174 — The Adams family

I know Julian said I didn’t need to worry, but the moment he drove beyond the iron gates of the villa, my heart rose to my throat.
My trembling hands clutch the fabric of my dress while my eyes linger on the landscape around us. The estate is so big that we need to drive for at least ten minutes along the long stone road.
The surrounding forests bring me a strange sense of peace like we are outside the world. It’s hard to believe that Julian’s family has a forest on their property, and I wonder what it must be like to explore it.
The lowered window lets a refreshing breeze into the car, and I inflate my lungs, hoping that this will somehow boost my courage.
When I finally see the magnificent classical mansion, my heart skips a beat. It’s simply majestic. In fact, it even looks like a castle. The large white pillars add a sophisticated, antique aesthetic that matches the family’s influence. But it’s no wonder the villa is so incredible — the Adams has been involved in America’s economic center for generations, true monetary aristocrats. In the end, they live for their reputation.
Julian stops the car near the big fountain surrounded by discreet bushes, but I can’t take my eyes off the staircase that leads up to the small porch.
It really is incredible... even the villa my father used to live in wasn’t this grand.
I hear a long, loud sigh and turn to Julian, who still has his hands firmly on the steering wheel. In fact, he seems to be gripping it so tightly that veins pop out in his hand. His muscles are tense, and his eyes are locked on the patch as if resisting the urge to look around.
It’s the house Julian lived in all his childhood; it used to be his home with Jack. I’m sure there are a lot of memories here and also a lot of pain. I can tell he’s stressed and scared, but he’s trying hard to resist the temptation to turn around and leave.
I place my hand over Julian’s, giving him a slight jolt. He moves his fearful eyes to mine, and I notice that they are a few shades darker than normal; they look afraid, and I wouldn’t judge that. Facing a painful past is always scary. But I’m here for him; the way my gaze softens and my hand squeezes his comfortingly tells him that.
“Okay, let’s do it.” Julian takes a deep breath and holds my hand, giving my fingers a quick kiss before finally opening the door and getting out of the car. I’m about to open mine when Julian turns around with long strides, faster than me, and opens it. He holds out his hand, waiting for me to accept the kindness, and I smile, always happy to touch him.
He closes my door, and a few employees approach, including a man with gray hair so neatly combed that not a strand is out of place. There’s no beard on his severe face, but there are many wrinkles that give away his age. Despite his serious expression, his eyes soften when they meet Julian’s; actually, they seem to sparkle.
With a discreet bow, the man bends down and lowers his eyes, placing his hand on his chest... “It’s good to have you back, young master.”
His soft voice, his low and composed tone, his polished and polite English... even the Adams’ employees have a natural elegance. Suddenly, I feel a bit self-conscious and shiver as if hit by a cold breeze.
Julian squeezes my hand slowly and sighs, running his hand through his hair. “I’m not young master anymore, Auston. And this is my fiancée, Angelee."
A trace of a smile appears on the man’s lips, and he returns to his usual posture, with broad shoulders and a straight back. Even though he’s taller, he doesn’t seem to look down at me.
“This is Auston, the family butler. He’s been with us since before I was born.”
He checks out my face, my clothes, and even the way I’m breathing. That should make me nervous, but perhaps being next to Julian gives me the confidence to put on my best smile and greet him, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Auston.”
“The pleasure is all mine, miss. I must say it really is an honor to meet you. Everyone was so excited when Julian said he’d come home to introduce his fiancée.” Auston moves his eyes to Julian, and his smile becomes a little more wicked. “Why don’t we go inside? There’s someone who’s particularly excited to see you again.”
Julian hands the car key to a valet and moves his hand to my lower back. Auston leads the way, opening the mansion’s huge door while Julian guides me inside. And with just one step into the hall, I know this place really does deserve to be called a *palace.* In fact, I can almost smell the money.
The entrance is spacious, with steps in the center that turn into a double staircase surrounding the double ceiling, full of boiserie details of flowers and other geometric shapes that form a unique and elegant pattern.
“They’re waiting outside,” Auston says, leading us through the long, wide corridors of the mansion. The plaster walls frame small blocks with paintings that, with just a glance, one can tell the value of. I wouldn’t be surprised if this part of the house were worth a few million dollars on its own.
Julian seems introspective, stuck in thought. While I look around expectantly, he appears to avoid the memories that every corner arouses. His hand on my lower back stays rigid as he guides me but falters when Auston slides open the glass door, and we feel the breeze outside.
