The car slowed as it rolled through the gates, the familiar iron bars opening silently before them. Fiona didn’t look up. She sat stiffly in the back seat, her hands folded on her lap.
The driver parked in front of the mansion and stepped out quickly to open her door.
"We’re ho, miss."
She nodded and stepped out, smoothing her dress even though it didn’t matter. Her chest felt tight again as she walked up the steps. As she approached the door, she could hear voices and laughter from inside.
Caleb was sprawled on one of the sofas, holding his phone, laughing at sothing Hannah was saying as she sat cross legged on the rug. Mrs Keith stood near the centre table, arranging snacks, her face relaxed in a way Fiona rarely saw at her own house. Natasha sat close by, polished and comfortable, smiling too easily as she spoke.
And standing beside Mrs Keith was a man Fiona hadn’t seen before. He was tall and looked calm. His presence felt solid.
Mrs Keith turned first and her face lit up when she saw Fiona. "Oh Fiona you’re back."
Every conversation paused, Fiona felt it imdiately — the eyes, the attention. She straightened instinctively.
"Good evening ma’am," she said politely.
Mrs Keith walked toward her and placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Co, dear. You haven’t t my husband yet. He just arrived."
She guided Fiona forward.
"This is Fiona," Mrs Keith said warmly. "Nathan’s... girlfriend."
Fiona swallowed at the phrasing but bowed her head slightly. "Good evening sir."
The man smiled, not the forced type but kind.
"Gabriel Keith," he said. "It’s nice to finally et you."
Their eyes t — and sothing wasn’t right, he saw it.
The tightness around her eyes, the way her shoulders were drawn in. The exhaustion she couldn’t hide no matter how hard she tried.
"Are you alright, dear?" he asked gently.
Fiona blinked imdiately, she hadn’t expected that, not so quickly.
"I’m fine sir," she replied automatically. "Just a little tired from school."
Mrs Keith frowned slightly, studying her now more closely. "You look pale."
"I’m really fine," Fiona insisted softly. "I just need to rest."
Natasha tilted her head, as her lips curved faintly. "School stress can be overwhelming," she said lightly. "Especially for so people."
Caleb shot her a look but said nothing, Gabriel didn’t look away from Fiona. His gaze softened instead.
"Rest is important," he said. "You’ve had a long day."
Mrs Keith nodded imdiately. "Yes. Go freshen up, Fiona. Have a bath. Lie down for a bit."
Fiona exhaled quietly. "Thank you ma’am."
She turned slightly toward Caleb and Hannah. "Good evening."
"Hi," Hannah said gently.
Caleb nodded. "Welco back."
Fiona offered a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, then turned and headed for the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last.
She could still hear the soft hum of conversation resu behind her, the warmth of family filling the space she was leaving. It felt strange — being surrounded by people who weren’t hers, yet showing more care than the ones who were.
At the top of the stairs, she paused for just a second, her chest ached.
Then she continued down the hall toward her room, the mansion felt quiet again, wrapping her pain neatly behind closed doors.
And downstairs, Gabriel Keith watched the staircase long after she disappeared from view. Sothing about that girl troubled him, and he knew... she wasn’t fine.
Nathan arrived late. The front door opened quietly but Hannah still noticed first. She squealed softly and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"You’re finally back."
He smiled and hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. "Missed already?"
Caleb scoffed from the couch. "Can you two keep your love to yourselves! I’m also your brother."
Mrs Keith turned with a relieved smile. "You’re ho."
Nathan leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Sorry I’m late."
A deeper voice ca from behind her. "Workaholic already?"
Nathan straightened and faced his father. Gabriel Keith stepped forward and they shook hands firmly.
"Welco back dad."
Gabriel chuckled. "You’re starting to sound older than ."
Nathan only smiled. "How was your trip?"
"Productive," his father replied. "But exhausting."
Nathan nodded, scanning the room without realizing it was so obvious. He frowned slightly.
"Where’s Fiona?"
Mrs Keith answered gently. "She ca back from college earlier. She hasn’t stepped out since."
"The maid even called her to co down for dinner," Hannah added. "She didn’t."
Nathan’s was confused. "She didn’t co down at all?"
Gabriel spoke up then. "She looked tired. More than tired."
Nathan looked at him.
"She said she was fine," Gabriel continued calmly, "but she was lying. Anyone paying attention could tell."
Nathan exhaled slowly and nodded. "I’ll check on her."
He turned toward the stairs imdiately.
"Nathan," his father called.
He stopped and looked back. Gabriel studied him for a mont, then said quietly, "You’re really in love with her."
It wasn’t a question.
Nathan’s lips curved slightly, Was he truly inlove with her? He didn’t wait another second, he took the stairs two at a ti.
When he reached her door, he slowed. The lights were on, so he knocked.
"Fiona." He called but got no response, so he opened the door gently.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, still in the dress she wore in the morning. Her shoes were laying around and her hands were clenched in her lap. Her face was streaked with dried tears but her eyes were dry now.
She looked up when he entered and imdiately, her walls snapped into place.
"You didn’t tell ," she said.
Nathan froze clearly confused "Tell you what?" he asked carefully.
"You bought the school," her voice cracked despite her effort. "You didn’t think I deserved to know?"
He stepped closer. "Fiona—"
"No," she stood up suddenly. "Do you know what happened today?"
"Did anyone bully you? I swear Fiona I’ll —"
She laughed bitterly. "My father disowned today."
Nathan’s face drained.
"They called a slut," she continued, her voice shaking now. "Said I was responsible for everything, said I slept with you for money and you bought the college just to get Catherine expelled."
"That’s not true," he said imdiately.
"But you did buy it," she shot back. "Without telling ."
He swallowed. "I didn’t do it for that."
"Then why?" she demanded. "Why do anything this big without letting know? Do you know what it looks like? Do you know how it ruined whatever chance I had left with my father?"
Tears filled her eyes again but she refused to let them fall.
"You caused a drift between and him," she whispered. "And you weren’t even there to see it."
Nathan stepped closer again. "Fiona I would never hurt you on purpose."
"But you did," she said. "Even if you didn’t an to."
Silence stretched between them, Nathan didn’t know how to comfort her, or fix whatever ss he had caused.
Her shoulders finally sagged. "I didn’t ask you to be my hero Nathan. I didn’t ask you to fight my battles."
"I know," he said softly. "But I couldn’t watch you get hurt or bullied."
She looked at him then
"What if I needed you to just... stand beside ?" she asked quietly. "Not above ."
Nathan had no answer.She wiped her face roughly. "I need space tonight."
His chest tightened. "Fiona, I’m sorry, i didn’t an to hurt you or cause you any pain."
"Please leave, I’d like to be alone" She said staring at the wall.
"Fiona—"
"Or you could stay, it’s your house anyway".
He turned and walked out, closing the door gently behind him. Fiona sat back down slowly and this ti, the tears ca freely.
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