Second Love Story

Chapter 4: Echoes of Chaos

The early morning air in the Cooper Mansion was thick with tension, though the stillness of the house betrayed nothing of the storm swirling in Violet’s mind. She lay on the plush bed in her new room, staring at the ornate ceiling, her body exhausted from the long journey, but her mind too restless to sleep.

“Ash...” she mumbled, the name rolling off her tongue with unease. ‘Ash Cooper is my stepbrother now…’ the thought replayed over and over again in her mind, each time more surreal than the last.

The scenes from a few moments ago brushed her mind. The view of Ash’s back, bare-skinned with a face-towel hung around his neck, the casual way he moved, and his footsteps that once used to be accompanied by teasing comments were quiet. Violet, who couldn’t help but stare at him, noticed his annoyed expression as he showed her to the room. Her heart felt a sharp sting as she remembered how his playful words had once brought laughter and joy, while now all that remained was silence and tension.

Ash--

Standing in front of the room intended for Violet on the second floor, Ash gritted his teeth as he held the doorknob, frozen in place. He could feel her gaze on his back, the same familiar intensity, but everything else had changed. He didn’t want to give her this room.

After what felt like an eternity, Ash opened the door wide, stepping aside without a word. His face remained unreadable as he left, not daring to meet her eyes. The tension between them was suffocating. He made his way up to the third floor, bypassing his room hesitantly and heading for the one next to his own, at the far end of the hallway.

He hesitated at the door, leaning his forehead against it softly, his breath catching in his throat. His trembling hand managed to twist the doorknob, but he was too afraid to open it.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he rubbed his face with the towel, bitterly trying to shake off the thoughts. He turned away from the door and walked back to his room, grabbing a bottle of water and sinking into a bean bag by his bed.

Memories of the past washed over him like waves, vivid and unrelenting. The Violet he remembered was endearingly cute, with a clumsy charm. Her short hair had been a practical choice for her volleyball matches, always framing her face in a way that suited her demeanor. She often wore wrist support on her right hand, covering her palm and thumb—something Ash used to fiddle with absentmindedly. She never cared much for jewelry, but she was never without her strapped watch, always with an oversized dial on her left wrist. Her style reflected her values—she favored military-grade faux leather boots, a reflection of her disdain for animal-based products. She was far from feminine—the tomboy image is all in the past now.

But now, she carried a different kind of allure. He thought about how her long red hair had cascaded down her shoulders earlier, adding a new layer of grace to her appearance. A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he acknowledged the traces of the Violet he once knew, buried beneath the surface of who she had become. They had both grown and changed in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Running his fingers through his own hair, Ash leaned back, closing his eyes, his mind drifting to the casual look she preferred back then still remained. "Guess some things never change..." Ash whispered to himself.

An hour passed as both of them found themselves completely lost in their chaotic thoughts.

---

A soft knock at Violet’s door pulled her out of her reverie. “Miss Violet, breakfast is being served,” came the gentle voice of Dahlia, one of the housemaids who had known her from years ago.

Violet opened the door, “Thank you, Dahlia. I’ll be down in a minute,” she replied, forcing a smile even though her chest felt heavy and her mind overwhelmed.

Just as she was about to get back inside, her mother, Iva, emerged from hers, cheerful and radiant as ever. “How was the flight, sweetie? I heard you brought home another cup! Sorry, honey, I couldn’t reach you on the phone, so I called Lily…”

Violet, still dazed processing the situation, struggled to find the right words. “It was fine, Mom.”

Iva’s smile faltered, and she looked closely at Violet. “Is everything alright, honey?” Her voice was soft but tinged with concern.

Violet blinked, surprised that her mother could sense something was off. Iva had always been intuitive, especially when it came to Violet. “Huh? No, Mom, I’m fine. Just tired from the trip and… everything else, that’s all.”

Though Iva sensed Violet’s fake mask, she let her go. “Alright, freshen up and come downstairs for breakfast, okay?” Iva smiled gently to cheer Violet up from whatever that was troubling her. Violet nodded.

Ben, who came out of their room, waved at Violet with a smile. Violet mirrored the gesture as she retreated back into her room, closing the door. Their expression was just casual, nothing serious, unlike 3 months ago.

She heard her mother and Ben exchanging a few words in the hallway, their casual banter filling the silence. She ran her hands through her hair, taking a deep breath. She wasn’t ready to face Ash again, but she couldn’t hide in her room forever.

---

The dining room was just as elegant as she remembered—long windows streaming in the golden morning light, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden table. Iva sat in her usual place, sipping tea with an air of contentment, while Ben was absorbed in the morning paper beside her.

“There you are, Violet!” Iva greeted her cheerfully, looking up with a bright smile as Violet entered the room.

Violet, now in full control of her emotions, had put on her mask—the one that said everything was fine. She smiled back, making sure her voice was upbeat. “Yep, good morning it is.”

Ben glanced up from his newspaper, chuckling at her tone. “Glad you made it safely.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Violet replied, keeping the conversation light. Despite her unease around Ben, she didn’t want to bring the mood down. She knew how important it was for Iva that they all get along.

As she took her seat at the table, her eyes darted to the empty chair across from her—the seat Ash usually occupied. Just the thought of sitting across from him again made her stomach twist with anxiety. She wondered how long she could keep up the charade before everything came crashing down.

As if on cue, footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder until Ash appeared. He hesitated for a brief moment when his eyes met Violet’s. He quickly made his way to the table, his face betraying nothing.

“Morning,” Ash said, his tone clipped and formal, completely avoiding eye contact with Violet.

“Morning, Ash,” Iva replied, smiling warmly. “You seem to be in a hurry today, dear?”

