!" someone shouts out of the blue. A charming young man walks into the house. I'm not those girls who drool over men but damn! This one's an angel. His tousled hair framed his face and I partially can see those brown eyes hidden behind his hair. His lips are pink, full and soft that I want to kiss them. His jawline looks sharp. He was a bit sweaty and I swear I can trace his abs through the Jakers shirt he is wearing. He is tall and lean but looks well-built. Probably he's a sports person. He looks so perfect to be true!

OMG! He walks towards me and leans into me. Our faces are inches apart. What's he thinking of doing?!

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