Chapter 1
Chapter 1 ~🌷Alice Dubois POV🌷~
I stepped out of the white Porsche SUV, my blue eyes locked on my childhood house - a two-story white and dark grey house in an elegant French architecture. The house stood grandly amidst its surroundings. It was a two-storey white and dark grey building, with all the windows dressed in white lacey curtains. The lawn was meticulously mowed, and the rose bushes were in full bloom. It was a house that exuded elegance and sophistication.
I brushed a golden curl behind my ear as I took a moment to absorb the nostalgia of the place. The soft breeze carried with it the scent of roses that grew abundantly within the house’s compound. I breathed in deeply, feeling the familiar scent of my childhood home. I closed my eyes for a moment, lost in my thoughts.
But I quickly came back to reality when Jules wrapped a strong arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to his tall frame. I opened my eyes and smiled at my husband. The happiness only grew as our two children, Raphael, who was eight, and Chloe, who was five, jumped out of the car and gazed with wide, innocent eyes at the house my parents left for us.
Jules’ presence always brought me a sense of comfort and security, and his strong arms around me made me feel safe. I looked at our children, their curious eyes wide open as they looked at the house. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of their innocent excitement.
“Kids,” I said, taking Raphael’s hand and ruffling Chloe’s hair. “This will be your new home.”
Raphael looked up at me with big, round eyes, a look of wonder on his face. “Is this where we’re going to live now, mommy?” he asked.
I nodded, my heart swelling with affection for my children. “Yes, sweetheart. This is where we’re going to start our new life.”
It warmed my heart to see them so happy. “It is. It’s where I grew up.” I could see the curiosity growing in their eyes.
“You used to live here?” Chloe asked, her small face peering up at the house with wide eyes. Raphael, always the more adventurous one, was already darting around the front yard, exploring the surroundings.
I chuckled softly at his antics, a smile playing on my lips. “Yes, I used to live here when I was younger.” I gently patted Chloe’s head, my fingers running through her soft, golden locks.
Raphael, having finished his exploration of the front yard, came running back to us, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Can we go inside now?” He asked, jumping on his feet, impatient as always.
Jules gave my shoulder a soft squeeze before letting go as he started to unload our luggage from the car. I watched as he lifted the bags effortlessly, his muscular arms flexing under the sleeves of his shirt.
I glanced back at Raphael. “Sure, we can!”
Jules’s effortless strength never failed to impress me, and I couldn’t help but admire his muscular physique as he carried the bags into the house.
Raphael let out a cheerful yell and rushed towards the front door, followed closely by Chloe, who was holding my hand tightly. I followed them, my eyes sweeping over the familiar front porch, the same one I had crossed countless times when I was younger. I could almost hear the echo of my childhood laughter ringing through the air.
We stepped into the house, and I couldn’t help but gasp softly at the sight that greeted us. The interior of the house was just as I remembered it, every detail meticulously preserved as if my parents had never left. The soft pastels that adorned the walls added a sense of tranquility to the space, their gentle hues creating a soothing ambiance. I could almost feel my heartbeat slow down, the stresses of the long journey fading away.
I turned my attention to the kids, who were now running through the front hallway, their footsteps echoing throughout the house. I chuckled softly as I watched them chase each other, their energy undiminished after the long car journey.
“Mom! This place is like a maze!” Raphael exclaimed as he glanced with big brown eyes at the white curved staircase adorned with a light grey carpet.
I laughed softly as I watched him take in the details of the staircase, his innocent wonder a stark contrast to my own memories of running up and down the very same staircase. “It is a little bit like a maze, isn’t it?” I agreed, ruffling his dark blonde hair playfully.
Chloe, who was now clinging to my leg, looked up at me with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. She seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of the house, her small hand gripping my dress tighter.
“Let’s start unpacking, shall we?” I suggested.
The kids nodded eagerly at my suggestion, their excitement taking over their initial nervousness. Raphael, being the older and boldest of the two, immediately ran up the staircase to explore the second floor. Chloe, on the other hand, refused to let go of my hand.
“Let’s see your bedroom. It used to be mine.”
Chloe’s eyes widened with excitement at my words. She nodded eagerly and let me lead her up the staircase towards the bedrooms on the second floor. I could practically see the wheels turning in her little head as she tried to imagine what my room must have looked like when I was her age.
Back in the big city, Raphael and Chloe had shared a bedroom in our former apartment, but now, with this house and its many rooms, they could have their own space.
As we reached the top of the stairs, I led Chloe down the hallway, pointing out the different doors as we went. “Those are the guest rooms,” I explained, gesturing to the closed doors on our left. Finally, I stopped in front of one of the doors on the right side of the corridor. “And this is what used to be my room.”
Raphael was already in his bedroom, unpacking and arranging his collection of cars on the shelves. His independence and need to prove he could do things alone always made me wonder how fast time flies by. I watched as he carefully placed each car on the shelf, lining them up in a neat little row. It seemed like just yesterday he was a toddler, stumbling around and teething on everything in sight. Now he was growing up so fast, always eager to show off his independence.
I glanced back at Chloe and opened her bedroom door. It was like stepping into another world - one of white, pinks, and beige colors - topped off with a princess vibe. Chloe’s eyes widened as she stepped into her new bedroom, her small mouth curling up into a wide smile as she took in the surroundings. The walls were painted a soft pink, and the furniture was all white with golden accents. A canopy bed with sheer white curtains completed the princess’s aesthetic.