“Yeah,” Ash said hastily. “Rebecca called. Gotta head out.”

“You should at least eat something before you go,” Ben suggested without looking up from his paper, his tone casual.

Iva, ever the caretaker, handed Ash a sandwich. “Here, take this with you.”

“Thanks,” Ash muttered, grabbing the sandwich as he downed a quick sip of apple juice. “See you later.” He hurried out the door without a second glance at Violet.

Once he was gone, Iva chuckled softly. “Oh, that kid, he sure can come up with ideas to avoid awkwardness.”

Ben cleared his throat, glancing briefly through the window to watch Ash walk out. He smiled when he saw Ash munch on the sandwich Iva had made.

Violet watched him leave, a pang of relief washing over her, though she knew it was only temporary. She knew Ash was buying time. But soon enough, they’d have to face the reality of their situation.

---

Later that evening, Violet found herself sitting on the balcony outside her room, sipping a glass of iced tea as she stared out at the garden. The sprawling estate, with its manicured lawns and blooming flowers, had always been impressive. But today, it felt like a cage, trapping her with memories she wasn’t sure she was ready to confront.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. A message appeared on the screen.

‘Cynthia: Hey, did you reach the rich kid’s mansion? How’s the new place? Better than Ash’s???’

Violet smiled faintly. Cynthia Grand is her cousin on her mother’s side, the daughter of Iva’s older brother. They had always been close, having practically grown up together.

Violet went down, in front of the mansion entrance stairs and the fountain. She snapped the photo and sent it to her.

‘Cynthia: ....’

Cynthia, as she realized the photo, called almost instantly.

“Are you kidding me?! Is this some kind of prank? Wait… is this for real? Is that why you didn’t yell at me when I brought up Ash’s name? Did you see him? Or wait… Maybe he sold the mansion?”

Her rapid-fire questions came out in a flurry, her shock palpable.

Violet waited for her to finish before responding quietly, “I saw him.” Her voice sounded melancholic.

There was a pause at the other end of the line, Cynthia clearly processing the gravity of the situation.

“How is this possible?” Cynthia asked, her voice softer now. “I don’t get it. Isn’t your stepdad’s last name Johnson?”

“Ash’s grandfather wanted him to take on the Cooper family name,” Violet explained. “His father—Ben—agreed to it long before Ash was born.”

“And now… what happens?” Cynthia’s voice was filled with uncertainty.

“I don’t know, C. I... really don’t,” Violet sighed. “Honestly, I could use your company here.”

“If I could, I’d go running, Vi, you know that,” Cynthia said sympathetically. “But we’re in the middle of a big project at work. Try hanging in there. It’ll be at least two months before I can get away. Then I’ll rush to you… kay?”

Violet felt a tear escape as she responded like a child, her voice trembling slightly. “Mm-hm… I’ll do my best to survive the next two months.”

“Oh, Vi, don’t cry,” Cynthia consoled her. “Everything will work out. Look at it this way—maybe this is a chance to figure out what really happened about ‘that’ incident.”

Violet paused, her chest tightening at the mention of that event. “Fine,” she muttered softly. “I’m hanging up, C. Finish up and rescue me soon, kay??”

After saying their goodbyes, Violet wandered aimlessly around the mansion, her mind swirling with thoughts of the past. Without realizing it, she found herself standing near a familiar spot—the hidden cave behind the farthest building. She and Ash had discovered it during their time together, turning it into a secret bunker. The sight of it brought back a rush of memories, and she instinctively started to walk toward it. Despite her temptation, she strongly held herself back as she ran away.

Just then, she bumped into someone—Ash, who had just returned. He started returning home early the past 3 months. But today, as he hesitated to head inside, he strolled around the mansion until he ran into the very person he was trying to avoid. He caught her by the shoulders, steadying her before she could stumble.

The brief moment of contact sent an electric jolt through both of them, their hearts racing. Neither were aware of each other’s feelings.

---

A couple of hours later, Ash came down for dinner. To his surprise, Violet was sitting alone at the dining table. He stopped for a moment, hesitant, but just then, Iva appeared from the kitchen.

“Oh Ash, dear, Ben and I ate earlier. We ordered pizza, but since it was getting late, I thought mashed potatoes with toast might be better. Does that sound okay to you?”

Ash smiled, masking his inner turmoil. “May I ask what pizzas you've ordered?”

“Thin crust with bacon and corn,” Iva replied, glancing at Violet doubtfully.

Ash’s expression shifted slightly. Those were his favorite, a fact only Violet could have told. The realization dawned on him—Violet gasped internally in shock as she had subconsciously picked the pizzas while still caught up in her emotions.

Sensing her panic, Ash decided to help her out. “Pizza will be too heavy tonight. I’ll have mashed potatoes and toasted bread. Thank you for considering my stomach, Iva,” he said casually, deflecting the situation with a smile.

Though she was relieved, Violet felt as though Ash was avoiding it because she had chosen it. A wave of guilt washed over her.

Suddenly, Iva clapped her hands together. “Oh! I almost forgot—it's late, but proper introductions are in order. Ash, this is my daughter, Violet. Violet, this is Ash, Ben’s son.”

They exchanged smiles and nodded despite the palpable tension in the air. Still, they somehow maintained a casual front.

As they ate, Violet stole a glance at Ash, noting the way he clenched his jaw as he focused on his food, avoiding eye contact. He looked just as he had years ago—handsome, with his dark hair and sharp features—but there was something different about him now, with a hardness that hadn’t been there before. It mirrored the wall she had built around her own heart. Violet munched on her meal, as a wave of nostalgia washed over her, mixed with an anxiety she couldn’t shake.

The past was creeping in, and soon, she would have no choice but to face it.