𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒 | CHARLES XAVIER

CHAPTER 2

Charles and I bid farewell to my mother and Sharon as Charles leads me into the majestic Xavier mansion. When we step into the grand foyer, I am immediately struck by the breathtaking art and decorations that fill the space.

I looked around, awestruck at the beauty of the Xavier estate. The grand foyer was just as impressive as the exterior of the home.

As I turned to Charles, my eyes met his warm brown ones and I smiled.

"You have a beautiful home," I said softly, taking in every detail of the room."

"Thank you.." he says softly

Charles guided me through the spacious kitchen, his steps light on the hardwood floor. We stopped by a large island, the counters spotless. Charles turned to me, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners with a hint of a smile.

"This is the kitchen," he said. "My mother has been a bit lax about keeping it tidy since she rarely steps foot in here anymore. But with your mother now in the picture, I imagine the rules might change a bit."

"So, are you going to be causing all kinds of chaos now?" I say, my eyebrow raised as I look at Charles.

"Well of course not," Charles says, a hint of a smile on his face. "Believe it or not, the last time your mother was here, I remember she hadn't cared one bit. No rules, no boundaries. She practically let us run wild." He pauses, thinking back. "It was quite the opposite of what I'm used to, in a way."

"Yeah, she was your maid, she had to do it," I say, following him out of the kitchen. He doesn't say anything as we head into the formal dining room.

I take a good look around, appreciating the elaborate design and details of the room. The tall ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and grand wooden table all catch my eye.

"This is the dining room," Charles says, gesturing around the room. "This is where every meal will be taken."

I look around, taking in the grand space. A large, rectangular table occupies the center of the room, surrounded by several chairs. The windows are draped in elegant decorations, and chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a warm, soft light over the area. Everything about the room exudes an air of formality and elegance.

Charles glanced at me and noticed my surprised expression as we entered the dining room. "You look like you've never seen a dining room before," he teased lightly.

I shake my head slightly, too embarrassed to make eye contact with him. "Well, this room could fit two or three rooms I had at my old home." I say quietly, not wanting to admit how poor I am.

I can feel Charles looking at me, but I don't look up, not wanting to see the pity I'm sure is written all over his face.

Charles, observing my discomfort, spoke gently. "Don't worry, I won't judge. You're here now, and the past is behind us. You have this beautiful place now. Let it be a fresh start." He smiled kindly, a gesture that put me at ease.

I couldn't help but feel a bit shocked by his words. You see, I had encountered many wealthy and privileged people throughout my life, due to my mother's work. They had all been quite snobbish, dismissive, and obnoxious. I remember a time when my mother came home in tears because she was relentlessly mocked and insulted by the people she worked for, just because she had made a minor mistake with their dinner. Despite the experiences I had had with those people, I guess I still had some preconceived notions about what Charles would be like.

"Thank you, Charles," I say as I nervously pick at my cardigan

As we continued the tour through the grand mansion, I picked up on some interesting tidbits about Charles' mother. He didn't outright criticize her, but he subtly hinted that she wasn't exactly present in his life. It was a strange, sad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I didn't want to pry any further. For now, at least.