Chapter 5

“Wow!” Kaylie toned in awe immediately as the ironed crafted gate opened, and she sighted the great grand mansion before her. The mansion was the Garcia family’s residence, and it was quite popular, but many could only imagine and picture its appearance in their minds.

The mansion’s sleek, modern facade gleamed with floor-to-ceiling windows, polished chrome accents, and creamy white stone. A tranquil water feature flowed seamlessly into an infinity pool, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. Lush greenery and meticulously manicured gardens around the estate provide a serene oasis amidst the luxurious surroundings.

Kaylie looked around and joggled her head as the luxurious car the Garcia sent over to pick her up glided up the winding driveway.

As the car stopped before the grand entrance, a liveried chauffeur with the Garcia family’s logo on his coat chest sprang to attention and opened the door with a flourish.

Kaylie stepped out onto the driveway, her stilettos clicking on the polished stone. She was immediately enveloped in a warm, golden light that spilled from the mansion's entrance, casting a welcoming glow over the entire scene.

A maid came forward and bowed her head, her right hand on the left, positioning them on her stomach. “Good day, Miss Kaylie,” she greeted. “Welcome to the Garcia mansion.”

Kaylie didn’t know how to respond, so she nodded and said nothing.

The maid stepped aside and pointed her hand at the door. “This way, ma,” she directed. “They’ve been expecting you inside.”

Kaylie bowed her head, and without saying a word, she moved forward. Immediately as she arrived in front of the door, a guard bowed his head and opened the door.

“Welcome, ma.” He greeted her. Kaylie responded with a smile and said nothing.

She lifted her right foot and gently placed it on the first of the three stairs. She climbed the remaining two stairs and entered the sitting room.

Two rows of maids stood poised, a symmetrical formation of elegance, their black and white uniforms a striking contrast. With a synchronized curtsy, they welcomed Kaylie, their faces bright with respectful smiles. “Welcome to the Garcia’s mansion, ma.”

There were many of the maids, so Kaylie was shy, feeling it wasn’t proper to ignore them. She wore a smile, but as she wanted to bow her head, a voice cautioned her from a distance.

“No. You don’t do that!”

Kaylie raised her gaze and traced the voice to a room direction, and seeing Sadie walking out of the room as a maid opened the door for her, she wore a smile and hastened towards her.

“Good day, ma.” Kaylie greeted immediately as she arrived before Sadie.

Sadie met Kaylie with open arms, and before responding, she hugged her warmly. “Good day, darling,” she responded, her lips filled with a smile, and her voice hinted excitement as she proceeded. “How’re you doing?”

Kaylie nodded. “I’m fine, ma.”

Sadie separated her body from Kaylie and held her right hand lightly. “It’s yet to be legalized but has been approved. You’ve become a member of this family; automatically, there’s royalty in you, so you don’t bow to those people,” she lectured, pointing at the maid at the entrance.

She looked around and raised her hand, making a circle with her finger to illustrate inclusiveness and generalization. “And the same applies to every other maid and guards in this house.”

Kaylie smiled lightly and joggled her head. “Okay, ma.”

“I’m not encouraging you should be rude to them. I just want you to know whatever kindness you show them is out of your generosity. Okay?” Sadie pointed out, and without saying a word, Kaylie nodded, comprehending.

“Oh,” Sadie toned as if she just got out of a thought. She turned around to the couch, and before saying anything, she took a step forward and made Kaylie follow her. “Pardon me, please. I should have offered you a seat before lecturing you,”

They arrived in front of a couch and Sadie pointed to it, offering, “please, have your seat.”

Kaylie slightly bent her neck, beaming. “Thanks.” She uttered and had her seat.

Sadie sat beside her. “What would you like to have?” She asked. “A water or wine?”

Kaylie shook her head, staring downward. “Nothing, ma,” she rejected. “I’m fine.”

Sadie scoffed. “No. don’t tell me you’re fine. It’s an hour’s journey here, so you must be tired of sitting for that long. Let them bring you water for refreshment,” she insisted. “The maids are in the kitchen preparing food. It should be ready soon.”

Kaylie grinned. “Okay, ma.” She agreed.

Sadie slipped her fingers and a maid around quickly ran closer to her with her face cast downward. “Get water for her.” She commanded, and the maid curtsied her head before walking away to the dispenser.

Immediately, as the maid walked away, Sadie filled her lips with a beam and faced Kaylie. “I’m impressed with your appearance,” she complimented, slowly nodding. “I love what I am seeing. None of the pictures I saw did justice to you. You look beautiful in person.”

Kaylie bowed her head a little, beaming. “Thanks,” she said. She slightly raised her gaze to look at Sadie’s face, returning the same energy. “But that’s the first thing that came to my mind when I saw you. You’re a goddess,”

“You look great despite your age. You look better in person than what we see on the internet. I hope you can share your beauty tips with me. I want to be as radiant as you.”

Sadie beamed. “Sure,” she agreed. “But beauty tips apart, as long as you’re in this family, your skin would radiant even without applying anything on your skin. That’s the power of wealth. Generational wealth,”

She looked around and raised her hand above her head, waving circularly. “Or you don’t like what you see?” She threw a question. “You’re impressed and must be happy to be here, aren’t you?”

