Today was moving day.
I was finally moving in with my husband and there was no trace of excitement in me. Atticus had sent movers and they were already putting everything I wanted to take inside the moving van.
I didn’t plan to take many things with me, which is why I didn’t bother with hiring movers, but Atticus had hired them without contacting me first, which made me angry.
Some workers at my father’s house had been regrettably fired since the house would not need a lot of workers seeing as no one would be living here from now.
Who knows? Maybe one day in the future I could bring my kids if I ever give birth to any to show them where I grew up or just come here for vacations.
I was currently in Dad’s bedroom trying to get one final look at it before I left. Everything was still the same way it was before it was filled with medical machines that were all gone now.
This room held so many memories, and I was leaving them all behind. If only I could stuff them in my bags, I would without thinking twice.
“Dad, do you think they would like me?” I spoke to the empty room. I spent last night thinking about today, so I had not been able to catch any proper sleep.
I haven’t met Atticus’ family, nor did I know anything about them, and I wondered how they would treat me when I moved into his house.
I might not care about the man but that didn’t mean that I also didn’t want to be tolerated. I was aware he had two sisters and from my fair share of experience, girls hardly took a liking to their brother’s girlfriends or wives, and I suspect that they might not like me since I was forced on their brother.
“Young mistress, it’s time for you to go” Duke’s voice came from behind me and I turned to see him standing by the door.
“When will you be leaving?” I asked.
I made sure to warn him not to stay behind at work after I had left because I suspected he was going to do that. He had been hesitant to talk about his last day and departure and I understood where he was coming from.
Duke had been working for us for Dad’s family for a long time, even before Dad got married to Mom and he must have gotten used to living with us and was finding it difficult to part ways just like it was for me.
“Next week” He replied with a grim expression “I would need to appoint someone that can oversee the management of the house properly and make sure that things are properly sorted before I retire”
I could not stop myself from pulling him into a hug. Duke tensed under my touch, but he let himself relax and it took a few more seconds before I felt him hug me back.
“Thank you, Duke, for everything” I whispered, “I am going to miss you so much” And it was the truth. Duke had played a very important role in my life, and I wasn’t going to see him again. Maybe in the future but not now.
“You will be fine. You are a strong woman, my dear. Don’t let anyone step over you or try to intimidate you. Never let them see your tears and you will be fine. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me”
“You are right,” I said pulling back from the hug “I’ll be fine. You and Dad taught me to always protect myself so I know I would be fine” I gave him another hug before following him out of the room after giving it one final look.
When I got downstairs, I couldn’t find the moving van. They must have started the journey to my new home already. Instead, there were two black cars and some guards standing outside.
“Good morning, Mrs Hayland. My name is Justin, and I will be in charge of your security along with these guys here” One of them, a blonde, approached me as soon as I stepped out of the house.
He was attractive but also very huge. I had to glance between him and the car as I wondered how he was going to fit inside.
I didn’t think I needed protection, but I said nothing to them. They were only acting on orders. There were five guys and two of them were the drivers for both cars. They weren’t a lot so I guess I could manage.
“It’s nice to meet you, Justin. Please call me Hazel and I hope we get along” I told him with a warm smile.
“Shall we?” He gestured towards the opened door of the car’s back seat, and I gave him a curt nod before entering the car.
The door shut behind me and Jason took his place at the front with the driver while the others entered the other car in front of us.
I stared out the window to see Duke and the remaining staff standing on the front porch, watching as the car drove away.
I didn’t wave back at the staff who were waving at me because I felt like it would make me cry.
Atticus’ home was far from my father’s house. We had been driving for over an hour and we still hadn’t gotten there. I was already tired and dizzy because I had never been a fan of long rides.
I could not stop the yawn that escaped my lips and Justin turned to me with a worried expression “Are you tired? We will arrive at the house soon”
“I’m a little bit tired but I am fine” I rested my head against the window and watched as the building went fast in a blur.
“We’ve arrived” Justin’s voice startled me awake. I didn’t even know when I had fallen asleep.
“Thank you” I mumbled “Give me a minute and I’ll be out”
Justin exited the car to stand outside by my door and I took the chance to make myself presentable. I knew I looked horrible after that short nap.
I brought out my powder from my purse and opened it so I could see how my face looked, and I was right. I looked horrible.
I had some moisturizer in my bag, so I used it all over my face. I was not wearing any makeup so that nap had managed to make my face dry, and it was obvious I had been sleeping.
