* Reflections*
Avery stepped out of the lawyer's office, the bright sunlight a stark contrast to the darkness she felt inside. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind, but her thoughts swirled with questions and doubts.
As she walked through the gardens, Avery's feet carried her on autopilot. She replayed the lawyer's words, wondering if there was a way out of this predicament. Her mother's will seemed like a cruel joke, forcing her to choose between her stepbrothers.
Avery thought about her relationships with Asher, Caleb, and Julian. They'd grown up together, but she'd never considered any of them as potential partners. Asher was too controlling, Caleb too charming, and Julian too mysterious.
Avery's mind lingered on Julian. He was the quietest of the three, often lost in his own world. She'd caught him looking at her sometimes, but he'd always looked away. What was he thinking?
As Avery turned a corner, she spotted a familiar bench. She sat down, running her hand over the wooden slats. This bench held memories of laughter, tears, and secrets shared with her mother.
"Mother, why did you do this?" Avery whispered, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
Avery sat in silence, waiting for answers that didn't come. The wind rustled the leaves, and she felt the warmth of the sun on her face. She closed her eyes, letting the peacefulness wash over her.
But the calm was short-lived. Avery's thoughts returned to the will, the manor, and her stepbrothers. She knew she had to make a decision soon.
As Avery opened her eyes, she saw her stepbrothers watching her from a distance. Asher's expression was intense, Caleb's was curious, and Julian's was... unreadable.
Avery stood up, smoothing her dress, and began walking back to Willowbrook Manor. The weight of her decision hung heavy on her shoulders. As she entered the manor, the familiar creak of the front door seemed like a reminder of the life she knew.
She wandered into the library, running her fingers over the spines of the books. The room was quiet, except for the ticking of the grandfather clock. Avery felt a sense of comfort in the familiar surroundings, but her mind was elsewhere.
Avery's thoughts drifted to her stepbrothers. Asher's intensity, Caleb's charm, and Julian's quietness. Which one would she choose? And what would it mean for her future?
As she stood there, lost in thought, the door creaked open. Avery turned to see which of her stepbrothers had entered.
Caleb strolled into the library, a hint of a smile on his face. "Hey, sis," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Lost in thought, or just enjoying the quiet?"
Avery turned to face him, her expression neutral. "Just thinking," she said, her voice measured.
Caleb sauntered over to the bookshelf, running his fingers over the spines of the books. "About the will, I presume?" he asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
Avery hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Yeah," she admitted finally. "It's a lot to take in."
Caleb nodded, his smile softening. "I know it's not easy, but maybe we can figure it out together?"
Avery raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Caleb's approach. What was he after?
Avery's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Caleb's expression. "What do you want, Caleb?" she asked, her voice direct.
Caleb's smile never wavered. "I want to help, Avery," he said, his voice smooth. "We're in this together, after all. And who knows, maybe we can even benefit from this situation."
Avery raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Benefit? How?"
Caleb leaned against the bookshelf, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Well, for one, we'd be securing our place here at Willowbrook Manor. And two... who knows, maybe we'll even find something more."
Avery felt a flutter in her chest, unsure how to react to Caleb's suggestion. Was he serious, or just playing games?
Avery's curiosity got the better of her. "What do you mean by 'something more'?" she asked, her voice a little softer.
Caleb's smile grew, and he pushed off the bookshelf, taking a step closer to Avery. "I mean, maybe we could make this arrangement work to our advantage," he said, his voice low. "Maybe we could find a way to make it more than just a marriage on paper."
Avery felt a shiver run down her spine as Caleb's words hung in the air. She wasn't sure if she was intrigued or intimidated by his suggestion.
Avery raised an eyebrow, her expression dubious. "You expect me to believe you're interested in a real marriage?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Caleb's smile faltered for a moment, before he chuckled. "Hey, I'm a romantic at heart," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But seriously, Avery, I think we could make this work. We'd be good together."
Avery shook her head, unconvinced. "I need time to think, Caleb. This is all happening too fast."
Caleb nodded, his expression understanding. "I get it. Take all the time you need. But don't forget, we have 30 days to make a decision."
Caleb took another step closer to Avery, his eyes locked on hers. "Listen, Avery, I know this isn't ideal, but I think we could make it work. We'd be good partners, in every sense of the word."
Avery felt a flutter in her chest, unsure how to react to Caleb's words. She didn't know if she trusted him, but a part of her wondered if he might be genuine.
"Caleb, I..." Avery trailed off, unsure how to finish her sentence.
Caleb's smile softened, and he reached out, his hand brushing against Avery's arm. "Just think about it, okay?" he said, his voice low and persuasive.
Avery's skin tingled where Caleb's hand touched her arm. She pulled her arm back, trying to clear her head. "I'll think about it," she said finally.
Avery nodded, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. "I'll think about it, Caleb," she repeated, trying to process everything.
Caleb's smile returned, and he nodded. "Good. I'll give you space. Let me know when you're ready to talk more."
With that, Caleb turned and walked out of the library, leaving Avery alone with her thoughts. She sat down in a nearby chair, her mind whirling with questions and doubts.
As the silence enveloped her, Avery realized she had a long night ahead of her, filled with contemplation and uncertainty.