Now that my eyes travel around this house, there are only memories of them, of our togetherness. As I stare at the living room, I remember how we liked to play hide and seek, how I loved listening to Aiden counting as he closed his eyes, leaning against the wall.
I snap my head toward the swimming pool, remembering how our laughter echoed in the air as we played in it, splashing each other with water.
My legs are shaking when I walk toward the music room. I stare at my grand piano, and the scene of me playing music with Aiden flashes back.
He was so happy when I played him his favorite songs, while Luke would watch us with love and adoration in his eyes.
I keep walking even though tears blur my vision. When I arrive in the dining room, I see the three of us having dinner together.
Luke and I would watch Aiden blabbering about his day atschool, his eyes filled with excitement as he told us his story, and we would listen to him intently.
The same thing would happen in the morning, when Aiden would tell us about his favorite subject at school that he couldn't wait to study.
Every corner of the house reminds me of them, and I don't even realize that I'm already sobbing.
How can I leave this place? How can I leavethem?
Luke's words echo in my ear,"This is our home. Don't you think so?"
I've never felt so close to home.
What I had with Morgan wasn't home at all, not when I always felt lonely there. It was a house in which I was always afraid of Morgan punishing me, telling me how I was such a disgrace every time I disappointed her.
She never cared about me and never listened to me. I always felt under pressure. I never felt loved.
But this house is different. I feel like I belong here. I feel loved. I feel cherished. I feel like I've known Luke and Aiden for a long time.
I can feel their love, their happiness when I'm with them, and my own happiness too.
This is my home. They are my home. I can't imagine what my life would be like without them. They're a part of me.
While I'm wiping my tears again, someone calls, "Mrs. Klein."
I turn my head, only to find a maid approaching me. She looks troubled, like she doesn't want to bother me but doesn't have any choice.
"My apologies, ma’am," she stutters. "I don't want to bother you, but..."
I look at her in question.
"You have a guest," she says rather reluctantly. "Do you want to see her in person? Or do you want me to send her away?"
I frown. A guest? Who could that be? I don't have any projectsto shoot at the moment—I didn't invite anybody. It might be someone from Luke's office.
Curious, I stride across the hall toward the sitting room next to the foyer. When I arrive, I see a woman who looks a few years older than me sitting on the couch.
She has beautiful honey brown hair that falls perfectly on her shoulders, and I can see her perfect curves because she's wearing a tight long sleeve top and a short skirt that exposes her long legs.
She sips her tea elegantly, crossing her legs.
Before I can voice the question in my head, the maid who's standing next to me whispers, "It's Ms. Josephine."
My heart skips a beat. It's no wonder she looks familiar. She's the model on the cover page of the magazine that Luke tossed to me when we first met.
She's Luke's ex-fiancée.
Now, I'm positive that Luke is crazy, because he once said that I was hotter than her. And that's not possible.
The question is, what is she doing here?
