Chapter 1

Cassandra's POV

I clutched Mom's favorite silk scarf tightly in my arms, tears having long since soaked through my pillow.

Five days. Mom had been gone for exactly five days.

Her room still carried the faint scent of jasmine she always wore. I didn't dare touch anything on her vanity, as if one move would erase the last traces of her existence.

"Cassandra."

Father Theodore's voice suddenly came from outside my door, followed by it being pushed open. I quickly wiped my tears, but he didn't even look at me—his face was etched with anxiety and tension.

"Theodore, I'm not ready... Mom just..." My voice caught, unable to continue.

"Cassandra, there's something I need to tell you." He cut me off directly. "Jack's daughter has lost both parents. We have to take her in."

I was stunned. "Jack? Who's Jack?"

"Your mother's old friend. Don't you remember?" Theodore's answer was curt, then he turned to leave. "She'll be here in an hour. Go wait in the living room."

I sat on my bed in a daze. Mom had never mentioned anyone named Jack to me. She'd introduced me to almost all her friends when she was alive. But now she was gone, and I had no way to verify this.

An inexplicable unease settled in my chest, but seeing Theodore's impatient demeanor, I could only obediently go downstairs.

In the living room, my brother Marcus was already waiting on the sofa. Seeing my swollen eyes, he looked away with what seemed like guilt.

"Her name is Melody," Marcus said quietly. "Theodore says her parents died in a car accident yesterday. She has no family left."

My heart immediately softened. The pain of losing parents—I understood that all too well now.

The doorbell rang.

Theodore hurried to answer it, soon returning with a young girl.

The moment I saw Melody, my heart nearly broke. She was even more fragile than I'd imagined—long chestnut hair covering half her face, eyes red and swollen from crying, her whole being seeming ready to collapse.

"Melody, this is Cassandra and Marcus." Theodore's voice was gentler than I'd ever heard it.

I immediately stood up and opened my arms to embrace her. "I know the pain of losing parents. We'll take care of you."

She trembled in my arms, choking out, "Thank you, I'm so scared... I don't know where to go..."

"Don't be afraid. This is your home now." I patted her back gently, tears starting to fall again. The shared pain of losing loved ones drew us together in that embrace.

"Melody, you can have my room. I'll take the guest room," Marcus suddenly offered, his voice carrying a care I'd never heard from him before.

I looked at my brother in surprise. Marcus had never been so proactive about helping others—even when I was sick, he'd only offer brief words of concern.

"No, I can stay in the guest room..." Melody said softly.

"Absolutely not. The guest room is too small," Theodore immediately refused. "You'll take Marcus's room. It gets better sunlight."

I paused, confused. Wasn't that room chosen specifically for Marcus because of his childhood health issues, with Mom picking it for the morning sun? Why now...

"Let's have dinner first," I said, trying to change the subject, my confusion growing.

At the dinner table, Melody sat next to Mom's empty chair. Looking at that vacant seat, tears began welling up in my eyes again.

"Where's the bathroom?" Melody suddenly asked.

"Down the left hallway, at the end," Marcus pointed.

Melody nodded and left.

When she returned, I noticed her naturally picking out the carrot pieces from her salad, which reminded me of Eleanor.

"You don't like carrots either?" I asked curiously.

"No, I know your mother didn't like them either," Melody said quietly. "Theodore... I mean, Jack often mentioned Eleanor's eating habits."

My fork froze mid-air. Mom indeed didn't eat carrots—it was one of her quirks.

"But Mom never mentioned anyone named Jack to me," I said, frowning.

The room fell silent. Theodore set down his chopsticks, somewhat impatiently saying, "Cassandra, you're overwhelmed with grief right now. You can't remember everything clearly. Jack was your mother's old friend. They talked regularly."

"But I really don't remember..."

"Jack often talked about the warmth of your family," Melody interrupted softly, something unreadable flashing in her eyes. "He said Eleanor was a very kind woman, and that this house was filled with love..."

Her voice trembled as she spoke, but somehow, I felt something was off.

"Yes, Mom was the kindest," Marcus agreed, then said to Melody, "She would definitely want us to take good care of you."

I looked at Marcus, then at Theodore, my confusion deepening.

I was still struggling with grief, yet they were already planning Melody's new life.

"I'll go tidy up Marcus's room," I said, standing up, needing some time alone.

"No need, I'll do it myself," Melody immediately stood. "I don't want to trouble anyone."

"It's no trouble. We're family now," Theodore said warmly, looking at her with an expression that...

I suddenly realized Theodore hadn't looked at me that way in a long time. Since Mom got sick, he'd been distant and hurried with me.

"I'll help you organize it," I forced a smile.

"Cassandra, go rest," Theodore waved me off. "You've been too tired these past few days. Let Marcus help Melody."

I stood there, watching the three of them chat and laugh as they went upstairs to arrange the room, feeling a sense of exclusion wash over me.

Mom had only been gone for five days, and I was still drowning in grief, yet this house was already reorganizing itself around a stranger.

I sat back down at the dining table, staring at Mom's empty chair as tears fell again.

Laughter drifted down from upstairs, while I felt more alone than ever.

Was this still the home I knew?

Or had everything started changing the moment Melody stepped through our door?

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. An ominous feeling began spreading in my chest, like the calm before a storm—suffocating.

Mom, if you were still here, what would you think of all this?

Did you really know Jack?

Did you really want us to take in his daughter?