“Do you like it?” I asked, watching as Chloe ran to the bed and jumped onto it, giggling as the white sheets poofed up around her. She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement.
There was a castle playground for the interior with a curved slide, and a tea party zone, not to mention the hanging net where many of her plush toys were stocked.
As I watched Chloe explore the different areas of her bedroom, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had all the space she could ask for, and each corner was filled with things that sparked her imagination. The castle playground, the tea party zone, the plush toy net, she had it all.
Even though she was only five, I could see her mind working, already imagining the countless play scenarios she could create in this room. She would never grow bored in here, that was for sure.
I stepped over to the door of the small walk-in closet. “Here is where we will put your clothes,” I told my daughter as I opened the door, and to my surprise, there was a box with my old stuff from when I was a kid there.
My eyes widened as I caught sight of the box, a wave of nostalgia washing over me. I had forgotten that my mother had kept some of my old things in here. I carefully opened the box, feeling a pang of reminiscence as I rummaged through its contents. There were old clothes, toys, and even some of my old drawings.
As I pulled away the drawings, something caught my eye. Something gold and shining. My eyes widened as I pulled out my old favorite. It was a white bunny plush, dressed classy with a white vest and tie to match, a golden cane, a top hat, and a monocle.
I held the old plush bunny in my hand, a soft smile playing on my lips. It was strange how a simple toy could bring back so many memories. I remembered how much I had loved this bunny as a child. I would bring it everywhere, and it was my constant companion.
Chloe came to my side, gazing at the toy with curiosity. “What is that?” she asked, her small finger reaching out to touch the golden cane and monocle of the toy. I chuckled softly at her curiosity and held the bunny out to her. “It was my favorite toy when I was your age,” I said, gently placing the bunny in her outstretched hands.
Chloe’s eyes widened as she examined the old bunny, her fingers carefully tracing the golden details. I could see the wheels turning in her head, her imagination already at work, creating stories for this toy that meant so much to me.
“Can I keep it?” she asked, her wide blue eyes looking up at me with pleading. I chuckled softly at her eagerness, ruffling her hair affectionately.
“Of course you can, sweetheart,” I said, a warm smile spreading across my face at the sight of my daughter’s excitement. “But you have to take good care of him. He’s very old, but very special.”
She nodded eagerly, clutching the toy tightly against her chest. She was already forming a bond with this old bunny, and I could see that it would be a well-loved companion in her playtime adventures.
I spent the rest of the day unpacking everything while Jules was out doing the grocery shopping. He arrived late in the afternoon with the bags full.
“Sorry, I am so late. Traffic was crazy, and the supermarkets were packed.” He apologized as he set the groceries on the kitchen island.
I waved off his apology, understanding how unpredictable traffic could be. “It’s alright, no worries,” I replied, eyeing the full bags of groceries. “Looks like you had a pretty productive shopping trip.”
Jules chuckled, running a hand through his short, dark brown hair. “It was quite an adventure,” he said, starting to unpack the bags. “I feel like I ran a marathon, pushing that shopping cart through all those people.”
My smile widened at his humor. “How about I make your favorite for dinner? Creamy French onion chicken pasta.”
My husband’s face lit up at the mention of his favorite dish. “You spoil me, you know that?” He teased, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my middle.
I leaned back into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “I like spoiling you,” I replied with a soft laugh, my hands coming up to rest on his arms. “You deserve it.”
Jules’ grip on me tightened, and he pressed a kiss to my neck. “You’re too good to me,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. “But I’m not going to complain.”
My life couldn’t be more perfect. I met Jules during university. We both studied business. In the end, he became one of the executives at an important enterprise in the city. While I would have loved to have my own business, I did the right thing for our family and became a stay-at-home mother.
We were a team, a perfect balance of each other. He provided financially while I took care of the home and the kids. It wasn’t always easy, but we made it work. We had each other, after all. Plus, I found passion in cooking and baking. Even made my TikTok page during college when it was merely a simple hobby. Now? It became my passion.
My TikTok channel had grown quite popular. I had never thought my little hobby could turn into something so rewarding. The engagement and positive feedback I got from my followers always made my day. I had even started to get offers from brands for partnerships and collaborations. It was surreal to think that something I loved doing could actually bring in some extra income for our family.
After dinner and putting the children to bed, I went straight to take a shower and prepare for the night. My mischievous mind ran high, and I decided to put on the pastel see-through nightgown. A little something to celebrate the new start in my childhood house. Just as I entered the bedroom from the bathroom attached to it, all giddy, my excitement fell when I saw Jules, deep asleep in bed.
My eyes widened, a mix of surprise and disappointment washing over me. Jules was fast asleep, his back turned towards me, already deep in slumber. I couldn’t deny that a part of me was a little hurt. I had put on this special outfit, feeling excited and wanting to enjoy some intimate time with him tonight. But there he was, already in dreamland.
The logical part of my mind told me he was tired. The new moving here part, plus he was overworking to sustain the family. I couldn’t be mad at him.
I sighed softly, trying to push away the sense of disappointment. It was true, he was exhausted. The move had been stressful, and he had been working hard lately, trying to provide for us. I couldn’t blame him for being exhausted. But it was still a little disheartening to see him asleep so quickly.
Maybe tomorrow...
