Still Breathing

Chapter 27: What was I made for

Marley Pov

Present day - 6 months later Dec 2022

As I step off the plane, a part of me can't believe I'm back in New York. I never thought I would be allowed back here. I grip my purse as I walk towards the man holding a sign that says Marley Strange. I smile and shake my head when he ask me about luggage. I left everything I had in Spain. Stephen told me when I come back, we were going to start new.

I didn't realize that meant completely moving us out of the penthouse and buying all new furniture and a whole new wardrobe. Imagine my surprise as we drove an hour out of the city to Irvington, New York. Each house is bigger than the last.

When I stepped out of the car, I'm greeted by a smiling Stephen. I tense as I watch him walkover to me and take my hand gently into his. "are you surprised?"

I don't say anything, I just look up at the big white house with the glass doors. It really is beautiful. Stephen chuckles as he watches me take in the house. He gently guides me inside and the foyer is just as breathtaking as the outside.

Stephen tells me that the house has 8 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. I look at him and think, why would we need so many toilets? Before I could ask, his phone rings and he excuses himself. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to stay here and wait for him or take the tour alone. So I just stand here for a moment and take in the beautiful staircase. From where I'm standing, still at the front door, I can see the first landing before the stairs curve up to the second floor. the windows on the back wall allows the sun to fall in and light up the place. I look up and see there are windows above the door too. I think to myself, I'm going to need a ladder to keep this place clean.

I get tired of waiting on Stephen, so I tour the house myself. I turn to the right and I'm in the sitting room/library. My first thought is, it reminds me sort of, of beauty and the beast. I walk around and the lightly touch the piano by the windows before exiting. I close the double doors and then walk over to the left of the entryway and I'm in another siting room, but this one has a Big flat screen in it.

I walk thorough and end up in the kitchen. I gently touch the white marble countertops and as I take in how open the house is with all the ceiling to floor windows. And so far, I've counted 2 fireplaces. I walk through the kitchen and into the dining room that seats 14. I close those doors and I walk down a dim hallway where there are 3 doors. One is a half bathroom; the other is a bedroom. As I approach the last one, I can hear Stephen in there talking.

I hold my breath as I step back and then tip toe away from there. When I finally made a full circle and end up back in the foyer, I walk up the stairs. Just as I'm about to open the first door, I hear Stephen, out of breath stopping me. he chuckles and takes my hand off the doorknob and says, "Sorry about that. business you know."

I take my hands and put them in my pocket as I watch him. he smiles at me, and it confuses me. is this not the same man that almost beat me to death. Is this not the same man broke my jaw and then sent me to Spain for 6 months to hide my injuries.

He straightens and says, "I wanted to be the one to give you the tour." He opens the door, and he puts his hand on my lower back guiding me inside the room. the bedroom is huge and again very white. Not a pop of color anywhere. But beautiful none the, nonetheless. Lights are dimmed low and the chandelier over the bed is dazzling. There is sofa and a chair by the windows and tv. I stand in the doorway as I watch Stephen walk through the room. he throw his hands up and with a huge smile on his face asks me, "what do you think?"

When I don't say anything his smile fades and he say, "I did this for you. with the help of pepper."

He guides me into the master bath. Everything in here is white and gold. there is a huge bathtub in the middle of the bathroom and a shower in the corner. he turns on the shower and it sprays from every single direction. I watch him get excited about it. again when I don't say anything, he walks over to me, and I flinch. My heart rate speeds up and everything inside me is telling me to run.