The Sullivan brothers' miserable expressions almost made Adelina burst into laughter. Somehow, she managed to suppress it. She made herself look hurt instead and quietly followed the brothers into the house.
One of the maids escorted her upstairs to a bedroom that Harold Sullivan had personally arranged for her. As the grandfather of the five brothers, he had spared no effort in making their guest feel welcome. Soft shades of blue gave the room a sweet, charming atmosphere, while the walk-in closet overflowed with luxury clothes, handbags, and jewelry. Anyone could tell that he had carefully chosen every detail.
Meanwhile, the four brothers had only just taken their seats downstairs when Adelina's dramatic cries of amazement echoed from the upper floor once again.
"This bedroom is enormous, and everything is beautiful! Wait, do all these clothes, bags, and pieces of jewelry actually belong to me?"
Misery spread across all four faces. Colin was the first to voice his concern. "We all know I'm the most attractive one here. What if she chooses me because of my face? Honestly, being this handsome is starting to feel more like a punishment than a blessing."
"Most attractive? You? Did you leave your sense of shame at the station?" one of his brothers retorted.
Later that evening, Adelina joined the four brothers for dinner.
Traveling was a favorite pastime of the brothers' parents and grandfather, so they were rarely at the estate. Waylon Sullivan—the eldest among his siblings—currently led the Sullivan Group as its CEO, and his demanding work schedule kept him at the office most of the time. Although the younger brothers each owned separate residences, their grandfather had ordered them to remain at the family estate throughout Adelina's stay.
At dinnertime, Adelina appeared in the same dreadful red dress she had worn at the station, and the sight made Trevor wince. As an internationally celebrated fashion designer, he could no longer ignore the offense against good taste. "Ms. Bennett, your closet is already filled with plenty of other outfits. Could you please choose something different before we eat?"
Confusion crossed Adelina's face as she studied the dress. "Is there something wrong with it? My grandmother spent a great deal of time sewing it for me herself."
Silent looks passed among the brothers.
Did anyone still sew clothes by hand in this day and age? None of them could believe what they had heard.
"That's it," Carson snapped—the sharpest-tongued of the bunch. "You need to understand that none of us has any intention of becoming your fiance, and our eldest brother won't choose you either. So save yourself the embarrassment and return to where you came from as soon as possible."
Adelina worried her lower lip before answering softly, "If I leave now, how can I possibly explain this to my grandfather?"
"Stop pretending you don't understand. You came here because you want a share of our family's fortune. I'm warning you now. Staying in this house won't get you anything," Carson said with contempt.
Adelina lowered her gaze and slowly moved the food around her plate while pretending to be deeply hurt. One glance at her awful makeup and dreadful dress was enough to ruin the four brothers' appetites. How could they possibly survive an entire year with her?
Once they left the dining room, her gloomy act disappeared, and she enjoyed the rest of her meal. Everything served at the Sullivan estate tasted delicious and suited her perfectly.
Better yet, her plans were unfolding exactly as she hoped. Every Sullivan brother already disliked her, which meant they could all return to their separate lives after one year.
When dinner ended, Adelina returned to her bedroom. A sudden buzz drew her attention to the phone lying on the bed, where a new message waited.
"Did you arrive safely in Ardencroft, A? Tell me how things are going. The Sullivans haven't been causing trouble for you, have they?"
A knowing smile touched Adelina's lips before she sent her answer. "You think those Sullivans can make things difficult for me? Oh, please."
Another message appeared almost immediately. "I never doubted you. Still, don't underestimate those brothers because none of them is easy to handle. Waylon Sullivan is the one you should watch most carefully. He hides more secrets than people realize, so don't let your guard down around him."
For a moment, Adelina considered the warning. Waylon was probably the eldest Sullivan brother who had missed her arrival because of a meeting. Although they hadn't met yet, she saw no reason to worry because fear had never ruled her life.
Soon afterward, she switched off her phone and fell asleep.
Sleeping in an unfamiliar bed had never come easily to her, and this night proved no different. Hours of tossing and turning passed before thirst finally woke her at around four in the morning.
All traces of her ugly makeup were already gone from her face after she took a shower before bed. Since everyone else should've been asleep, there was no chance of anyone seeing her without the disguise.
She stepped into her slippers and quietly made her way downstairs for a drink of water. Once she finished, she wandered back upstairs while sleep blurred her thoughts.
Darkness filled the bedroom because she didn't bother switching on the light. The moment she slipped beneath the covers, something about the mattress struck her as different. Somehow, this bed felt much more comfortable than before.
Some time later, the sound of the door opening disturbed her sleep. A person entered and pulled back the covers, which immediately roused Adelina from her light slumber.
"Who the hell is in here?" A man's deep, rough voice broke the silence.
Sleep still clouded Adelina's mind, but the stranger's presence brought her fully awake. Why would anyone enter her bedroom in the middle of the night?
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question? You're the one who came into my room without permission. Didn't anyone teach you to knock?"
The room was pitch black. She couldn't make out his face. But then a cold, mocking laugh sounded nearby. "So you're Adelina Bennett?"