That garden looks like a big oasis in the middle of New York. It’s so beautiful that I forget to breathe. Everything just seems to glow amidst the greenery, the rock pool, the palm trees-
Suddenly, something fast passes by me... strands of gold dancing in the wind. My eyes widen while I watch a girl throw herself into Julian’s arms with a smile as wide and radiant as the sun itself. Her long eyelashes look wet, and she buries her face in his chest as his strong arms wrap around the girl’s small body.
My chest aches from my hard beating.
The girl grabs his shirt from behind, hugging him tightly and calling his name in a tearful, fragile tone... “You stupid!”
“Didn’t I tell you to stop running like that whenever you see me? You’ll end up hurting yourself.” Julian says lowly but hugs her back.
“You stupid... what took you so long?” She grumbles, her face still hidden.
I squeeze the fabric of my cleavage, a jealous pain spreading through my chest...
“I missed you too, Jess,” Julian’s voice is warm and soft, drawing my eyes back to him.
*Jessica, that’s his sister’s name, right?*
Julian pushes her away slowly, his hand on top of her hair, which looks really soft; he’s stroking and messing it up as she dries the corner of her eyes.
“Look at her, acting like a child.” A second male voice comes on, attracting my surprised eyes. I finally see another blond boy, shorter than Julian but with a striking physique and small tattoos along his arms. His facial features are different from Julian’s, with fuller lips and a more round face. His hairstyle is also different, a mullet with slightly longer hair. There’s no doubt that he’s one of Julian’s brothers.
His attention turns to me, with a cocky smile appearing on his lips. And the way he quickly switches to flirty mode makes me certain that *he really is* Julian’s brother.
“So that’s my sister-in-law?” He comes closer, his hand on the back of his head, looking me up and down. “You really have good taste, bro... You make me jealous.”
Julian disentangles himself from his sister and comes to my side, putting his arm behind my lower back and holding my waist.
“Don’t act like a disrespectful brat, Jordan.” He says cold enough to bring winter early to town and narrows his eyes, looking at his brother as if he were an insect.
“Disrespectful? Never!” Jordan raises an eyebrow, then approaches us both, arms open. “I just want to say hello to my sister-in-law-”
Julian puts his hand on his brother’s face, stopping him. “Don’t make me regret bringing her here.”
Jordan raises his arms in surrender and laughs, “Of course I’m joking. You need to relax, bro. How do you plan on seeing the old folks if you’re stressed like that?”
Julian sighs and takes his hand away from the boy’s face, who is smiling playfully. Now that he’s close, I can see the resemblance between them.
“I’m Jordan; nice to meet you, sis-in-law.” His smile extends to green eyes that seem lighter than Julian’s. “That rude girl’s name is Jessica. It’s nice to meet you.”
My eyes follow the girl about my height, with delicate features and a round face. Her eyes, her hair, and even the shape of her lips... She looks like a doll. However, she looks at me suspiciously, hugging her body and diverting her attention to another corner of the garden.
“Is everyone here?” Julian asks, looking past his brother’s body.
“Joshua is with his girlfriend at the fire pit... we’re chilling before dinner.”
“What about Mom and Old Man?” Julian asks, and I notice his hand trembling on my waist.
“Dad’s still at the company... Mom hasn’t left her room yet,” Jordan says with a sigh. “And Jeremiah... He said he’ll come too.”
Julian nods slowly, then looks at me, analyzing my face. Maybe he thinks this is all too much for me, but in truth, I’m so excited that I can’t wait to meet everyone, even if I feel this strange sense of foreboding.
“All right, let’s meet Josh’s girlfriend,” Julian says, letting go of my waist to hold my hand instead.
“Wait, you don’t know your brother’s girlfriend?” I say with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ve met... the first five,” Julian says thoughtfully. Wait, what?
And as if reading my thoughts is a family thing, Jordan laughs softly and explains, “He’s a big-hearted guy... no wonder he falls in and out of love in the blink of an eye.”
“So he’s a playboy?” I ask Julian in a playful voice, causing him to raise an eyebrow, his lips curving into a naughty smile. “I wonder if it’s something that runs in the Adams brothers’ blood.”
“Maybe it is.” Jordan laughs, putting his hands behind his head, clasped at the back of his neck.
We walk through the garden, but I feel a strange sensation of being watched. On instinct, I raise my eyes to the mansion, to the big windows and balconies, and find a figure that, even though it’s the first time I’ve seen it, seems somehow familiar.
Next to the railing, with an impassive expression, the woman with shoulder-length black hair looks lonely and yet majestic in an equally dark dress.
Even at this distance, I know that our eyes have met, and she holds it until she turns away, disappearing inside the mansion.