The Bedroom
She glanced at me with a soft, almost self-deprecating smile. “And it was crazy, because you’re two years younger than me. by then, you were probably fifteen or sixteen,” Bella said softly. “You had no feelings for Cyrus, at least, not feelings that mattered. But I was super jealous. So… I came to see you one day.”
I looked at her, puzzled.
“I created this little plan. It actually worked. We kind of hung out for a few hours at the mall. You didn’t know who I was. I just wanted to see what made you so special. I was curious… and bitter.”
I tried to recall it, any blurry memory, a stranger who lingered too long or smiled too wide but nothing came.
“I think I’d remember you,” I said slowly.
“Maybe you will,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe not now. But you probably will, one day.”
Then her tone changed, soft but serious. “All I’m trying to say is...it’s okay if you feel overwhelmed, confused, even resentful. I’ve been in your position before. But right now? Cullen is your husband. Your family accepted him. You accepted to marry him. So you can’t keep bringing up that he’s the second son.”
There was weight behind her words, like a warning cloaked in kindness.
“You’re going to see things. Every family has its issues. But whatever you do… don’t bring that up, okay?”
“…Okay,” I replied hesitantly.
She smiled gently. “I’m telling you this because I’m your older sister now. And I care about you. I want your marriage to work. I want Cullen to be happy. He’s my best friend, he always has been. Even if he gets on my last nerves sometimes. That little boy I grew up with deserves to find love and peace. He has so much love inside him… he just needs someone to give it to.”
Her voice cracked slightly. “And I think that someone is you. So please… take care of my best friend.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected.
I suddenly realized something, something quiet but sharp. Bella and Cullen had a strong bond. A real connection, rooted in time, in history, in shared years I could never touch. It might not be romantic, but it was real.
Something I’d never be able to replace. Something I might never fit into.
And in that moment, Cullen felt so far away.
After a while, Caesar began to demand Bella’s full attention. She shifted toward him, playing and cooing, trying to get me involved too. I did my best, but it felt awkward. Then, close to lunchtime, Bella told me she had to head back to her house to change Caesar. And just like that, I was alone in the Cincinnati house.
I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do or how to behave in this massive home that didn’t feel like mine. So I stayed put in the family room, not wanting to snoop or touch anything. Eventually, a maid came to fetch me for lunch, and I ended up eating alone at that ridiculously long dining table. Every bite felt heavy.
Afterward, I went back to the family room and just sat there. I was exhausted from the sleepless night, and all I wanted was to lie down on a soft bed. But it didn’t feel right to wander the house on my own. So I stayed. Waiting.
Then, finally, I saw them. Through the window, I watched as the Cincinnati family returned. A black car pulled into the driveway and came to a smooth stop. The doors opened, and out stepped Cedric Cincinnati and his wife… then Cullen… and finally Cyrus.
They moved like a single force—together, synchronized, close. They made their way toward the house, all laughter and conversation. And I sat there watching them, this perfect, polished unit of a family. My family now, apparently.
But instead of comfort, it felt like an invasion. Like I was about to be swallowed by something too big and too tight.
Thankfully, it was Mrs. Cincinnati who came into the family room to find me. Her face lit up when she saw me.
“Sarah,” she said warmly, “I’m so sorry about the delay. It took longer than expected.”
“I guess business always does,” I said, offering a polite smile, trying to keep things light.
“Of course,” she nodded. “But still, you’re a newlywed. You must be so tired. Why don’t I show you upstairs to your bedroom? You can shower, change, and get some rest.”
Relief washed over me the moment Mrs. Cincinnati gestured for me to follow her. I didn’t hesitate, I simply fell into step behind her as she led me out of the family room. The quiet, the warmth in her voice, the promise of a soft bed… it was the first comfort I’d felt all day.
But when we reached the base of the stairs, I stopped short.
Cullen was there. Leaning against the banister, phone in hand, his brow furrowed as he scrolled or texted.
I hesitated. I didn’t know what to say or how to act. So I simply followed his mother, keeping my eyes low as we passed him.
“Hey,” Cullen said suddenly, pointing toward me with a confused look. “Where’s she going?”
“I’m showing her to your bedroom,” his mother replied, calm and matter-of-fact. “She’s tired. She needs to shower and get some sleep.”
“My bedroom?” he asked, straightening up, blinking as if he’d misheard.
“Not just yours. The both of your bedroom,” she clarified, not missing a beat. “You’re married now. We renovated the left wing, built a new master suite just for the two of you. That’s where you’ll be staying.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Cullen said, his voice sharp with disbelief.
“That’s your bedroom now, with your wife,” she said firmly. “You’re married, Cullen. You can’t just sleep in some guest room or your old space. This is your home. Your family. And your wife.”
He frowned, crossing his arms. “Yeah, but… I thought you were just giving her a room for now. I wasn’t planning on staying here. I have an apartment in the city. That’s where Sarah and I are going to live.”
Mrs. Cincinnati turned to him fully now, her voice low but pointed. “What do you mean you’re not staying here?”
“I’m married,” Cullen replied, voice tense but controlled. “I can’t live with my wife under my parents’ roof. I got us a place. In the city. That’s where we’ll stay. I don’t understand why you renovated a whole wing without even telling me.”
From down the hall, another voice cut through the air.
“What’s going on?” It was Cyrus. He emerged from the direction Bella had earlier said were the offices, his steps slow, measured, as he approached.
And just like that, the air between all of us shifted.
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