Marcus's house was located in an upscale area on the outskirts of the city. An elite and luxurious area.
The house wasn't an ordinary house. The house was a mansion. A mansion with a large yard. A mansion with a high fence. A mansion with very good maintenance.
Emma had never seen a house like this before.
Marcus opened the door with an electronic key card. The door opened. The lights inside automatically turned on.
"Welcome to your new home," said Marcus with little expression. "This house will be our place of residence for the duration of the contract."
Emma entered slowly. Her eyes widened.
The mansion's living room was very large. Larger than Emma's entire old house! A large-sized sofa. A very large flat-screen TV. High ceilings. Shimmering crystal lights.
Lily immediately ran to the middle of the living room.
"Wow! Sister! The house is so big!" shouted Lily happily.
Emma smiled seeing Lily happy. But in her heart, Emma felt like she entered an alien world.
"How many rooms are there?" asked Emma.
"5 rooms," answered Marcus. "Plus 4 bathrooms. Dining room. Work room. Kitchen. And a basement with a swimming pool."
Emma just nodded. That was all she could do.
Marcus took Emma upstairs.
The second floor was also large. There were many doors. Many rooms.
"This is my room," said Marcus. He pointed to the largest door. "A room with a balcony. Has a TV inside. Private bathroom."
Emma looked from a distance. The room was indeed very large.
"And this..." Marcus pointed to another door. "A room for Lily. This room is a bit smaller, but still larger than Lily's old room."
Lily looked inside. "Wow! There's a big bed! And a big window!"
Emma felt slightly relieved seeing Lily happy.
"And this..." Marcus pointed to the third door. "A room for Emma."
The door opened. Emma looked inside.
The room was large. Very large. Maybe 4 times larger than Emma's old room.
A queen-size bed. A large closet. A beautiful vanity table. A large window with a view of the backyard.
A private bathroom too.
"This is Emma's room," said Marcus. "Emma's privacy is fully protected. There's a lock on the door. Emma can lock the door."
Emma nodded. Emma felt relieved. At least Marcus didn't ask Emma to sleep in his room.
"There's one more," said Marcus. He pointed to the 5th door. "A work room for Emma if Emma needs it."
The room had a work desk. A computer. A printer. A bookshelf.
Everything felt like a five-star hotel.
Marcus took Emma downstairs. To the kitchen.
The kitchen was also large and modern. An expensive oven. A large refrigerator. A marble kitchen table.
"This kitchen already has everything that's needed," said Marcus. "If Emma needs to add something, just say so."
Emma just nodded.
"There's a helper who comes every day to clean the house," continued Marcus. "She comes at 8 AM and leaves at 4 PM. If Emma needs other help, tell the helper."
Emma still nodded. Emma felt like all of this was too much to process.
That night, Emma had already put her things in her room.
Emma slept alone on a very large queen-size bed. A bed so comfortable that Emma felt like she was floating.
But Emma couldn't sleep.
Emma felt strange. This house didn't feel like home. This house felt like a hotel. This house felt cold.
In the old house, Emma slept in a small room. But that house felt warm. That house felt like home.
Here, Emma slept in a large room. But Emma felt lonely.
Emma left her room. She walked toward Lily's room.
Emma looked inside. Lily was already asleep. Lily slept soundly.
Emma was happy seeing Lily sleep soundly.
But now, Emma felt homesick for the old house.
The next morning.
Emma woke up early. Like usual. 6 AM.
Emma showered. Emma got dressed. Emma went to the kitchen.
Emma wanted to make breakfast. Like she did every day.
But in the kitchen, Emma felt lost. All the kitchen equipment here was a luxury brand. Everything felt new. Everything felt strange.
Emma didn't know where the bread was. Where the eggs were. Where the cooking utensils were.
Emma started opening cabinet after cabinet.
"What is Emma looking for?"
Emma was startled. That was Marcus's voice.
Marcus came to the kitchen. Marcus was still wearing pajamas. Marcus was rubbing his eyes.
"I... I wanted to make breakfast," answered Emma.
"Oh. No need. The helper will come and make breakfast," said Marcus.
"But the helper comes at 8. It's only 6," answered Emma.
Marcus stopped for a moment. He thought.
"Okay. If Emma wants to cook, all the ingredients are here," said Marcus. He started opening cabinets. "This is where the bread is. This is where the eggs are. This is where the milk is. Everything is here."
Emma nodded.
"If Emma needs help, call me," said Marcus.
Marcus left the kitchen.
Emma made breakfast. Toast with eggs and vegetables.
Simple breakfast. The same as what Emma made in the old house.
Marcus came to the kitchen when breakfast was ready.
"The breakfast smells good," said Marcus. "What is this?"
"Just toast and eggs," answered Emma. "Simple food."
Marcus ate. Marcus ate slowly. Like appreciating the food.
"This is delicious," said Marcus.
It was the first compliment Marcus had given to Emma since they got married.
Emma felt slightly warm inside.
After breakfast, Lily woke up.
Lily saw the house in the morning with more detail.
"Sister! The house is so big! We can play hide and seek!" shouted Lily.
Lily started running back and forth. Looking at every corner of the house.
Emma and Marcus watched Lily run around.
"Lily looks happy," said Marcus.
"Yes. Lily has never seen a house this big before," answered Emma.
They were silent for a moment.
"Will Emma and Lily be comfortable here?" asked Marcus.
Emma looked surprised by the question.
"I... I think so," answered Emma. "The house is beautiful. Very beautiful."
"But?" asked Marcus.
"No but," answered Emma quickly.
But Marcus already knew. Marcus knew that Emma felt strange.
"Emma needs time to adjust," said Marcus. "That's normal."
Emma nodded.
The days that followed.
Emma started to get used to Marcus's house.
Emma woke up early. Emma made breakfast. Lily ate. Lily played.
Emma took care of Lily. Emma cleaned the house even though the helper also cleaned.
Marcus went to the office in the morning. Marcus came home in the evening.
They had dinner together. But they didn't talk much.
Emma in her own room. Marcus in his own room.
They lived in the same house. But they lived in different worlds.
One day, Emma asked Lily.
"Does Lily like the new house?" asked Emma.
"Yes, Sister. The house is big. I can play," answered Lily. "But I miss the old house."
"Miss what?" asked Emma.
"I miss the old neighbor who often gave me candy," answered Lily. "I miss the neighbor's chickens. I miss everything."
Emma understood.
The new house was big. The new house was nice. But the new house didn't have warmth.
The old house was small. But the old house had love.
The third day in the new house.
Emma was in her room. Emma was reading. Emma had finished reading one book.
Marcus came to Emma's room.
"May I come in?" asked Marcus from outside the door.
"Yes," answered Emma.
Marcus came in. This was the first time Marcus came into Emma's room since they moved.
"What is Emma doing?" asked Marcus.
"Reading," answered Emma.
Marcus looked at Emma's table. There was a novel. A romance novel.
Marcus didn't say anything about the book.
"Does Emma need something?" asked Marcus.
"No. Everything is already good," answered Emma.
"Okay," said Marcus. "Tomorrow Lily has to check up at the hospital. To prepare for surgery. We will go at 9 AM."
"Okay," said Emma. "I'm already ready."
Marcus nodded. Marcus wanted to leave.
But Emma said something.
"Marcus..." said Emma.
"Yes?" answered Marcus.
"Thank you," said Emma. "For everything. The house. The nice room. Everything."
Marcus didn't know what to answer.
"That is part of our contract," answered Marcus finally.
Emma nodded. Emma knew this was business. Just business.
Marcus left the room.