Olivia's POV

Freddie steps aside to let me into his house, and I must admit, it’s beautiful. It's something I didn’t expect from someone like him. I walk into a white, wooden kitchen with an island in the middle.

Each appliance is accented in shades of red, and a sweet-smelling bouquet of flowers sits in a vase at the center of the table. We sit down, and I can’t help but notice Freddie’s hands. They’re constantly moving, twitching as if he’s nervous.

It’s strange to see the school’s so-called bad boy this uneasy. Anger still simmers within me, fueled by all the questions swirling in my mind.

“I just want you to be honest with me,” I finally break the silence, seeing how uncomfortable he is. “I want us to be civil. I know I’m not your first choice of a partner, and I know I’m not popular, but I love art. It’s my life.”

He looks at me, his expression serious. “It’s mine too.”

“But before, you said you couldn’t care less about being in the class. Why do you care so much now?” My anger starts to fade, replaced by curiosity.

“Mind your language, Princess. There’s a two-year-old in the next room. I’m not about to teach him bad habits.” He raises an eyebrow in humor, but there’s a protectiveness in his tone I can’t quite put my finger on.

“Whether you believe me or not, painting helped me through some… bad times in my life.”

“Tell me about it. I told you about my past,” I reply.

He sighs. “It’s… difficult.”

“I’m willing to listen.” I see a flash of sadness in his eyes, and my heart softens. “You can trust me.”

He takes a deep breath, tapping his fingers nervously against the wooden table as he begins.

“Okay.”

I smile encouragingly, waiting for him to speak. My anger has completely dissipated now.

“Sandra and Alan are my parents. I don’t call them Mom and Dad because they’ve never been like that to me. When I was young, they’d leave me alone in the house, sometimes for over a day. Like you, I had to learn to fend for myself and do things no six-year-old should have to do.”

He pauses, his voice thick with emotion, before continuing.

“They were socialites. Self-centered, obsessed with their appearances, and unconcerned with anything but themselves. I was a burden to Sandra, constantly taking attention away from her galas and fancy dinners. When they realized that, by age four, I was relatively self-sufficient, they started leaving me alone more often.”

His eyes close briefly as he collects himself.

“To me, being on my own was normal. I didn’t go to school until I was eleven. I couldn’t even read or write. The only thing I could do was paint. That was the one thing that kept me sane amidst the madness of my life."

“Sandra and Alan had all this expensive painting equipment. God knows why, but they never used it. Painting became my escape. It was the only thing that made me feel alive.”

I’m too stunned to speak as he continues.

“When Sandra told me she was pregnant with Mason, I didn’t know what to think. And then…”

“Mason’s your brother?” I blurt out, the revelation shocking me to my core. “I thought he was your… your…”

“My son?” He lets out a weak smile. “Contrary to what people believe, Olivia, I don’t get around nearly as much as I let them think. I don’t have time. I’ve been raising Mason because my parents aren’t around anymore either. When Mason was born, Sandra and Alan brought him here to their old holiday home, with me in tow. They told me they were going to the store and..."

“They never came back.”

My hand flies to my chest, my heart breaking for him. “Freddie, that’s awful. I’m so sorry.”

“I was a fifteen-year-old boy with no parents and a newborn baby to care for. I had no idea what I was doing, so I read every parenting book I could find. I still do. Mason is the only good thing to come out of my messed-up life. He’s my entire world, the best little brother anyone could ask for."

“I couldn’t abandon him the way my parents abandoned me. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Despite everything, Mason’s growing into a smart, bubbly little boy, and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

A heavy sadness settles over me. “But… how do you manage?”

“The counselors at school know about our situation. Some of the neighbors help with groceries, bills, and keeping the house in order. I’ll forever be in their debt. They’ve been kind enough to keep Mason a secret.”

My eyes widen. “A secret?”

“Yeah. No one else knows about Mason.”

“No one?”

“No one except you.”

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Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, exams have been taking over my life! What do you think of Freddie’s story? And Mason! I’m excited to share the next chapter, so stay tuned. Don’t forget to vote, comment, and follow for more!