Redhead
I must have drifted off sometime in the night because when I woke up, I was alone in bed. Cullen’s side was empty. I sighed, staring at the indentation on the pillow where his head should’ve been. But then I reminded myself, this was good.
I just had to think of it like I wasn’t married at all. Like I’d simply moved out of my father’s house and was now living in my grandmother’s house with a roommate I had to tolerate. Just a roommate. Until I leave.
But when is that?
“It’ll get better,” I told myself quietly, forcing a breath out as I looked in the mirror. Then I washed my face, got dressed, and headed downstairs.
I found my mother-in-law sitting alone at the dining table. When she saw me, she smiled warmly.
“Good morning, Sarah. How was your night?”
“It was good, thanks.”
“I hope you loved the room and everything was to your satisfaction.”
“Yes, absolutely. I loved the room. Thank you again.”
“Oh no, you don’t have to thank us.”
She paused, then tilted her head. “So tell me, how did Cullen like the room?”
My thoughts immediately went to last night. Cullen hadn’t looked surprised by the room. In fact, he seemed to know where everything was. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t take it all in the way someone might when seeing something for the first time. So he either already knew about it, or maybe… maybe he’d been there earlier in the day while I was asleep. Maybe he’d had his moment alone before I even stepped in.
Still, I turned back to her with a smile and said, “He loved it. It’s a really thoughtful gift.”
“Well, I’m glad you both like it. Please, join me for breakfast.”
“Thank you.” I took the seat beside her, then asked, “Where is everybody?”
“Business,” my mother-in-law answered simply, offering no further explanation. I didn’t press her, though it stung a little. It was a reminder, I was still an outsider here. They didn’t trust me. What if I went back to my family and repeated something I shouldn't?
I nodded and let it go. The rest of breakfast passed in peaceful silence. It was quiet, beautifully arranged, the kind of meal that made you forget the silence was uncomfortable.
Afterward, she offered to show me more of the house. We walked through hallway after hallway, rooms opening up like pages in a storybook. “This is your home now, Sarah,” she said kindly. “I want you to feel free, to truly feel at home. All the recreational areas I showed you—the swimming pool, the gaming room, the TV room, the piano room.... whatever you feel like doing, you're welcome to it.”
She paused, her tone gently shifting. “Just stay out of Cedric’s and my room, and his office. Those are the only places off-limits. But everything else? Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you. For all of this. For everything,” I said, truly grateful.
She gave a soft smile. “I know this is all new. But I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
And just like that, she was gone, off to an appointment, leaving me alone in this big house.
I wandered for a bit, eventually making my way to the library. I read for a while—got lost in it, actually. Then I thought about going for a swim. It was summer, the sun blazing through the glass. But in the end, I just lay back on one of the loungers by the pool, letting the warmth lull me.
I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep until I was startled awake by a familiar, energetic voice.
“Hey, Sarah! Is that you?”
I blinked awake to find Bella walking toward me, her baby boy balanced on her hip, her smile bright and warm.
I found myself laughing. “Of course it’s me. I’m the only redhead in this household. Who did you think it was?”
Bella chuckled as she reached me, Caesar still cradled in her arms. She sat down beside me and let him wiggle free, gently placing him on the ground. He immediately started wobbling off, his tiny legs determined to explore. Bella kept a watchful eye on him, her gaze flicking between her son and me.
“Not going toward the water,” she warned softly, more to Caesar than to me, but we both smiled.
“So,” she asked, “how was your night?”
“It was great. I mean… for a new place, I actually slept like a baby.”
She nodded knowingly. “Yeah, it’s so hard sleeping in a new place. I remember when I had to stay in Cyrus’s apartment in the city. I was all alone in there. I didn’t have a friend. I didn’t have anybody to talk to.”
She paused, letting the memory settle.
“You’re so lucky they let you stay here. I’m sure if it were Cullen, he would’ve just shoved you into an apartment and left you there by yourself.”
I nodded, but something about her words clung to me. I knew there was more to her story than what she shared. Her father was the Consigliere here Bella wasn’t some forgotten woman. She had connections, probably admirers, and people at her beck and call.
It was different for me. I was truly alone. No one knew me here. No ties. No past they cared about.
But maybe she was right about one thing, being at the house was a blessing. There were maids, my in-laws, and Bella herself. I mean, she was here right now. Maybe I wasn’t as alone as I thought.
Since Caesar looked determined to make his way to the pool, Bella and I decided to head back inside to the family room, where a baby mat was already laid out. We spread it properly, grabbed a few toys from the toy room. Yes, Caesar had his very own toy room with a collection that would make any child jealous and handed some to him so he could stay busy. We sat nearby, watching him play, and slowly slipped into easy conversation.
It started with silly, light-hearted questions. Favorite colors. Favorite movies. What school we went to. What subject we liked best. Nothing too deep, but it felt refreshing to just talk, to try and get to know each other like normal people… in the most abnormal situation.
It was a good moment.
Eventually, my mother-in-law returned. After greeting Bella, her attention immediately shifted to Caesar. She scooped him up with a wide smile and said she’d go change him. Not long after that, lunch was ready, and the three of us—Bella, my mother-in-law, and I—ate together.
Afterward, Bella stood up, brushing off her pants. “I have to go home. If Cyrus comes back and doesn’t find me at the house, he throws an actual tantrum,” she said jokingly. “He always complains I’m at his parents’ house more than our own.”
Just as she lifted Caesar into her arms, we heard a voice calling from the hallway. “Bella? Bella! Mom, where’s my wife?”
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