Jay’s POV The moment the doorbell rang, all three of us looked at each other in complete horror.
“Oh no…” Without saying another word, Marcus, Kate, and I sprinted upstairs as fast as we could, our laughter echoing through the house.
Flour still coated our hair, faces, and clothes, leaving white footprints on every step we took.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror as I ran past and almost laughed again.
My hair was completely white, my cheeks were dusted with flour, and I honestly looked like I’d been haunting the kitchen instead of baking in it.
Downstairs, the maids immediately got to work.
I could hear them laughing among themselves as they grabbed brooms, mops, and cloths to clean the disaster we’d left behind.
The once spotless marble floor had practically disappeared beneath a layer of flour, and there wasn’t a single clean countertop left in the kitchen.
I silently apologized to them in my head as I hurried into my room.
I rushed straight into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and quickly washed the flour off my face.
White streaks disappeared down the sink as I ran my fingers through my hair, making sure every bit of flour was gone.
It wasn’t the quickest shower I’d ever taken, but it was definitely the fastest I’d ever washed my hair.
A few minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my damp hair.
Water dripped onto the floor as I hurried across my room, opening drawers, checking my desk, and rummaging through every corner I could think of.
“My hair dryer…” I muttered under my breath, growing more frantic by the second.
I checked my dresser.
Nothing.
My bedside table.
Nothing.
The bathroom counter.
Still nothing.
I let out an exasperated groan, planting my hands on my hips.
“Seriously…
where did it go?” I stood there for another second before narrowing my eyes.
“…Marcus.” There was only one person in this house who borrowed my things without putting them back.
Ugh!
I rubbed the towel vigorously through my damp hair, drying it as quickly as I could.
Water droplets still clung stubbornly to the ends, soaking into the fabric no matter how many times I ruffled it.
Letting out an impatient sigh, I tossed the towel onto my bed and hurried to my wardrobe.
I pulled on an oversized hoodie before slipping into a pair of knee-length shorts, barely taking the time to straighten them.
My hair was still slightly damp, but I couldn’t be bothered to deal with it now.
Whoever was downstairs had already been waiting long enough.
Taking one last glance at myself in the mirror to make sure there wasn’t any flour left on my face, I threw open my bedroom door and rushed downstairs two steps at a time. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Curiosity buzzed inside me.
Who could possibly be visiting us this early?
As I reached the bottom of the staircase, I spotted the butler already standing near the entrance, one hand resting on the doorknob.
The maids had almost finished cleaning the kitchen, though faint traces of flour still dusted the marble floor.
I slowed my pace slightly, my eyes fixed on the front door.
“Who is it?” I asked, trying to catch my breath as I walked toward the entrance.
The butler smiled politely.
“I’m about to find out, Miss.” He turned the handle.
The front door slowly swung open.
My eyes widened the moment the front door opened.
“CIN!” I shrieked, my voice coming out much louder—and much higher—than I intended.
The butler merely smiled politely before stepping aside, allowing my unexpected guests inside.
“I shall take my leave, Miss,” he said with a respectful bow before disappearing toward the kitchen, leaving me standing at the entrance in complete disbelief.
One after another, the members of Section E walked into the house.
Almost immediately, their attention shifted away from me and toward the mansion itself.
Their eyes wandered across the spacious living room, the grand staircase, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the elegant interior.
Felix openly stared around with a grin, Rory looked up at the chandelier hanging above us, while Blaster let out a low whistle.
Even Drew and Denzel, who usually acted unfazed by everything, couldn’t hide the surprise on their faces.
Honestly…
I couldn’t even blame them.
It was a mansion.
My gaze swept across the group until it landed on Keifer.
He was already looking at me.
That stupid, confident smirk slowly spread across his face the second our eyes met.
It was almost as if he found my surprise amusing.
My heart betrayed me with one sharp, unexpected thump against my chest.
Irritated with both him and myself, I immediately looked away before anyone could notice my reaction.
“What are all of you doing here?” I asked, finally finding my voice as I folded my arms across my chest.
Felix stepped forward with an innocent grin that fooled absolutely no one.
“Well…
we thought we’d study at your house.” I stared at him for a long moment.
“…Study?” “Yeah,” he replied without missing a beat.
My eyes narrowed.
Sure.
They were here to empty my refrigerator.
I’d seen the way they attacked food during lunch breaks.
There was no way this visit was motivated by academics.
“I mean…” David quietly added, rubbing the back of his neck, “we do have a test next week.” That was…
slightly more believable.
Slightly.
Before I could question them any further, my eyes drifted toward Yuri.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t admiring the house.
He was watching me.
His face remained completely expressionless, but there was something unsettling in his eyes.
We held each other’s gaze in complete silence, neither of us speaking a single word.
Yet somehow…
I understood exactly what he was trying to tell me.
The plan is still there, Jay.
The unspoken warning sent an uncomfortable feeling through my chest.
I quickly pushed the thought aside and forced a small smile onto my face, hoping no one had noticed the silent exchange between us.
“…Come in.” As the group walked farther into the house, another realization suddenly struck me.
Marcus.
My smile faltered.
He had wanted today to be about the three of us.
Just siblings.
No school.
No work.
No interruptions.
Now…
The entire Section E was standing inside our living room.
I slowly glanced toward the staircase, already imagining the look Marcus was going to give me.
He was going to be beyond disappointed.
And to make matters worse…
None of them even knew I had younger siblings.
Something told me that little secret wasn’t going to stay hidden for much longer