Chapter Four

I had been driving for nearly twelve hours. The journey from Oklahoma City to New Orleans was the longest I'd ever undertaken. I would have been bored to death if I hadn't asked Katie to come with me at the last minute. She had been excited at first, buzzing about seeing the plantations. But as we got closer to the estate and saw how deserted it was, that excitement began to fade.

The road twisted through old farmland, thick trees closing in around us. Their branches stretched out as if trying to pull us in..

When the mansion finally appeared, Katie's face fell. The sign said "Welcome to Willowcrest!" but there was nothing welcoming about it. The stone walls were cracked and covered in vines, and the roof sagged as if it hadn't been cared for in years. Wild, overgrown fields surrounded the place.

Crows circled above, some perched on the fence, their beady eyes following us as the car slowed to a stop. They weren't just sitting there; They were watching us.

Katie's hand gripped the door handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. She turned to me, blowing her bangs out of her face. "What the hell was she thinking? Is this some kind of joke?" Her eyes darted between the house and me.

I had no answer so I just shrugged.

She gave me an annoyed and pointed look. "Girl, you dragged me out here! I need a raise and fewer work hours. Seriously."

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I didn't think it would be this bad."

"You didn't think?" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "This place looks like the set of a horror movie. Maya better have some damn good booze inside!"

We stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching under our feet, loud in the silence. The wind stirred, the crows rustling, their eyes locked on us. My body tightened with unease.

Why were there so many of them?

Right then, the front door creaked open, and there stood Maya, grinning as if this crumbling mansion were some kind of luxury resort.

"Welcome to paradise!" she called out, her laugh echoing in a voice too bright and too fake for the eerie stillness around us. It didn't match the place or the vibe at all.

Katie shot me a look, muttering under her breath, "A raise. And fewer hours."

I sighed. "I'll think about it."

We grabbed our bags and stepped through the front door into the foyer. The stale air hit usimmediately,filled with the smell of damp wood and old dust. A flickering chandelier hung overhead, casting weak light that barely cut through the gloom. The walls were lined with faded portraits, their eyes seeming to follow us as we moved.

Katie glanced around and made a face. "So, why this place? Did you get it for free or something?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I shot her a quick look and nudged her. Maya might have been a bitch, but she was the one who invited us. I had to play nice for now. I was waiting for the right moment to expose her secrets, but I had to pretend everything was fine.

Maya gave her fake laugh. "It's Halloween, babe. This estate is supposed to be haunted. Adds to the vibe." She waved it off and turned, motioning for us to follow. "Come on, everyone's waiting."

We followed her out of the foyer toward the living room. The deeper we went, the worse the air got—mold, damp wood, and years of neglect.

Maya led us into a large room with high ceilings and a stone fireplace. As soon as I stepped in, my stomach dropped. Sprawled on the couch, like he owned the place, was Brian—my ex. I dumped him when he got too controlling, a little too rough. Of all the people, Maya had to pick him.

He hadn't changed. Still 6'5", lean, and wearing that smug grin I'd hoped never to see again. Back in college, he'd been the big shot football player, always walking around like he was untouchable. I shot Maya a look that screamed, "What the hell?" but she didn't even glance my way, pretending everything was normal.

Brian spotted me and stood up, that same smirk plastered on his face. "Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up," he said, his voice oozing with the cockiness I remembered too well. "So happy you're here. Single and ready to mingle, right?"

I shot him a cold look. "Not even if you were the last man on earth." I turned away, determined not to let him drag me back to feeling small and worthless. Shame crept up, like it always did around Brian. He knew exactly how to get under my skin, how to make the sting linger. Not this time. I wouldn't let him see it.

Alex stood up. He had been sitting quietly on an old ottoman near the fireplace, watching the room with that familiar, calm presence. He met my eyes and gave me a soft, genuine smile amidst the tension. Back in college, it had always been me, Maya, and Alex—a trio, inseparable. I had always known Alex had a thing for Brian, though he never said it outright. He wouldn't, not with Brian's fake tough-guy act. Brian liked to pretend he was an alpha, but everyone knew it was for show.

"Rose." Alex's voice broke through the unease. He walked up to me and wrapped me in a tight hug that felt warm and safe, like always. "You look great. I've missed you."

