The CEO and Fate✔️

Chapter 21

I woke up, more miserable than when I had arrived. Nobody had greeted me, but it was so late that I didn't care. I just needed a good night's sleep to ease the tension. And I had thought it would be enough. But even now, I still couldn't stand the fact that I was back in my childhood home.

And to top it off, I didn't even sleep in my own room.

The night before Seth had so kindly informed me that our old rooms had been converted for my stepmother's children. All of our old stuff had been moved either to a store locker or the attic, so we were stuck with the two guest bedrooms in the house.

It definitely hurt to hear how easy it was for my dad to erase any reminder of my presence and my childhood.

Now that I was awake, I didn't know what to do. I hadn't really thought this far ahead. I just knew that Seth urgently needed me to come to Michigan to reconnect with the family, but I had no idea how that was going to happen when it sounded like my dad couldn't stand the sight of me. So what now?

I got up and dressed for the day. It felt good to take a shower and at least attempt to embrace the new surroundings.

Once I got out, my stomach growled, and I knew I had to face the inevitable.

I crept out of the bedroom. It was early enough that any move I made caused a stir, so it was only a matter of time for the rest of the house to wake. Maybe I could quickly make my breakfast and retreat.

I looked through the fridge but made a face immediately.

Yeah. My mom and I most definitely do not live here anymore.

I settled on the yogurt.

I turned back around, but suddenly this middle aged stranger was in my vision, rendering my heart beatless. I gasped and dropped the yogurt, spilling it all over the floor.

"Oh my goodness," the woman fretted, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I quickly moved to grab some paper towels and begin cleaning up the mess. She did the same.

"It's okay," I stammered. "I guess I thought I was alone."

When we were all done, she threw away the supplies and grabbed me a new yogurt. "You must be Alexa," she smiled. "I've been so anxious to meet you."

I cautiously accepted the food. "Yeah. Are you, uh, San-sands?"

She laughed, unbothered. "Sandra. But don't worry. You can call me whatever is easiest."

It's certainly not mom.

I stared at my dad's new wife. My step mom, I guess. She seemed a lot different than the photos. In her wedding, she looked almost two decades younger than my dad, but maybe that was just the magic of make up. Right now, she was young, but not unreasonably. And she was pretty. Too pretty for my dad.

"Sorry for not introducing myself last night," Sandra apologized. "James did not tell me what time you were coming in."

"I'm surprised he even told you about me at all."

"Well," she looked apologetic, "that's actually one of the reasons you're here."

I shrugged. "Don't feel bad that you missed out on something. I know Seth was always his favorite."