Chapter 2 The Unwanted Brothers

• Mia
• My mum was excited, more than I had ever seen her. It was a week after we had gone to Albert's house for dinner and things for their marriage moved faster than I could think. It felt like the two were waiting for me to meet him and like him before rushing ahead with their marriage plans.
• The two were going to be married soon but mum didn't want to stay far away from her beau. She was moving into his house and I was going with her. I had done my interviews and waiting for feedback. I wanted to see where my mum was going to live for the rest of her days.
• "Are you ready, Mia?" Mum shouted from the garage outside where she was with the driver.
• Albert had sent a truck to help us move and I was impressed at his thoughtfulness. He had also sent a small car where we would sit while the truck was only for our luggage. I wondered how rich he was.
• Whatever. I didn't care about that, as long as he took good care of my mother.
• "Yes, mum. Just a minute." I yelled back. I picked my bag and wheeled my travel box outside.
• My mum had packed all her belongings but not me. I wasn't going to keep on staying at our house and only stay with my mum whenever I wanted to take a break. She was going to be a newly wed soon and I wasn't infringe on her privacy, regardless of how much she wanted me to stay with her.
• I only needed a few clothing to be with her till I got feedback from the jobs I had applied for.
• I got downstairs and looked at our house with tears in my eyes as I locked the doors. I was going to miss it till I was back. I had grown here and I was quite attached to it. My mum was already seated in the black car and the truck was already turning to move into the street.
• "Get in here, Mia." She called out to me.
• I slipped into the car and the driver moved after the truck. Minutes that felt like eternity already to me, I looked out the window, noting how we were moving out of the city. We were leaving houses and civilization behind and going deeper into the unknown.
• Where were we going and why was it so far? I had no doubt that we had moved past eighty kilometers from home. I didn't think that I was going to visit my mum as I had thought earlier though I didn't doubt that Albert was going to send a car for me if I wanted to so I didn't have to worry about transport cost.
• I glanced at my mum and noticed that she didn't seem worried as I was. She was on call and I knew without asking that it was Albert she was talking to with the way she giggled and blushed.
• I sighed. It was no wonder she didn't seem worried that we were being driven into the woods. I prided myself on being brave and wasn't going to whimper like a frightened cat.
• My mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin that for her by calling her attention to the fear churning in my mind, one that might not even be real. For her sake, I was going to be strong and stamp down on my fears.
• Albert could be one of those who liked to keep their privacy. With the way he was with my mum and even me, I didn't think I had anything to fear.
• "Are we not there yet?" I asked the driver.
• He didn't even turn to look at me. "We are almost there."
• "I need specifics."
• "Just about twenty kilometers more."
• I sighed as I leaned back on the chair and put my headphones back on my ears. Thank goodness for music. I would have been bored out of my wits and screaming bloody malady.
• I heaved a sigh of relief when the driver finally parked in front of a huge house and turned to me. "We are here, Miss."
• His eyes twinkled at me as he spoke and I narrowed my eyes at his unwelcome show of humor. So, he knew that the trip was long and boring.
• I looked up at the mansion and my eyes rounded with wonder. I couldn't believe we would be living here. It was huge, more than I had ever seen. I had thought that my father was wealthy but this was grand.
• The butler was already waiting by the door when we got to it. I could see servants already going to the truck to move our boxes inside.
• The butler bowed when we got to him. "Welcome, Mrs. Garth and Miss Garth." He motioned inside with his hand. "Shall we?"
• We nodded at him and let him lead us inside, taking us on a tour round the house. He showed us our rooms and I breathed as I saw mine. It was beautiful.
• The butler's eyes sparked with delight when I told him that. "Thanks for your kind words, Miss."
• He turned to my mum. "Mr. Wolfe would be here soon. Would you like to rest before dinner?"
• "Yes, please." Mum replied.
• He nodded and led her to her bedroom. Mum turned to look at before leaving. "See you soon, honey."
• Dinner was more than I thought. I walked into the room, shocked at the array of food on the table. I didn't think the three of us would be able to finish them all and I had no idea that we were expecting guests.
• Mum was already at the table with Albert and the two were talking.
• Albert smiled as he saw me. "Good of you to join us, Mia."
• "Good evening." I greeted as I pulled back a chair and sat.
• "Let's eat." Albert said. "Your brothers would join us shortly."
• My brothers? I had no idea siblings came with the deal but it would be silly of me to think that Albert didn't have kids of his own.
• I nodded and didn't say anything else. Five minutes later, three tall, sturdy, muscular men joined us at the table and I had no doubt that they were my step-brothers. They looked just like their father.
• I wasn't comfortable with them as I never was with males and hated how they all sat beside me. I felt caged in, wondering why they left the seats beside their father.
• Were they already trying to act as overprotective brothers? I hoped not. I could take care of myself and didn't need them to.
• I finally summoned courage and looked at them, surprised to see them looking at me too. They seemed strangely familiar and I couldn't remember where I had seen them.
• Albert's voice was filled with warmth and pride. "Meet my sons, Mia. Sons, meet Mia, your soon to be step-sister."
• "They should know one another." I heard mum say, looking at Albert. "Didn't you say that they all went to the same high school as Mia?"
• I gasped, shrinking in fear as I remembered where I had met them. Quinn, Jack and John, the triplets of misery in my high school life.
• I looked at them again and saw them smiling at me. Those bastards. They had recognized me. I wanted to stand up from the table and run away. This was a mistake. How could mum get married to their father? How could Albert, as nice as he was, be the father to those devils with handsome faces?
• I had no doubt that the only thing they had inherited from their father was his looks.
• Mum seemed to notice the change in my expression. If only she knew that it was terror building in my heart.
• "Are you okay, darling?"
• My mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin this for her. I swallowed and shook my head. I couldn't even talk past the lump in my throat.
• Jack reached forward with his hand and patted me playfully on the head. "Our new little sister is so cute. We will cherish her."
• It took everything I had to sit still and not cringe at his touch.