Kaylie joggled her head a little, still maintaining a smile on her face. “I like what I’m seeing,” she confessed. “I’m impressed. Both families approved the marriage, but I can’t wait to be legally part of this family.”

Sadie went silent and stared into Kaylie’s face until Kaylie wondered what was wrong.

“Ma…” Kaylie called but Sadie didn’t respond; she kept staring at her and Kaylie thought she was lost in thought so she lightly tapped her on the hand.

“Ma…” she raised her voice a little.

“Hun!” Sadie toned, her eyes widened, pretending she was lost in thought and Kaylie just got her out of it.

“Are you okay, ma?” Kaylie asked, her concerned voice matching the worry on her face. She crawled her bottom, making her arm touch Sadie’s. “Is everything okay?”

Sadie exhaled deeply. Her face contorted into a pitiful expression, a mixture of sadness and need, as she grabbed Kaylie’s hand. “Kaylie…” she called and paused, giving Kaylie a space to respond.

“Ma.” Kaylie answered. Her expression was calm, giving the expression of willingness to hear Sadie out.

Sadie encircled her second hand around Kaylie’s and held it tighter. “Please…” she said and immediately as a maid arrived with the water, she quickly paused.

“Here, ma.” The maid said. She placed the water on the table and bowed her head before she moved backward.

Sadie gave the maid a side stare, giving a signal to go away, and the maid shot her command. She looked at Kaylie’s face, pointing at the water. “Drink to cool down.”

Kaylie shook her head. “No,” she rejected. “I’m fine. Let’s continue with our conversation. You look worried.”

Sadie wore her pitiful expression again and as she grabbed Kaylie’s hand to continue with the discussion, a footstep caught her attention. She glanced backward and seeing Chairman Paul, her husband, she quickly released Kaylie’s hand and stood on her feet.

“Sweetheart,” she called, and Chairman Paul looked in her direction. She grabbed Kaylie’s hand and paced closer to him. “This is Kaylie, Gage’s bride.”

Kaylie bowed her head, smiling. “Good day, sir.” She greeted.

Chairman Paul scanned Kaylie from head to toe and vice versa, repeatedly for a few seconds, and without responding to her greeting, he dug his hands into his pocket and veered around to the dining.

Sadie’s eyes widened with a questioning, surprised tone fleeing her lips. “Hun?!” She rushed to Chairman Paul’s front, stopping him from taking a step forward.

“What are you doing?” She asked in a low voice, but it was loud enough for Kaylie to hear her.

Chairman Paul furrowed his face, confused. “What do you mean?”

“She just greeted you. Why didn’t you respond?” Sadie questioned. “You’re meeting her for the first time. Shouldn’t you be a little kinder?”

Chairman Paul looked backward at Kaylie and without saying a word to her, he returned his gaze to Sadie. “A little kinder?” He repeated in disbelief. “Is responding to her greeting mandatory?”

“But-” Sadie wanted to talk, but Chairman Paul interrupted.

“Let it slide. Ignoring her doesn’t mean she can’t marry Gage or I’m not content with it. I approved their marriage,” he poured out and took a step forward. “Let’s eat, please.”

Kaylie smiled discreetly and curtsied her head. “Enjoy your meal, sir.” She said. She suspected Chairman Paul didn’t like her, so before struggling to fix it, she wanted to flame his anger so she would have a lot to take care of. Especially since a lot would be happening once she joins the family soon.

Chairman Paul glanced backward and gritted his teeth, fixing his reddened eyes on Kaylie.

Kaylie bowed her head and tinted her lips with a devilish smile no one could see. ‘I should be nice while I still can. After this marriage, I shall become a bone stuck in your throat; difficult to split out and impossible to swallow,’ she thought to herself.

Chairman Paul sighed. He took his eyes off Kaylie. He paced to the dining and slammed his bottom on the chair. ‘You… you… you…’ he thought to himself, grinding his teeth with the transparency of rage boiling in his mind.

He balled his into a fist and slightly looked at Kaylie’s face, and seeing her smiling, his eyes reddened as if fire would come out of them. ‘You think I can’t see through you?’ He said in his mind and chuckled.

Kaylie stopped smiling and sighed softly. ‘I shall soon be a calamity for you all. An inevitable one.’

Sadie had been watching the scene and didn’t know what to say to intervene. She rushed to Kaylie’s side and placed her hands on her shoulder. “I’m sorry this is happening,” she comforted.

“Maybe he’s not in a good mood. I’ll-” Sadie wanted to put in a good word for Chairman Paul, but Kaylie interrupted.

“Don’t worry, ma,” she said, smiling as if nothing had just happened. “I have to win his heart. I believe he’s like this because he hasn’t trusted me yet. Let’s go so I can help with serving the meal.”

Sadie grinned and hugged her. “Thanks for your understanding,” she appreciated, excited that Chairman Paul’s attitude didn’t get into Kaylie’s head. She freed Kaylie’s body and held her hands, smiling, “you’ll make a good wife. Come with me.”

Sadie headed towards the kitchen, and Kaylie walked after her.

‘Yes, I will make a good wife, and also a perfect Disciplinarian’