Unease crept through Adelina as she began to suspect that the stranger was Waylon, the eldest Sullivan brother that she hadn't met so far. The man gave her no chance to speak before he asked, "Look around. Do you have any idea whose bedroom you're in?"
For a moment, she couldn't move. The faint moonlight slowly brought the truth into focus, and she realized that she wasn't in her own room.
That explained why the bed had felt so unfamiliar.
Could she have wandered into someone else's room without even noticing?
Panic sent Adelina tumbling out of bed, and embarrassment left her face burning. "I'm terribly sorry. I got the rooms mixed up, but I swear I didn't come in here on purpose."
"Leave. Now." The man's words sent her rushing toward the door, and she fled without looking back.
By the time Adelina came downstairs the following morning, she was still fighting off sleep. Carson's mocking voice reached her before she entered the room. "Waylon, that girl is an ugly-ass! The servants said she slipped into your room last night. How did you survive waking up to something that frightening?"
Her brow creased as Carson's words confirmed her suspicion. The man from last night was really Waylon.
At first, Waylon offered no response.
Was the woman truly as ugly as Carson claimed? It was so dark last night, Waylon hadn't gotten a proper look at Adelina. Still, he remembered the graceful outline of her figure, the long hair that fell freely around her shoulders, and the smooth skin that had appeared flawless even in the dim moonlight.
At that moment, his attention shifted toward the staircase as Adelina descended.
Although she had put on different clothes, thick patches of dark makeup covered her face, and several crooked fake moles had been drawn across her skin.
There was no kinder way to describe her appearance. She really looked hideous.
Waylon pressed his lips together. Clearly, his mind had created a far more attractive image than reality deserved.
Meanwhile, Adelina took a quick look at him. A fitted black suit covered his tall frame, and his striking features looked as though someone had carefully carved them. Not a single flaw marked his appearance, while the strength of his presence made the entire room feel smaller.
His deep voice ended the silence. "I have work waiting for me at the office, so I'm leaving."
Without sparing Adelina another look, he turned around and walked out.
Carson looked her over with open contempt. "Now I understand why you treated the four of us like we weren't worth your time. You wanted Waylon from the beginning, didn't you? I have to admit, Adelina, you planned this well."
Annoyance tugged at Adelina's mouth. She had entered Waylon's room because of an honest mistake, so how had Carson twisted that accident into some elaborate scheme?
Still, Adelina saw no reason to defend herself. Instead, she took a seat at the table and quietly began eating breakfast.
Her refusal to acknowledge him only made Carson angrier, and he marched straight toward her. "You'd better get this through your head, Adelina. Waylon wouldn't spare you a second glance even if you begged him. His heart already belongs to another woman, so stop dreaming that you have any chance with him."
"Got it."
"You know what? Maybe you should set your sights on me instead. Treat me well and keep me satisfied, and I might convince everyone to let you remain in this house a little longer."
Adelina looked Carson over without hiding her disgust. "You, seriously? You're still practically a kid."
That insult pushed Carson past his limit. "You hideous freak! Where did you get the nerve to speak to me that way? You'd better not choose me as your fiance because I'd rather die than marry you!"
Nearby, Alan silently observed their argument. His attention settled on Adelina as she continued eating without showing the slightest concern. Everyone claimed she had grown up in a backwater town, yet her calm behavior carried a natural grace that didn't match that story. Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him.
Harold had already made all the necessary arrangements before she arrived. Adelina and Carson were of the same age, so she would enroll in his prestigious private school and join his grade.
"Here's another warning for you, ugly. Once we're at school, keep your mouth shut about any connection you have to me and my family."
Another scornful glance was Adelina's only response.
Once breakfast ended, she climbed into Alan's car. Much like Waylon, he rarely spoke unless necessary.
Curiosity eventually got the better of Adelina. "Since Carson and I attend the same school, wouldn't it make more sense for the three of us to ride together?"
What was the point of making Alan drive her there separately?
Alan sighed, and frustration showed plainly on his face as he said, "My grandpa decided that all five of us need time to get to know you. He created a schedule that makes us take turns driving you to school during the week and spending time with you on weekends. Waylon was assigned to drive you this morning, but an early meeting came up, so the responsibility fell on me instead."
Every one of the brothers had objected to the arrangement at first. None of them wanted to waste their weekdays chauffeuring some worthless country girl or sacrifice their weekends to keep her entertained.
However, once Harold decided on something, no one in the family had the power to reject it.
Adelina understood the situation without needing any further explanation. Their reluctance was impossible to miss, and the feelings were actually mutual—she had no desire to spend time with them either.
