Irish Whiskey - An Ex-Lovers to Lovers Standalone

11

A/N: HI everyone, It's me again. And I bring you another chapter of Irish Whiskey, written poorly. 

Here is some extra info on Imogen's siblings, Abigail and Janus, for this chapter:

Janus Stewart: 7y/o

Abigail Stewart: 8y/o

(It's relevant information trust me)

PS: This whole chapter is a flashback. This chapter was also supposed to follow the same pattern of parallel timelines, but it became too long, so I split it. Is this an indication of a double update? Who knows😏

T h i r d P e r s o n' s P O V

[2011, Eight months before the Olympics, Stewart Mansion, Montpelier]

{Wednesday, 02:34 PM}

The Stewart Mansion stood tall and elegant under the summer sun, its grandeur echoing through the posh neighbourhood. Inside, the spacious halls and luxurious rooms seemed to echo with emptiness despite the faint sounds of routine chores being carried out.

The maids, dressed in crisp uniforms, moved gracefully from room to room, dusting elegant furniture and arranging fresh flowers in ornate vases. Their footsteps were muffled against the plush carpets, adding to the serene yet slightly eerie atmosphere of the mansion.

Meanwhile, the bodyguards maintained their vigilant watch, following their scheduled rounds with military precision. Their presence was felt rather than seen, blending into the background seamlessly as they ensured the security of the empty corridors and silent rooms.

Outside, the gardener tended to the meticulously manicured garden with meticulous care. The vibrant colours of blooming flowers contrasted with the stoic façade of the mansion, creating a picturesque scene that seemed almost surreal in its tranquillity.

Despite the usual activities of the staff, there was a palpable sense of emptiness that pervaded the mansion. It was a weekday, and while the world outside buzzed with life, the Stewart Mansion remained a serene yet hollow shell, waiting for the return of its occupants to return and breathe life back into its luxurious confines. The absence of laughter and playful chatter, typical of children on summer break, left a void that no amount of elegant decor or meticulous upkeep could fill.

Abigail never really understood, why their mother never looked their way. She tried so hard to get their mother to notice her, but all she ever cared about was their brother Janus. Her eldest sisters, Imogen and Alice always kept their distance from the parents but showered her and the other sisters, Hermione and Elizabeth with love. She also noticed that whenever their father was angry, the head maid, Meredith, would lock them up in the care room. All of them except for Janus and Imogen.

Abigail sat by herself in the desolate library of the Stewart Mansion, her small frame engulfed by the shelves of dusty old books surrounding her. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, coming from outside the big windows, provided a soothing backdrop to her turbulent thoughts.

"Why doesn't Mama ever look at me?" Abigail's young voice whispered softly in her mind, a question that had plagued her for as long as she could remember. She glanced around her imposing surroundings. This was her only place of comfort in a mansion where the windows remained devoid of any maternal gaze directed her way.

She remembered the countless times she had tried to catch her mother's attention, performing little dances, showing off her drawings, or simply trying to engage in conversation. But it seemed that her efforts were always in vain, overshadowed by the constant presence of Janus, the favoured son.