Chapter 10 My return
"Spencer?" I called out, but the background noise was too loud for me to hear him. Soon after, I listened to a voice belonging to Ethan.
"Hi, Cora. I’m sorry to bother you, but Spencer wanted to call his girlfriend, and he’s so drunk that I don’t think he can see." He burst out laughing. I closed my eyes, trying to sound normal.
"It’s okay, Ethan. Just take care of each other!"
"We will! Love you!" Then he hung up.
As the years go by, I always find an excuse to return home. In the second year, my mum nearly begged me to come back, so I agreed—but made sure that the boys wouldn’t be home.
One year, Mum visited me, and she seemed surprised by the change in me. She appeared to like Darren a lot, but I felt uncomfortable introducing him to her. I didn’t want her to tell Spencer that I had a boyfriend. Sometimes, I said to myself that I shouldn’t care, but deep down, I couldn't let go of him.
Darren has annoyed me the most in the past year. He couldn't stop talking about our future together. He asked if I wanted to stay in England, but he also said that if I didn’t, he’d be happy to return to the United States with me. I often asked him to leave me alone so I could think. I wasn't in love with him; I knew that from the beginning. I only used him to help me forget Spencer, but that plan hasn’t worked.
Whenever I was with Darren, I still imagined my brother with me. I knew my beliefs were odd, but the fact that I couldn't forget him—even when I was so far away—meant something. I believed that we had something to do with each other.
My appearance has changed a lot. I bet that if Spencer or Ethan saw me on the street, they would walk past without recognising me.
Last week, I asked Darren for some time to make a decision, which irritated him. He insisted that I shouldn't give him an answer at the last minute. I understood that it wasn't fair to put him in that position, but I wanted to make the right choice.
If I go back, I’ll be working with the twins. Spencer is single again, but he considers me just his sister. If I stay, I might continue with Darren, staying far from Spencer. I’d be choosing a life that will never bring me happiness without even giving myself a chance to be happy. I had been in a dilemma for a few days, but a day before my flight back to the United States, I made my decision.
I called Darren to meet me, and I broke up with him. He was furious and hurt. I hated that I had to cause him pain, but this was about my life. He stormed out of my apartment, slamming the door behind him, but I didn’t shed a single tear for him. Instead, I grabbed my suitcase and started packing.
I couldn’t sleep much on the plane; my mind was elsewhere. I was making a plan. I knew that if my plan failed, I could lose my entire family, but right then, I didn’t care. Perhaps I never intended to be part of the Astor family. I believed that with my impressive diploma, I could support myself regardless of the circumstances.
Eventually, I managed to fall asleep. When I woke up and finished my breakfast, the plane was on its final approach to land. A driver picked me up and took me to the Astor mansion.
The weather was nice, and as I checked my reflection in my pocket mirror, I didn’t look like someone who had travelled all night. My long turquoise dress accentuated my figure, showing my good-sized, round breasts without crossing any lines. My long, blonde hair framed my shoulders. I walked inside in my high heels, smiling. However, when I entered, the new housekeeper informed me that everyone was waiting for me outside in the garden.
I frowned at the mention of “everyone,” thinking she meant my parents. However, as I walked through the living room, Spencer was the first person I saw through the window. He was wearing a white shirt and tie as if he had just come from work, and Ethan looked similarly dressed. I knew both of them lived in the city, and according to Mum, our parents had bought them two apartments as welcome-home gifts. To see that they all lived separately made me hopeful. That meant I would manage to spend some time alone with Spencer.
I walk into the room, and when Mum sees me, she covers her mouth in surprise. I hug her tightly, but what catches my attention is Spencer's shocked expression. Ethan looks just as surprised when he steps closer to examine me from head to toe.
"What the heck? Cora, you’ve changed! You look great!" he exclaims, and I respond with a broad smile as I hug him back. Dad doesn't stand up, but he nods at me in greeting.
Spencer's behaviour puzzles me a bit. He stands there staring at me, frozen. When I approach him, he snaps back to reality, smiles, and gives me a long hug.
“Cora, I have a surprise for you,” Dad tells me during lunch.
"What is it?" I ask, frowning.
"I arranged a position for you at the company. You can start tomorrow."
“Ray, she just got back,” Mum protests, but Dad shakes his head.
"We are swamped this time of year. I want her to start as soon as possible."
I smile at Mum. "That sounds great."
“Good. Spencer and Ethan will teach you everything quickly."
"I will pick you up from here tomorrow morning." Spencer smiled at me.
"No, Spencer. Cora is an adult. She has nothing to do in our house. I organised an apartment in the city, and she can live in a hotel till it is ready." Dad interrupted.
"Ray, how can you say that? Of course she can stay with us!" Mum looked at Dad in disbelief, and before they would have started to argue, Spencer stopped them. "She can stay with me!" He said.
"And she can stay at mine, if you two are bored with each other," Ethan added, which warmed my heart.
"Whatever!" Dad said. "Just not here!"
As we spent time together, the driver took my bags to Spencer's, and by evening, I got into Spencer's car. He asks me about university during the ride.
After we arrive, he shows me around the apartment, which features modern furniture and large windows overlooking the city.
Once I unpack, I take a shower and change into tiny shorts and a tank top, opting not to wear a bra. I smile at myself in the mirror and say, "Perfect," before leaving my room.
When I enter the kitchen, I catch Spencer's gaze lingering on my figure for a moment.
"Do you want me to make dinner?" I offer.
Spencer hesitates to answer.
"Trust me, I can cook," I say with a laugh, which makes him chuckle, too. "Yes, please," he finally replies, so I head to the fridge to see what we have. I can feel him watching me from behind, and when I bend down slightly to reach for something, I smile, realising he's still standing there. However, when I look at him, his expression shifts. He looks guilty.
"I'll be back in a minute," he says before abruptly leaving the kitchen. I frown and follow him shortly.
"Spencer! Are you alright?" I call out after knocking on his door.
