Morning arrived quietly.
Skye woke to the faint glow of sunlight slipping through the thin curtains of his apartment. For a moment he stayed still, half-buried beneath the blanket, staring at the pale ceiling above him.
Everything felt strangely calm.
Too calm.
Then he remembered.
Montclair estate.
The thought hit him like cold water.
Skye groaned softly and rolled onto his side, burying his face into the pillow.
Going back meant questions.
Family expectations.
Skye squeezed his eyes shut.
"Why do I care about that so much…" he muttered.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his messy hair. The apartment looked different in the morning light—smaller somehow, but also warmer. This place had been his escape from the chaos of both families.
And now he was leaving it.
At least for a while.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, Skye pulled on one of his favorite outfits: slim black jeans and a soft cream sweater that slipped loosely over his frame. The neckline dipped just slightly at the collarbone, and the sleeves hung long enough to cover part of his hands.
Comfortable.
Soft.
Familiar.
He packed the last few things into his suitcase and zipped it closed.
A knock on the door startled him.
Skye froze.
For a second his mind immediately jumped to one possibility.
Noah.
His heart skipped.
But that didn't make sense. Noah had said he was leaving.
Skye opened the door cautiously.
It was only the driver.
"Good morning, Skye," the older man said politely. "Your mother asked me to bring you home."
Skye nodded.
"Right."
The ride to the Montclair estate was quiet.
The city slowly faded behind them, replaced by long tree-lined roads and elegant gates belonging to wealthy families.
Skye leaned his head against the window, watching the scenery pass.
The familiar nerves began creeping in.
Montclair estate had always been beautiful.
Huge.
Perfect.
But it never really felt like home.
When the tall iron gates finally appeared, Skye straightened slightly in his seat.
The car rolled forward.
The Montclair mansion stood proudly at the end of the long driveway, its white stone walls glowing under the morning sun. Gardens stretched across the front lawn, perfectly maintained as always.
Skye sighed quietly.
"Back to the circus."
The driver chuckled softly but didn't respond.
As the car stopped near the entrance, Skye stepped out, brushing imaginary wrinkles from his sweater.
The front doors opened almost immediately.
His mother was already waiting.
"Skye."
Her voice carried relief.
She walked forward and pulled him into a quick hug.
"I'm glad you came home."
Skye hugged her back gently.
"You told me to."
His mother pulled back and studied his face.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
She glanced toward the suitcase.
"We'll have someone take that to your room."
Skye nodded and followed her inside.
The mansion smelled exactly the same as always—polished wood, fresh flowers, and faint perfume lingering in the hallways.
Familiar.
But distant.
"Your father is in his office," his mother said as they walked. "He'll want to see you later."
Skye grimaced slightly.
"Of course he will."
She paused before the staircase and looked at him more carefully.
"And Skye…"
"Yes?"
"About Noah."
Skye stiffened immediately.
"What about him?"
His mother's expression turned thoughtful.
"The Blackwell family has been… persistent."
Skye frowned.
"Persistent about what?"
"About keeping the engagement arrangement."
Skye felt irritation rise instantly.
"That arrangement was your idea."
"Yes," she admitted calmly. "But it's important now."
"For the business," Skye muttered.
"For the family."
Skye rolled his eyes slightly.
"Same thing."
His mother didn't argue.
Instead she placed a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"You and Noah will have to spend more time together."
Skye froze.
"What?"
"It would be suspicious if you avoided him."
Skye stared at her.
"That's not my problem."
"It is now."
He exhaled slowly.
This was exactly the kind of situation he had hoped to avoid.
His mother softened her tone slightly.
"I'm not asking you to like him."
Too late.
"…I know."
"I'm just asking you to cooperate."
Skye looked away.
Cooperate.
Right.
Because pretending everything was normal with Noah was going to be so easy.
After a moment he nodded reluctantly.
"Fine."
"Good."
She smiled faintly.
"You should rest. Dinner will be later."
Skye headed upstairs toward his old room.
The door creaked softly when he opened it.
Nothing had changed.
The same furniture.
The same large windows overlooking the gardens.
The same quiet.
Skye set his suitcase down near the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress.
He leaned back slowly, staring up at the ceiling.
Home again.
But his mind was already drifting somewhere else.
