Chapter 1 New Family

A girl came out carrying some items that were unloaded from the truck.

"Mom, where should I put this box?" The girl asked in a loud voice.

"Just put it down!" A mature woman answered. She was about forty years old. Her face was gaunt, and her smile was very soothing.

Clara, the girl's name. She was only eighteen years old. Her mother, Matty Grunts, had just married Martin Fox, a wealthy widower in the United States.

"Are you tired, dear?" Matty asked. She smiled at her daughter.

"It's fine," Clara replied.

For Clara, her mother's happiness was everything. Before her marriage to Martin Fox, Clara and her mother were in dire financial straits. Matty was a cake maker, but since Clara's father, John Salvatore, was sick with cancer, Matty was forced to quit her job to take care of her husband. Sadly, John passed away two years ago, and that left Clara's family in a terrible state.

Fortunately, Matty met Martin Fox, a successful businessman in the United States. His company is engaged in building architecture. Martin fell in love with Matty, and they married after a year of dating.

"Hi, Dear." Martin, Clara's new stepfather, came out of the house. He smiled at Clara. Clara walked up to him and shook Martin's hand.

"Hi," Clara greeted. She looked awkward. She knew about Matty and Martin's relationship for the past year. But it was still embarrassing to think of Martin as her father.

"I've prepared a room for you upstairs. You and Geralt will have rooms next to each other," Martin said.

"Geralt?" Clara muttered. "Is he staying with us?" Clara didn't know about this.

Geralt Fox was Martin Fox's only son. He was twenty years old. Clara had only met him once. And even then, they didn't talk to each other.

"Yep. I hope you'll get along with Geralt," Martin said. "He's a bit quiet, but he's a good boy. You'll be studying at the same university."

Martin smiled kindly at Clara. Yep, Martin was very nice indeed. He was the savior of Clara's family. He was also very attentive to Clara.

"I've prepared a nice room for you. You like pink, don't you?" Martin looked very excited.

Clara smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"No need to say thank you. You are now my daughter. You are my responsibility. Don't feel shy."

"Thank you so much, Sir. You don't have to go overboard like this. You've always helped me and my mother." Clara felt reluctant. She didn't want to be seen as taking advantage of Martin's wealth.

"Hey, Baby. Don't talk like that." Martin put his arm around Clara. He seemed very fond of Clara even though she was not his biological daughter. "I love you like my own child. I won't differentiate between you and Geralt. After all, I've wanted to have a daughter for so long. You are a gift in my life, Clara.

Clara smiled. Martin was being friendly to her again.

"Okay, we're not relaxing!" Matty was annoyed that no one was helping her move the goods. There were still some items that needed to be removed from the truck.

"I have to help Mom before she goes mad at me," Clara said.

"Okay. I'll help you." Martin replied.

"Sure."

Clara and Martin quickly approached the truck. They had to move their belongings before nightfall.

The new house Martin bought was located in New England. Martin deliberately moved to an area with many forests to be calmer in building a new family.

"I am sorry," Martin said to Clara as he took things from the truck.

Clara shrugged her shoulders. She didn't understand why Martin had to apologize.

"Why?"

"You should move from New York to New England. You're not used to a place with too many trees like this," Martin said.

"No, no, no. This is amazing." Clara didn't mind at all. Although she did miss her friends in New York.

Clara picked up a box and brought it inside.

"You can go to your room after this. I'll finish it." Martin looked very enthusiastic. He wanted Clara to see the room prepared for her right away.

Clara shook her head with a smile. She didn't want to sit around while her parents were busy. Tai seemed to think Martin could handle it.

"Mom, can I go to my room?" Clara asked.

Matty was busy cleaning up. She didn't pay much attention to her daughter. After putting down the box, Clara went to the second floor. She wanted to see what kind of room Martin had prepared for her.

When Clara opened her eyes, she saw a room full of pink. Wall paint, bed sheets, dolls. Even the study table was pink. Clara looked at her for a moment. She didn't look happy, but she didn't protest at all.

Clara went into the room. The room was big enough for her to use alone.

"Amazing," Clara muttered.

Clara sits on the bed. She felt very awkward in this room. Clara took out the locket on her necklace. She opened the locket and saw a picture of a blond man.

"Dad, I am happy now," Clara said.

Clara laid down on her back. She looked around the room and couldn't believe she had such a nice room.

Moments later, there was the roar of a car entering the house. Clara immediately got up and looked around to see who was coming.

"Geralt?" she murmured.

A man got out of the BMW. The man looked very cool. His body was tall, and his face was handsome. His skin was pure white. His nose is very sharp. His appearance is very charming. Typical of a rich man, and he was so hot. Clara instantly felt inferior.

Clara looked through the window. Martin and Matty called Geralt's arrival. Geralt looks up and accidentally sees Clara.

Matty turned his head. She immediately waved her hand. It was a code for Clara to meet her stepbrother.

Clara sighed. She tried to catch her breath. It felt awkward when she had to get acquainted with a handsome man who had to be her brother.

Clara immediately went down to meet Geralt. She tried to smile when she passed him.

"Hi, Geralt. We met at the wedding," Clara said.

Geralt looked at Clara intently. He did not smile at all. Instead, he glanced at Clara slightly sarcastically.

"I know," Geralt replied.