The smell of freshly brewed coffee and hazelnut dances in my nose. I open my eyes to see Ezra standing in my room reading the articles I posted on the wall. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top and his sleeves rolled up. His jacket was hanging on the coat rack. Still wearing shoes, his version of getting comfortable. The sun's rays illuminate his face, bringing out his demanding green eyes. I stare deeply at his every movement in fascination. Eventually, he feels me staring at him and turns around. He takes a sip of the coffee and then walks over to the left side of my bed. I look up at the six-foot masterpiece in awe.

“Afternoon love, it’s two o’clock.”

“Two? Already?”

He gestured his pointer finger for me to sit up. I sit up and stretch my arms; the thin blanket falls off my body exposing my bare skin. My hair tickles my back and a small yawn leaves my mouth.

“This came for you” Ezra hands me a black envelope. “right under the door.”

I take the envelope and check the seal. It’s familiar but at the moment I can’t pinpoint where it’s from. I slide my fingers underneath the seal and pull a beige color paper out. I was surprised to see a wedding invitation from Kate Wiltshire. That explains the seal, it’s from the Wiltshires.

“Kate getting married…”

“Why is that a surprise?”

I jump out of bed and rush into the bathroom.

“Because the case I’m investigating is hers”

“What do you mean?”

“Her first fiancé just died last week. She paid me to investigate. But now all of a sudden she’s getting married to this new guy. Something isn’t right.”

“Yes, that's suspicious indeed.”

The other words that leave Ezra’s mouth are muffled as I turn on the shower. Eventually, he stops talking and goes into another room.

The drive out to the Wiltshire’s estate seemed to go on longer than the two hours it usually takes. Ezra enjoyed the quiet and quality time with me. However, my only focus was on getting answers. I play with the invitation in my hands, flipping it around and around. I keep reading the words as if it’s going to change or fade away. It doesn’t even say who the groom is.

“Relax, take in the nice air.”

I roll my eyes.

“You know I can’t.”

“Look, it's right there.”

“Yes, I know but we have to do this long unnecessary pathway to get there. Just drive through the grass.”

Ezra starts laughing and I am not amused.

“You aren’t serious?”

We both stare at each other.

“Audrey, I am not going to do that. That’s rude.”

I sigh.

“So is this your way of saying you don’t want to move into the estate with me?”

“What? No, I- mmmm we’ll talk about it later.”

“No now.”

“We are getting married next month and I know your independence and freedom are important to you. I will never take away things that make you, you… but I need to know how you feel.”

Part of me wants to jump head-first out of the car, the other part wants to scream at him all my concerns about living in that hell hole. But instead, I say nothing.

“Audrey, I will stop this car.”

“No… look… okay.”

I take a deep breath and basically melt into my seat.

“I don’t want to move into a place where I am not wanted.”

“Not wanted?”

He stares at me for a few seconds before he stares back at the road. I continue to stare forward but can see his concern from the corner of my eye.

“Audrey… Do you mean mother?”

“Yes.”

We sat silent for a few more minutes.

“She hates me. I’m not wealthy like the other women she likes for you and I don’t fit in with your family. They think I’m classless and beneath...