Page 16 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

“Sometimes,” he answered my question. “There are times I’d rather be left alone.”

I nodded. I could understand the need to be alone. There were times that no amount of talking or socializing helped remove the noises in your head, haunting you. So it was no use to fight them with witnesses.

“Are there secret stairs in the castle?” Brandon asked, his big eyes darting left and right, trying to soak it all in.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “As old as this house is, probably. We should make a goal to find it before our stay is over.”

He squealed in excitement, jumping up and down, ready to get started.

“Okay, buddy, let’s go straight and at the end of the hallway, we’ll take the stairs,” Maxim instructed him. “You get to pick whether to take stairs on the right or left.”

Brandon didn’t need to be told twice. He was on a mission.

“You do know he can’t tell his rights and lefts, right?” I teased Maxim, despite how oddly tense he made me feel. “He’s only four.”

Maxim shrugged his shoulder. “He gets the point though. There are two sets of stairs. He’ll pick one.” It made sense and it would have never occurred to me to think that way. He certainly had a knack for dealing with children. Well, at least with Brandon. I haven’t exactly seen him with other children.

Maxim’s arm brushed against mine, causing my heart to speed up. Such an innocent act had me all worked up. The hallway was smaller here, forcing Maxim and I to walk closer together. I could have lingered behind and followed him, but each time I stopped, he faltered too, waiting for me to catch up. Like he was in tune with me. Every so often his arm brushed against me, and I would have to be a damn good liar if I said I hated it.

I didn’t. It sent a shrill of excitement through my body at each accidental brush. I was in a sad state if only the brush of someone’s arm got me excited.Well, not someone. Maxim Caldwell’s arm.

“You must have grown up with lots of cousins around?” I tried to make conversation. It was better than being stuck in my head, evaluating each accidental touch or analyzing each word.

“Not really,” he replied. “My brother, my friend Daniel, and myself.”

“Hmmm.”

“You?”

“Mostly just me.” I didn’t want it to turn into a discussion about me so I quickly changed subjects. “When was this place last renovated?”

I mentally facepalmed myself. Seriously, nothing else came to mind but the renovation topic. I sensed more than saw his lip tilt up into a smile. Like he knew I was trying to avoid talking about me, and he knew I couldn’t care less if this damn place was renovated or not.

“I think about twenty years ago or so.”

“Nice.” Jesus, should I ask him about the plumbing too? Maybe it would be better if we just walked in silence.Yes, that’s better.

We reached the end of the hallway, and Brandon already decided to take the stairs on our left, sitting on the bottom step, patiently waiting for us.

I could hear the distant chatter of guests from here. I was so glad we weren’t in the midst of them all. Socializing amongst snobs of our society was not my idea of a good time. Besides, it was a front seat reminder how utterly lacking I was. An illegitimate daughter of one of the oldest families in the UK and a disgrace. Most people didn’t even realize my connection to my grandparents. They always excluded me from all their functions.

My eyes connected with the portrait hanging on the wall at the top of the stairs. Alexander and Maxim Caldwell when they were much younger. Maxim looked to be around five. I frowned, an unwelcome thought entering my mind. It had never dawned on me till just this second. My grandparents didn’t have a single picture of me in a frame and definitely not hung up.

Shit, almost thirty years of existence and not a single picture. Was I really that unlovable?

I shook my head. There was no sense going there. It would only make it worse.

“Can we look here?” Brandon asked, his curious gaze lingering on the door.

“Ah, good choice,” Maxim smiled at him, ruffling his blonde hair. “Let’s check it out.”

The moment Brandon opened the door, I knew why it was a good choice. This must have been a playroom once upon a time. And darn, there were some pretty cool toys everywhere. An old train set, still set up. Like the time had frozen in this room. There were some World War II war airplanes hung from the ceilings.

Brandon’s eyes got big, a wide smile on his face like today was a Christmas morning. I guess it felt like it.

“Go check it all out,” Maxim encouraged him.

He barely finished the sentence and Brandon was already gone. The room was so large, it would have put some toy stores to shame.

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