To a certain dark-haired man with a smug smile.
Skye groaned and covered his face with his hands.
"Why do you keep showing up in my head…"
Because whether he liked it or not—
Something between him and Noah had started changing.
And Skye had the uneasy feeling that the next time they met…
Things wouldn't stay simple anymore.
----
Great! I'll continue the same chapter so the total length builds toward 4000+ words. Here is Chapter 17 – Part 2, continuing directly from Skye returning to the Montclair estate.
---
Chapter Seventeen
Returning Home (Part 2)
Skye had barely been in his room for an hour before the quiet started getting to him.
The Montclair estate had always been like this—beautiful, polished, and suffocatingly calm. Every hallway felt too wide, every room too silent, as if the house itself expected everyone inside it to behave perfectly.
Skye lay stretched across his bed, staring at the ceiling.
He should unpack.
He should probably go talk to his father.
But instead he just stayed there, replaying the past few days in his mind.
The apartment.
The park.
Noah.
Skye groaned and turned onto his side, grabbing one of the pillows and pressing it over his face.
"Why does everything keep coming back to him?" he muttered into the fabric.
He had known Noah Blackwell for years.
At least… technically.
Their families had crossed paths often enough—business dinners, charity events, formal parties where everyone pretended to enjoy themselves.
But before the engagement arrangement, Noah had barely paid attention to him.
Now it felt like Noah noticed everything.
The teasing.
The staring.
The way he kept standing just a little too close.
Skye threw the pillow aside with a frustrated sigh and sat up.
"This is stupid."
He stood and began unpacking his suitcase just to give himself something to do.
Sweaters went into the dresser.
Jeans folded neatly.
A few loose shirts hung back in the closet.
The routine helped calm his thoughts slightly.
Until—
A knock sounded on the door.
Skye froze.
"Come in," he called.
One of the house staff stepped inside.
"Your mother asked me to inform you that guests will be arriving for dinner tonight."
Skye frowned.
"Guests?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"The Blackwell family."
Skye stared.
"You're joking."
The staff member simply smiled politely.
"Dinner will begin at seven."
Then she left.
Skye stood in the middle of his room in stunned silence.
"…Of course they are."
He ran a hand down his face.
The universe clearly hated him.
Noah had said he was going home.
Which meant—
He was probably already at the Blackwell estate.
And now both families had apparently decided that tonight was the perfect time for a reunion dinner.
Skye flopped back onto the bed.
"Perfect," he muttered.
He stared at the ceiling again.
Part of him wanted to avoid the dinner entirely.
But that wasn't an option.
His parents would drag him downstairs if necessary.
And besides…
If he didn't show up, Noah would never let him hear the end of it.
Skye sighed.
"Fine."
He pushed himself off the bed and went to get ready.
---
By the time evening arrived, the Montclair estate had transformed into its usual elegant spectacle.
The dining room glittered under a massive crystal chandelier. Long windows overlooked the darkening gardens, and the polished dining table was already set with silverware and glasses that sparkled in the soft light.
Skye lingered upstairs longer than necessary, adjusting his outfit.
His hair fell naturally around his face, framing his delicate features.
He glanced at himself in the mirror.
"You look nervous," he murmured.
He definitely felt nervous.
Not because of the dinner.
Because of Noah.
Skye inhaled slowly.
Then he headed downstairs.
---
By the time Skye came downstairs for dinner, the house had already settled into its usual polished elegance.
But tonight felt different.
Skye paused at the top of the staircase, fingers lightly gripping the railing as he took a breath.
He had changed his outfit three times.
Not because he cared what anyone thought.
Definitely not because Noah would be there.
Absolutely not.
His gaze dropped down to the dress he had finally chosen.
The fabric was soft, a pale grey that flowed gently around his thighs. The hem stopped just above his knees, simple but elegant, paired with sheer stockings that hugged his slender legs. The sleeves were long and slightly loose, the neckline modest but wide enough to show the delicate curve of his collarbone.
It was comfortable.
It was familiar.
It was him.
Still… he couldn't ignore the quiet flutter in his chest as he imagined Noah seeing him like this.
Skye exhaled slowly.
Stop overthinking.
He smoothed the fabric once more before walking down the stairs.
Voices drifted from the sitting room again.
His parents.
The Blackwells.
And Noah.
