Chapter 1 Leaving home

I was already packing the last of my suitcase, while I took a quick glance at my room. I still can't believe I am leaving Leeds town behind, a place I had lived and came to love all my life.

" Why worry Soo much, come home to me love", I sang in a hoarse voice to a track from Winston Johnson blasting from my Bluetooth speaker, a gift from my boyfriend on my last birthday.

I glanced at my wallpapers, my stuffed animals, bed, lockers, wardrobe, book shelf.

My mother had asked me to pack only what is necessary, because all I need has already been catered to in our new house. I have a new room that has been decorated to my taste.

" How the hell did they even know my taste ewww",

My step father, a rich man, whom I have never met is doing his best to impress me but I Jessica cares less.

My eyes fell on a picture covered with a green frame in my reading table. I picked it up and glanced at it. It was a picture of my six years old self and my dad. I contemplated in my mind whether to take the picture along with me or not, I later decided to take it let the worst happen.

" Jess, are you ready", my mom Nicole called out from the living room.

I did not answer but dragged my brown luggage along in response.

A taxi was already waiting for us outside, our flight will be ready in less than one hour so we have to hurry.

We quickly loaded our luggages in the taxi with the help of the driver. I sat in the passenger seat to avoid talking to my mother, while my mother sat in the backseat.

Thankfully the road was clear of traffic and the driver was speeding too so we have less worries about missing the flights.

The ride to the airport was short but not without its bumps. I glued a romantic novel to my face, one of my many tricks to avoid talking to my mother.

The silence in the car ride was awkward, the driver was not a talker and the car's record player was faulty.

When Nicole could no longer bear the awkward silence, she turned to me, " what book are you reading honey."

I did not answer, instead I turned the book around so that my mother can see the covers.

" You know I am not with my glasses Jess, I can't see, just tell me the name",

I scoffed, in my mind my mom is a betrayar who betrayed my dad and nothing can change that.

" you are still ignoring me," she sighed.

" I did the best thing for us, baby I wish you could see it, I have been suffering all these years, now I see a golden opportunity I can't miss it,"

" Mum please" I spoke up for the first time

"Jessy this a new chapter in our lives, we are finally going to live our dreams life, don't you see it",

" Your own dream life mom not mine, mine is at leeds town," by now I is trying hard to contain my emotions

" I have my school, my friend, my boyfriend here but you just took me away from everything and everyone for your own selfish reason

" Theo loves me Soo much, and I love him too",

" I have someone I love too mum"

" Jess I don't mean to separate you from your loved ones, but you are already eighteen, you will soon discover that everything I am doing is for your own good", there was silence for some moments, the taxi driver was acting invisible and a cold wind from outside hit our faces.

" You will love the school, bridgerton high school is a nice place, I am sure you will Make new friends", she took a deep breath before she spoke again.

" They even has a volleyball team, I am sure with your skill and talent, you will be the captain in no time",

" No, I don't want to go to that school sponsored by your boyfriend", I was frustrated.

" He is not my boyfriend Jessica he is my husband so get used to it",

I still can get used to the fact that my mom found love and is moving on barely two years after my dad died in a car accident.

My mom's new husband Theophilus Duncan is a billionaire living in a different city. He owns a fleet of cars, estates, and a chain of businesses. I can't believe my mom has become so materialistic.

she could not understand my dislike for her new husband. But I don't dislike him, I am just jealous, I can't believe a new man is already in mom's life. I am just jealous. Isn't it normal for kids to be wary of new step parents?

The remaining ride to the airport was silent and uneventful.

On getting to the airport we almost missed our flight by a hair breath. We were hurriedly ushered to a first class cabin, of course courtesy to billionaire Theophilus Duncan.

I am grateful I don't have to sit with my mother throughout the flight, the awkwardness would have killed me.