Katie grinned at Alex. She didn't know anyone here, but she already admired him. "Well, at least someone around here's got manners," she teased, shooting a pointed look at Brian.

My eyes landed on Sophie next. She sat in an armchair, perfectly poised, her legs crossed, phone glued to her hand. Sophie didn't even glance up, scrolling through her phone like we were invisible. She always acted like whatever was happening online mattered more.

"Ugh, this place is a dead zone," she huffed, tapping her screen with frustration. "How am I supposed to post anything?" She sighed dramatically, still not bothering to look at any of us.

She and Maya worked at the same firm. Even though I had met her a couple of times, we never got along. She was all about filters and hashtags, like she lived in a different world.

She tossed the phone aside, finally lifting her eyes to Maya. "How'd you even find this, Maya?" she asked flatly, not even trying to hide her disgust.

"Airbnb," Maya answered with a forced laugh, trying too hard to sound excited. "It's supposed to be fun! You know, spooky, thrilling. We all needed a break, right?"

Katie rolled her eyes at me, and I gave her a small nod. This weekend was already shaping up to be a disaster, and we hadn't even been here an hour.

Sophie's eyes finally landed on me. "Oh, Rose, you're here. I didn't think you'd actually come."

"Why wouldn't I?" I forced a smile, trying to sound casual. But her gaze lingered, that knowing look flashing in her eyes. She knew. Maybe she knew everything Maya had done, or maybe it was just a hunch. Either way, I wasn't ready to deal with it.

I glanced around, searching for an escape. "We should get the bags upstairs," I muttered, eager to get away from Brian, Sophie and Maya. Katie and Alex nodded, and we headed for the stairs.

The hallway upstairs was narrow and dim, unsettling in a way that made my skin crawl.

Katie bumped her shoulder against mine. "You alright?" she whispered.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Totally fine!"

"This place.. It's got this weird vibe," she muttered, her eyes flicking to the dark corners. "You sure we want to stay here all weekend? It's creepy AF."

I shrugged. "Come on, it's just an old house, nothing more," I said, trying to sound casual. But it didn't feel that way at all. Something about this place crawled under my skin, made the air feel too close, like it was watching. Breathing. I didn't want to say any of that to Katie though. She already looked uneasy, and I wasn't about to add to it.

We wandered down the hall, opening doors to see which rooms had luggage. A few were already claimed, probably by Brian, Maya, or Sophie. There were so many rooms, all dark and musty. After a few tries, we each found an empty one.

At the end of the hall, I pushed open a heavy wooden door, the creak echoing down the corridor. My room was big and cold, dominated by an old bed with a dusty quilt thrown on top. Thick curtains blocked what little light there was, making the space feel even darker.

I tossed my bag near the bed, my fingers skimming the edge of a crooked dresser. The mirror above it hung at an angle, like everything else in this place—off, abandoned, like I was intruding on something long forgotten.

Katie peeked in and wrinkled her nose. "Smells like a tomb in here."

I forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow. "Yeah, not exactly five-star. But hey, it's only a couple of days, right?"

"Right," she mumbled, not quite meeting my eyes as she stepped into her room next door.

I locked the door behind me. The pressure in my chest was almost too much to handle. My breasts ached, swollen, and every step made it worse. It had been over twelve hours since I last pumped, and my body reminded me with every throb.

I quickly took off my clothes, hoping it might help. But the discomfort stayed. I searched through my bag and realized—I had left the pump on the kitchen counter. I cursed under my breath. How could I forget something so important?

Still naked, I went into the bathroom, trying to hand express some milk to ease the pressure. I stood by the sink, doing my best, but it barely helped. As I continued, I felt like something was watching me. I glanced at the window, heart pounding. I heard wings and saw a shadow—it was just a crow. I shook it off and kept expressing, but the relief was minimal. The ache persisted, almost too painful to continue.

Frustrated, I stopped. I grabbed a fresh bra from my bag, put in the nursing pads, and got dressed in my loose green co-ords. I draped a scarf loosely around my neck, hoping it would hide the damp spots.

With a sigh, I headed downstairs, still uncomfortable as Katie and Alex followed behind me.

Downstairs, Brian was pouring wine, his smug grin even more irritating with traces of cocaine dusting his nose. The table had several lines still laid out, and Maya sat next to him, her eyes a little too wide, her forced laughter echoing through the room. She'd clearly joined in. Sophie, on the other hand, looked bored, scrolling through her phone, annoyed by the lack of Wi-Fi.