Skye stepped into the room.
Conversation paused.
His mother turned first.
"Skye, there you are."
Then the others followed her gaze.
Noah's reaction was subtle—but Skye caught it immediately.
For half a second, Noah just stared.
Not teasing.
Not amused.
Just… looking.
His dark eyes slowly moved over Skye, taking in the dress, the soft fall of the fabric, the way it moved slightly when he walked.
Then the familiar smirk returned.
"Well," Noah said lazily, leaning back in his chair. "You clean up nicely."
Skye felt heat creep into his cheeks despite himself.
"It's dinner, Noah," he said calmly. "Not a fashion show."
Mrs. Blackwell smiled warmly.
"Oh, Skye, you look lovely tonight."
"Thank you," Skye replied politely.
His father gestured toward the seating area.
"Come sit."
Skye did.
Directly across from Noah.
Which meant he could feel Noah's gaze the entire time.
Dinner was announced soon after.
Everyone moved into the dining room, the long table glowing beneath the chandelier.
Skye was seated beside Noah.
Of course he was.
He settled into the chair carefully, smoothing the skirt of his dress beneath him.
The movement didn't go unnoticed.
Noah's eyes flicked down briefly.
Then back up again.
"Comfortable?" Noah murmured quietly.
Skye didn't look at him.
"Yes."
"You always dress like that?"
"Yes."
Noah hummed thoughtfully.
Skye stabbed a piece of food with his fork.
"You're staring again."
"I'm observing."
"That's the same thing."
"Not really."
Skye finally glanced at him.
"Stop."
Noah's lips twitched.
"No."
Skye rolled his eyes and looked away.
But Noah didn't stop.
Not the entire dinner.
While the parents discussed business arrangements, Noah watched.
Not constantly.
But enough.
Enough to notice things.
Small things.
The way Skye sat slightly stiffly sometimes.
The way his voice dropped lower when he got irritated.
The way his shoulders looked sharper than most girls Noah knew.
It was subtle.
Barely noticeable.
But Noah had always been good at noticing details.
Eventually dessert arrived.
Skye pushed his plate away slightly, appetite fading under Noah's constant attention.
"You're quiet tonight," Noah said.
"I'm eating."
"Barely."
Skye gave him an unimpressed look.
"Is monitoring my food intake your new hobby?"
"Maybe."
Skye sighed.
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Not really."
Noah leaned slightly closer.
"And besides… you're interesting."
Skye frowned.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"No."
"Yes."
Skye glared at him.
Noah only smiled.
Then suddenly Skye pushed his chair back slightly.
"I'm getting some air."
His mother glanced up.
"Skye?"
"I'll be back."
Before anyone could stop him, Skye slipped out of the dining room and headed toward the back doors.
The cool night air hit him immediately as he stepped into the garden.
The Montclair estate gardens were massive, lit by soft lanterns along the pathways. The scent of flowers hung lightly in the air, and the distant sound of fountains echoed softly in the quiet.
Skye walked toward the stone railing overlooking the lower garden and rested his hands on it.
Finally.
Silence.
He exhaled slowly.
That dinner had been exhausting.
Mostly because of Noah.
Skye leaned forward slightly, letting the cool air calm him.
Behind him, the door opened again.
Footsteps followed.
Skye didn't turn around.
"Go away, Noah."
The footsteps stopped.
"Didn't even look."
"I didn't have to."
Noah stepped beside him at the railing.
"You run away from dinner often?"
"I didn't run."
"You definitely ran."
Skye sighed.
"Why did you follow me?"
Noah leaned against the stone railing casually.
"Curiosity."
"About what?"
Noah didn't answer immediately.
Instead he looked at Skye more closely in the soft garden light.
The dress moved slightly in the night breeze.
Skye's hair shifted against his cheek.
And again that strange thought crossed Noah's mind.
Something about Skye didn't quite match the picture everyone believed.
Noah tilted his head slightly.
"You're… different."
Skye frowned.
"I'm standing right here. You don't need to study me like a science project."
Noah chuckled softly.
"Maybe I do."
Skye turned toward him fully now.
"Why?"
Noah's gaze held his.
Because the more time he spent around Skye Montclair…
The more something about him didn't quite make sense.
And Noah had never liked mysteries he couldn't solve.
--