When I was satisfied with how I no longer looked like a walking dead, I exited the car. The building before me was magnificent and grand. Unlike my dad’s mansion which had a historical look to it, Atticus’ mansion was modern and much more luxurious.
Justin began walking into the house, so I followed him. I wonder if Atticus was waiting for me.
On second thought, I doubt that a busy man like Atticus would be waiting for me to arrive when he had better things to do.
I noticed that the moving people were nowhere to be found. Either they hadn’t arrived, which was very unlikely, or they had already left, and I believed it was the latter.
I shivered at the thought of strangers unpacking my things. Maybe I could have asked for one of our female staff to come with me, but I doubt Atticus would have allowed it since Duke said he had his staff.
When we entered the house, Justin left me alone, so I was left with two young ladies who I met in the living room, and they were giving me dirty looks as though I had committed a crime by standing in front of them.
Judging by how similar they looked to my husband; it was safe to assume these were his sisters and I almost let out a groan at the thought of dealing with his sisters who obviously didn’t like me since it didn’t look like he was at home.
I have always hated dealing with the families of the people that I dated in the past since they never liked me and always saw me as a spoilt, rich, white girl.
I knew I could not escape seeing them since they were his sisters, and we were married but I had hoped to get some time to settle in before the introductions were made. I hoped they didn’t live here and were just here to see what kind of girl had been forced on their brother.
“Hello. I am Hazel Reyes Hayland. It’s nice to meet you” I didn’t know what came over me and why I decided to add his last name to mine as I introduced myself to them, but I couldn’t deny it sounded powerful introducing myself like that.
I almost moaned in delight when their faces turned red from anger. I just got here and there was already going to be drama.
“Wow” the younger-looking one scoffed “The audacity she has to confidently claim the Hayland name”
She eyed me with so much disdain, and I didn’t know if she was expecting me to cower under her glare, but she wasn’t going to be getting her wishes today. Santa was on a break.
“Tell me about it, Serena. She is so shameless” The older one spoke as she looked me up and down with so much disgust and I scoffed at how adults were acting worse than teenagers.
“Can I be shown to my bedroom? I am a bit tired and would like to rest. It was a long journey here” I said to annoy them, and I got what I wanted.
“How dare you speak to us like that? Do you know who we are? My brother would not let it slide when he hears you were disrespectful to us” Serena gloated and she didn’t know how ridiculous she looked like that.
“Why should I care about who you are? I am married to your brother and not you. I also don’t care about how your brother would act regarding this, it’s not my fault you are behaving like kids.”
“You better watch your mouth, Hazel, you should not talk to us like that” The other sister reprimanded me with a scowl on her face.
“Then you should have watched your mouth when you first saw me” I raised my brow, daring her to challenge me. It seems Serena didn’t like to lose and wanted to have the last words.
“Don’t get cocky now, you may think being married to my brother should allow you to be this confident but know that you are nothing but an arranged wife and would never truly be the one he loves” Now that hurt but there was no way that I was going to let them see how much
it affected me, instead I stood up straighter and faced her.
“And who said I want to be the one your brother falls in love with? As long as he manages my company well and I get an insane amount of profits, I don’t give a fuck about where his love will be” Serena scoffed in disbelief but before she could talk, her sister beat her to it.
“So, you are a gold digger huh? You only married my brother because of money”
“No hun, it’s the other way around. Your brother is the one who married me because of what he is getting from me so I guess that makes him the gold digger, doesn’t it?”
I felt bad about bad-mouthing Atticus when it was his sisters who were making me mad but there was no way to avoid him being roped into the argument.
“How dare you insult my brother?” Serena screeched. I had to wince at how loud and scratchy her voice was, it was so annoying.
“Please don’t burst my eardrums. You shouldn’t start the heat if you can’t take it” I was so close to smacking some senses into her. Even kids didn’t behave this way.
“You…how…why…” she stuttered like a fool and I was just looking at her as she tried to come up with words.
“Emily say something” She finally cried out and I turned my focus to the sister whose name I had just learnt
“Let’s go Serena. This one lacks manners” I could have tried to hold myself but I couldn’t. I burst out laughing.
“Me? Hazel Reyes? Doesn't have manners? Sweetheart, you must be referring to yourselves. Please show yourself out because I have no intention to do so” I watched in amusement as they both grabbed their bags and marched out of the house, slamming the door on their way out and all I could say was
“It’s your brother’s house, slam the door all you want” I scoffed.