Chapter 6

Ten minutes later, I stood in front of Alex with a small suitcase in tow. "I'm ready," I said.

He nodded and casually took the suitcase from my hand.

I froze for a second.

James was also caught off guard. He was about to step forward, but Alex stopped him with just a look.

Alex carried my pink suitcase in one hand, and with the other, he reached out to Alex. "Let's go," he said.

Alex looked at his dad's big hand, then glanced at me.

Then he stretched out his two little hands. One grabbed his dad's, and the other held onto mine, not letting go.

"We're going together," he declared.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire hallway's residents and a group of black-suited bodyguards, I held a three-and-a-half-year-old cutie in my left hand.

On my other side, the little cutie clung to his ridiculously handsome dad, and for a moment, we looked exactly like a picture-perfect family.

My brain was still in a daze as I slid into the black Rolls-Royce waiting downstairs. I had no clue what the logo was, but one look told me it cost a fortune.

The inside was roomy and quietly luxurious.

Alex and I settled into the back seats, while Mr. Cooper sat in a separate seat beside me, eyes closed, pretending to nap.

Alex was bouncing with excitement, exploring every gadget and blurting out "Wow" every few seconds.

"Honey, look. This chair can recline.

"Honey, look. There's a mini fridge in here.

"Honey, are we flying? Why doesn't it feel bumpy at all?" he asked.

I maintained an awkward yet polite smile the whole time, and didn't dare utter a single word.

I was terrified that if I so much as spoke, the big shot next to me would get annoyed and kick me out on the spot.

The car rolled smoothly along. I stared out the window at the scenery whizzing past, my mind a total mess.

It seemed that I had indeed been kidnapped like this.

I pulled out my phone, wanting to text my sister and let her know what's happening to me right now.

Just as I started typing, Andrew suddenly opened his eyes.

He didn't even look at me, just said coolly, "Once we get to the Cooper residence, you can contact your family and let them know you're safe."

My hand shook, and I almost dropped my phone again.

He somehow knew what I was about to do, almost as if he had mind-reading abilities.

Feeling defeated, I put my phone away, sat up straight, and tried to make myself as small and quiet as possible, like a nervous little quail.

We drove for over half an hour, weaving through the city, before finally pulling into the legendary rich district.

Every villa here looked like a standalone castle, each one spaced far apart from the others.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a massive, intricately carved iron gate. The gate slowly swung open, and we drove inside.

What greeted me was a garden so huge it was almost ridiculous, lush lawns, fancy fountains, and a bunch of flowers and trees I couldn't even begin to name.

Deeper in, there was a gigantic villa that looked just like an ancient castle.

My jaw was on the floor. I just couldn't close my mouth for ages.

That was the world of the rich. Poverty had indeed once again limited my imagination.

The car pulled up to the villa's entrance. As soon as the door opened, a couple of servants in crisp uniforms stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome home, Mr. Andrew Cooper, Mr. Alex Cooper," they said in unison.

Then their eyes landed on me, barely hiding their curiosity and obvious interest.

Andrew got out, walked around, and opened the door himself. "Come on out," he said.

I stepped out like a robot, feeling totally out of place, like a country bumpkin wandering into a fancy mansion, not knowing where to put my hands or feet.

"Sarah," Andrew called out to a middle-aged woman with a gentle, kind face.

"This is Ms. Reed. She'll be staying with us for a while. Could you set up a guest room for her?" he said.

"Of course, Mr. Cooper," Sarah Wells answered with a respectful nod, then gave me a warm smile. "Welcome, Ms. Reed."

"Hello," I said nervously, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Dad. She can't stay in a guest room." Alex suddenly piped up. "Honey should stay in my room. She has to sleep with me."

Andrew's brows knitted together again.

Sarah's face showed a flicker of surprise.

My cheeks were burning up again.

"Alex." I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. "Don't talk nonsense. Boys and girls aren't supposed to share a bed, okay?"

"I don't care." Alex pouted, clinging to me. "I'm sleeping with honey tonight."

Sarah spoke up gently, noticing how flustered I was.

She said, "Mr. Alex Cooper has always slept by himself, so he sometimes feels a bit lonely at night.

"If you don't mind, we can set your room right next to his, so you'll be close by if he needs anything."

I was floored. Sarah really knew how to handle things.

With just one sentence, she saved me from embarrassment, made Alex happy, and made sure Andrew didn't lose face.

"I-I don't mind," I mumbled, like I had any other option.

"Alright, that's settled," Andrew said, leaving no room for discussion. He glanced at me. "Go with Sarah and get settled. Dinner's in an hour."

With that, he strode off toward the study. "James, come with me," he ordered.

"Yes, Mr. Cooper," James answered.