Why does he soothe me after my nightmares like he doesn’t like to see me hurt?
If this is all an act, then he deserves an Oscar.
Margo waits for me at the entrance of the front door. Her hands rest above each other on her stomach as she smiles.
“Hey, Margo.”
“Hey, Elsa.” She steps aside to give me walking room. “Come inside. It’s cold, let me prepare you something to drink.”
She takes my sweater, scarf, and umbrella. I try to help her, but she shoos me away.
Margo always makes me feel warm in this frigid, cold mansion.
It’s like she’s the only one who breathes life in here.
Aiden and his father surely don’t. I doubt Levi did either when he was living here.
I follow Margo to the kitchen and she launches into a string of questions about my health and if I’m eating properly as she prepares me a hot chocolate.
I try to answer as much as I can.
In no time, I’m sitting at the kitchen counter with the steaming drink in front of me and the scent of hot chocolate wafting in the air.
Margo stands behind the counter, fussing with potatoes.
“Is that for chips?” I ask.
“Those boys will start a riot if they don’t have their chips.” She shakes her head. “Especially Ronan.”
I smile at that. He’s certainly fanatic and possessive about his chips. You can have his car, but you can’t ask for his chips.
“They’re lucky to have you,” I tell her.
The slight wrinkles ease at the corner of her eyes. “I’m lucky to have them, especially my Aiden.”
I straighten in my seat. This is my opening. “He went through a lot when he was a child.” I pause, then add. “Levi told me.”
Sorrow covers her features as she slows down cutting the potatoes. “He didn’t talk much.”
“Why not?”
“He was a lonely child. He spent his days in the library with Alicia.” She scoffs. “When she was out of her room.”
I lean closer, cradling the hot cup between my cold fingers. “Was he close to his mother?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Why unfortunately?”
“Because her madness rubbed off on him.” Her lips twist. “He’s never been the same since she was locking herself up with him in the library reading crazy books about crazy people.”
“Crazy books?”
She throws her hand in the air. “Philosophy and psychology rubbish.”
I frown. Those aren’t crazy books, but I don’t correct her. I can’t get into an argument with her if I want to keep her talking.
“Alicia was never normal anyway.” Margo watches her surroundings before she leans in to whisper, “I heard from one of her friends that she suffered from depression after an accident. She was out with her friends and they all died except for her. She was been the same since then.”
Survivor’s guilt.
I heard about that. Hell, If my nightmares are of any indication, then I might even be suffering from it myself.
“Was that before she got married?” I ask.
“Yes.”
Still. Alicia got married and had Aiden, so she couldn’t have been that bad, right?
“There were a lot of tragic events in her life, so I tried to understand, I really did.” Margo chops the potatoes harder. “But she shouldn’t have brought Aiden to the world if she was going to be a zombie most of the time.”
“Tragic events?” I ask.
“Yes, her father was a lord, but he was abusive. Her mother committed suicide because of that and I think, I’m not sure, he continued to beat Alicia until she got married.”
My heart swells for the woman I only saw through the picture. The petite, quiet-looking woman.
So basically, Alicia was a mentally unwell person. I’m curious why Jonathan would marry her. I’m sure he knew her past. These types of families do an extensive background check about the ones they’re going to marry.
Jonathan King doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who’d marry Alicia. His type loves the perfect housewives with perfect everything, don’t they?
“Was it an arranged marriage?” I ask Margo.
“No. Mr King chose her himself.”
Oh.
Maybe he did love her. But well, I find it hard to believe that Jonathan would love anyone. He doesn’t even seem like he loves his own son.
This needs more digging.
I just hope I don’t end up regretting it.
“Can I see the library?” I wrap my fingers around the hot chocolate. “I have some homework.”
“It’s down the hall to the left.” She motions at the potatoes. “Sorry I can’t show you.”
“It’s okay.” I gather my backpack and take the drink. “Thanks for this.”
“Let me know if you need anything to eat.”
“Will do.”
At