Brian glanced up as we walked in, his eyes sweeping over me and lingering a bit too long. That smug grin of his spread wider, like he was about to say something slick. "Well, don't you just look ravishing in this color," he sneered, his gaze dropping to my chest, barely hidden under the scarf. "Why cover your assets, Rose?"

I scowled, not hiding my disgust. "Shut up, Brian," I snapped, my fingers tightening around the scarf. His grin only widened, feeding off my anger, but I wasn't about to give him more.

Katie shot him a glare but didn't waste a word. I dropped onto the couch, feeling the old cushions give way beneath me, sinking like they had no fight left.

Maya appeared beside me, holding out a glass of wine, that same fake, forced smile plastered on her face. Her eyes were wide, jittery, her energy manic from the cocaine. She acted like everything was fine, like she hadn't slept with my husband, like we were still friends.

"Let's relax," she quipped, pushing the wine into my hand. "We're here to have fun, remember?"

I glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's 3 p.m.," I muttered, shaking my head. "No thanks." I set the glass on the side table.

Maya gave a tight smile, pretending not to notice how little I cared. She pulled out her phone and tapped a few buttons, and music soon filled the room. Without missing a beat, she started swaying her hips, overly dramatic, like she needed all eyes on her. Brian was quick to join. His hands slid onto her waist, fingers lingering too long. Her movements became more exaggerated, more suggestive, like she was performing for us.

It wasn't subtle. Not even close. It was like watching a bad striptease, and the sight of them together churned my stomach.

Maybe that's how she seduced Phoenix, I thought bitterly, watching her body pressed against Brian's. The room seemed to close in on me, and I couldn't take it.

"I'm gonna check out the place," I said, standing up abruptly.

Katie also jumped to her feet. "Yeah, let's go explore. I've seen enough of this show."

Alex nodded, trailing behind us. Even Sophie had enough. She pushed herself up from, rolling her eyes at the scene across the room. "Better than watching that," she muttered, shooting a look at Maya and Brian. Maya was grinding on him, practically giving a lap dance, while Brian leaned back, clearly enjoying every second of it. They were all over each other, like no one else was in the room.

Sophie's disgust was obvious, and for once, I agreed with her. The sight of them locked together, oblivious to how cringeworthy they looked, was almost nauseous.

We wandered through the house, exploring its sprawling rooms and dusty hallways. It was a Southern plantation-style home, with a grand ballroom that looked like it hadn't been touched in decades. Dust-covered chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the wide windows let in shafts of light that pierced the dimness like ghosts.

After a while, we headed to the kitchen, grabbed our bags, and laid out some snacks for lunch. We gathered around the old wooden table. It felt awkward at first, but soon we started talking and the tension eased with each bite.

Alex looked at me. "I'm sorry, Rose. About everything. I should have been there for you." He said, keeping his voice low.

I shrugged, forcing a smile. "It's life, right? Gotta roll with it."

He nodded sympathetically, then nudged me, his tone lightening. "Hey, remember the bouquet toss at your wedding? Maya caught it, didn't she? Think she and Brian could be a thing now? I mean, they're certainly acting like it."

Before I could respond, Sophie chimed in, her eyes flicking toward me. "Maya? She doesn't settle. She just likes to have a good time." Her smirk was casual, but when she glanced at me, there was something sharper behind it, confirming my suspicion—she knew what Maya had done.

Katie jumped in trying to change the subject. "Hey, did anyone check if there's a grill out back? We could have a barbecue later."

But I wasn't listening anymore. The conversation blurred, voices muffled as memories spun in my head.

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping too loudly in the quiet room. "I need some air," I mumbled. "I'm going for a walk."

"We'll come with you," Katie said, standing up immediately.

I shook my head,clinging to the idea of a moment alone. "No, it's fine. I just need a few minutes. I'll be back soon."

"Oh, come on," Sophie cut in, stretching her arms. "If we're stuck on this old plantation, we might as well take in the scenery."

"Yeah," Alex agreed, already standing up. "No point sitting around when we could be outside."

They weren't giving me an out, and I didn't feel like arguing. "Alright, fine," I muttered, heading toward the foyer, making my way to the door.