Jenn stood in the center of the grand hall, her eyes wide with awe. The mansion looked even bigger inside — endless marble floors, tall windows, a staircase that split in two like the entrance to a palace.
"These people are damn rich," she whispered to herself, still stunned.
She could feel the stares. The twins, Jovi and Jovan, were watching her from the top of the stairs, their eyes curious and unreadable. Jenn lowered her gaze quickly, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks. Maybe they were staring because she didn't look like she belonged here — just a simple girl with blonde hair and wide blue eyes, carrying one small bag.
At least she was lucky to have met Mrs. Gates. The woman had been kind, almost motherly. But her sons? Jenn had already heard enough to know they weren't exactly angels. Still, this was her mission — to help them, to change them if she could. The question was, could she?
Rosario, the other maid, touched her arm gently. "Come, Jenn," she said, leading her up the stairs. They passed long hallways lined with golden lights and portraits of the Gates family. Finally, Rosario opened a door. "This is your room."
Jenn stepped inside and blinked. It was beautiful — neatly arranged, simple but elegant.
"Rosa," she said softly, turning to the woman, "why are they like that?"
Rosario gave a small, tired smile. "You'll have to find out for yourself. You're here for them, after all."
Jenn nodded slowly, though her stomach twisted with unease. Rosario turned to leave but paused at the door. "Oh — and you'll be starting school tomorrow. Get some rest tonight."
Jenn smiled faintly. "Thank you, Rosa."
When Rosario left, Jenn sat on her bed for a while, lost in thought. Should I go and meet them? she wondered. It felt too soon. But when she heard the clatter of plates downstairs, she decided to go help instead. Dinner was already set when she reached the kitchen — an elegant spread, too fancy for someone like her.
Still, part of her job was to make sure they ate well. So she walked up the stairs again, stopping at the eldest brother's room. She knocked softly.
"Come in," a cold voice replied.
Jenn stepped inside. The room was dim, the scent of alcohol hanging in the air. Clothes were scattered everywhere; bottles littered the floor. And on the bed sat Alden, his phone glowing in his hand, his jaw set in quiet irritation.
"Dinner is ready," Jenn said politely.
Alden didn't look up. "Thank you. You may go."
Jenn frowned. "I should clean your room. It's a mess."
That made him glance at her, just for a second — his blue eyes sharp, his expression unreadable. Then he exhaled through his nose and muttered, "Do what you want."
Without another word, he stood and left.
Jenn sighed softly and began to clean. She picked up bottles, folded his discarded jacket, and gathered papers from the floor. Then she noticed a small black diary with his name engraved in gold on the cover. Alden.
She traced the name with her finger and smiled faintly. "Nice name," she whispered. "And… handsome too."
Her lips curved slightly at her own thought. Then she shook her head, tucked the diary back where she found it, and left the room spotless.
Downstairs, dinner had already begun. The three brothers sat at the long dining table, Rosario serving them quietly. Jenn joined them timidly, taking a seat at the far end. The silence was suffocating, so she decided to break it.
"So, Alden…" she began softly.
Alden paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow without looking at her.
Jenn leaned forward slightly. "Tell me about yourself," she said, smiling.
Alden coughed, then smirked. "I know you're not blind," he said dryly. "You can see me eating, right?"
"I know," Jenn replied calmly, refusing to back down. "But we can still talk."
"Talk?" Alden repeated. "With who?"
Jenn blinked. "You, of course."
Alden shook his head, stood up, and walked away without another word. The other two brothers followed, pushing their chairs back noisily.
Jenn sat there, stunned. "What did I do wrong?" she asked softly.
Rosario sighed beside her. "You talked to him," she said simply. "You'll learn soon enough, Jenn — those boys are trouble. Be careful."
Jenn looked down at her plate, her appetite gone.
Somewhere upstairs, Alden was already thinking the same thing — that his mother's new "nanny" was going to be a problem he didn't ask for.
⸻
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Jenn couldn't shake off the awkward silence that hung in the dining room after Alden stormed out. She felt a little guilty — maybe she'd pushed too hard trying to talk to him. So she decided to find him.
Outside, the air was cold and faintly scented with smoke. There he was — Alden — leaning against his car, a cigarette between his fingers, the glow of the ember reflecting faintly in his eyes. For a moment, Jenn hesitated, but she forced herself to walk up to him.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she said softly. "I didn't mean to interrupt your meal."
Alden didn't respond. His face was blank, but his silence was louder than any words. Jenn swallowed and tried again. "Please, I just want to make things right."
He exhaled a thin cloud of smoke and finally said, without looking at her, "It's fine."
Those two words made Jenn's heart lift. She smiled a little, relieved. "You shouldn't be smoking, you know. It's not good for you."
That was the wrong thing to say.
Alden's jaw tightened. "Not good for me?" he repeated, his voice low, simmering. "You think you can tell me what's good for me?"
Jenn stepped back slightly. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just—"
Before she could finish, Alden grabbed the bottle beside him and poured a splash of liquor on her skirt. The cold sting made her gasp.
He glared at her, his voice sharp and bitter. "You think you can fix me? My parents tried that for years. Look where that got them."
Jenn stood frozen, her heart pounding, the smell of liquor heavy in the air. She wanted to say something, but no words came. Alden turned away, running a hand through his hair, and walked off into the darkness.
That same evening, across town, Jeff was finally back home. The maids helped him to his room, careful not to touch the bandaged side of his head. As he lay down, flashes of the fight came rushing back — Alden's anger, the bottle, the pain. He clenched his fists, fury rising again.
But what could he do now? He'd survived — barely.
Jeff sighed, swallowed his medication, and closed his eyes. Sleep came slow, tangled with memories he wished he could forget.