The House
We finally arrived at Blackwind Mansion, the sprawling estate where Emmerson, the patriarch of the Blackwinds, lived. The place was huge. The size of the estate was overwhelming, with its vast gardens, two pools, one inside, one outside, a mini–golf course, and a staff quarter tucked away behind the mansion.
Despite all this huge space, it always puzzled me how Emmerson managed to live here by himself. Technically, he wasn’t entirely alone, he had his staff, but still, it seemed a bit crazy to have all this place and be here on your own.
As we sat in the car, neither of us made a move to get out. I glanced at Emerson, as we sat there watching the house in front of us.
“I always wondered why Eric didn’t want to stay here,” I said with a thought that had crossed my mind a few times. “I mean, he moved out when we got married. Why didn’t he just stay here?”
Emerson raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean? He told me you were the one who refused to live here because you didn’t want to live with your father–in–law.”
I blinked, stunned. “What? That’s absurd. Why would I…..?”
“I’m serious. I asked him why he wanted to move out, especially considering I’m not here most of the time. He had his own wing of the house, and there’s even a villa right there, separate from the main house. It didn’t make sense to me at the time why he insisted on getting a place of his own, but he just said it was something between the two of you,” Emerson explained, his expression thoughtful. “At the time, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
I shrugged, saying. “Well, I guess now we know why he didn’t want to stay here. Maybe he needed the space to cheat on me with all these eyes on him… But, honestly, he had his own space. It was his decision to move out.”
I shook my head, thinking back to a’conversation I had with Eric when we first discussed about moving out, I had assumed he wouldn’t want to leave his father alone in all this massive estate. I was surprised when he wanted us to get our own space, but I’d always assumed it was because he wanted space, wanted us to build our own life together.
Now, hearing Emerson’s side, it makes me wonder what his real motivation had been.
Emerson turned towards me,
The House
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“Are you ready to get into your new home?”
I scoffed, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve been here countless times, Emerson. Please. I probably know where things are in the kitchen better than you.”
“Yes,” he said, with a trace of warmth, “but that was before. At first, you were here as my friend’s daughter, then as my son’s girlfriend, and later as his wife. But now… now you’re the woman of the house. This is going to be your house now.”
His words hit me hard. He was right, I was going to become his wife, and I was going to call the place home. We were going to get married, and everything I saw in front of me, all of it, would belong to me.
My eyes widened as the realization sunk in. I blurted out before I could stop myself, We’re going to get married.”
Emerson’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Yes.”
“And I’m going to own half of what you have,” I continued the reality of our situation getting to me.
“Already planning your divorce settlement?” he teased, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
I brushed off his remark. “Whatever’s yours is mine.”
He chuckled softly. “Yes.”
“On the plus side, with moving here, when Eric comes to see you, he’ll have to see me every day.” A wicked thought crossed my mind, and I couldn’t help but joke. “Is he going to greet me like, ‘Good morning, mother–in–law. Is father in?“”
I burst into laughter, and Emerson joined me, though there was something behind his laugh…an edge I didn’t want to analyse at the time.
“All right,” he said still amused, “I think you’re ready to see your new home.”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to suppress my nerves. “I want to get comfortable before we start getting any visitors.”
He smiled as he stepped out of the car, and just then, the front door of the mansion swung open. Tom, the house butler, emerged, moving with the grace and precision of someone who had spent years in service.
He nodded politely as he approached the car, reaching for the luggage.
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The House
“Miss, welcome home,” Tom greeted me with warmth. He has probably worked here his whole life and has known me for years.
“Thank you, Thomas,” I replied with a smile. He had always been kind to me, seeing him here felt oddly comforting.
I watched as he took the bags and disappeared inside.
and
Emerson and I stood still for a moment, our eyes both drawn to the grand entrance of the mansion, a house that was now to become my home. There was a sense of finality as we both stood there, the air thick with unspoken meaning.
“All right, let’s go in now,” Emerson finally said.
As we walked inside, my hand in his, I felt the familiar scent of polished wood and
timeless freshly cut flowers fill my senses. This place had always smelled the same, and élegant.
I had been here so many times before, but today everything felt different to me. It was all different, I saw everything with a different eye.
Emerson turned toward me, “So, do you want to take a tour of the house?”
“I already know the house,” I replied, rolling my eyes playfully
“Yes,” he said with a grin, “but not as my fiancée. There must be parts of this house you know nothing about.”
I laughed, patting him lightly on the arm. Just then, Tom reappeared, this time with Madeleine, the house cook, and Rose, one of the maids, following closely behind.
him.
“Sir, as you requested, I brought Madeleine and Rose with me,” Tom announced.
“Yes, thank you, Tom,” Emerson nodded toward them. “Madeleine,” he greeted the older woman warmly.
Madeleine had been working here for as long as I could remember. Over the years, she had aged gracefully, always maintaining an air of elegance and pride in her work. She took great care of herself, too. Her body was fit, her face fresh from a few surgeries and facelifts, but what I appreciated most about her was her kindness.
Madeline and I always had a great relationship. She had always been good to me, even when things between me and Eric were less than perfect.
“Rose” Emerson said, nodding at her. “Sir?” Rose answered. Rose came to work here
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The House
ten years ago. She is younger than Madeline but older than me
so she’s somewhere there in between. She does her work and keeps to herself. She has that young vibe, so she’s good, but I don’t know her very well.
Our relationship is more of an employee and a guest of the house, We just exchange greetings, and then each of us goes our own way.
Emerson then turns towards them fully as he takes my hand in his, holding the hand with the engagement ring and announces,
“This is going to be the new madam of the house. We are getting married next month. I just asked her to marry me, and Mina said yes.”
