Beneath The Ashes - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The garden had become my little slice of peace. After everything that happened earlier, I just... needed to be here.
I tugged at a blade of grass, twirling it between my fingers. After a while, just sitting there wasn't enough. The quiet was nice, but my thoughts felt too loud. I needed to do something. Something useful.
Pushing myself up, I dusted off my shorts and headed inside. The house felt emptier without the boys. Even the staff moved quietly, like shadows. I wandered upstairs to my room, glancing around at the already spotless space. But I could always make it cleaner.
Grabbing a cloth from the bathroom, I got to work, wiping down every surface I could find. I fluffed the pillows, straightened the bed, even organized the drawers — not that there was much in them. After I was done, I moved on to the bathroom, scrubbing the sink and mirror until they gleamed.
When everything was finally perfect, I stood in the middle of the room, hands on my hips, surveying my work
The silence pressed in again.
I frowned. This wasn't enough.
Back outside I went. The garden welcomed me like an old friend. My eyes fell on the flower beds, the neat little rows of plants, the pots lined up along the stone path. Some of them looked a little sad, their leaves drooping, the soil dry and cracked.
I could help with that.
I found a pair of gardening gloves tucked away in a small shed near the back and slipped them on, flexing my fingers. It felt kind of nice, like I was preparing for battle — a very leafy, flowery battle.
I crouched down and started pulling out the weeds, yanking them from the soil with satisfying little tugs. Some were stubborn, their roots clinging desperately to the earth, but I refused to let them win. The garden deserved better.
After the weeds were dealt with, I turned my attention to the pots. A few of them clearly needed fresh soil, so I carefully scooped out the old dirt, trying not to disturb the roots too much. My hands got dirty, the gloves barely helping, but I didn't mind. There was something calming about the work — the rhythm of digging, planting, watering. It made me feel... grounded.
I found a tiny trowel and used it to break up the hard soil around the plants, whispering little apologies to them whenever I accidentally tugged too hard or bent a stem. "Sorry, little guy. I'll make it better, promise."
After a while, the sun climbed higher in the sky, the warmth settling over me like a heavy blanket. Sweat prickled at the back of my neck, but I didn't stop. I moved from pot to pot, carefully tending to each one, making sure they all got a little love. By the time I was done, the garden looked... well, it looked the same, but I felt different. Calmer.
I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead, smearing dirt across my skin. My stomach rumbled faintly, but I ignored it. I wasn't really hungry. What I really wanted was to just... lie down for a bit.
I wandered over to the big oak tree at the edge of the garden, its branches sprawling out like arms welcoming me into a hug. The grass beneath it was soft and cool, and I sank down with a grateful sigh, stretching out on my back. The sky peeked through the leaves, little patches of blue against the green. I watched the clouds drift lazily by, my eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute.
Maybe I should've gone inside. Maybe I should've eaten something. But the warmth of the sun, the gentle rustling of the leaves, the soft earth beneath me... it was too perfect to leave.
My eyes fluttered shut.
Just for a minute.
And before I knew it, sleep pulled me under.
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Zayn's POV
The drive home was quiet for once
I slouched in the back seat, arms crossed, staring out the window as the trees blurred past. The day had dragged, every minute feeling heavier than the last. Work never used to feel like this.
"Is it just me, or does work feel twice as boring lately?" Jaxon muttered from the front passenger seat, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's not just you," Vale agreed, sprawled out next to me, his head tilted back against the headrest. "I swear today felt like a goddamn eternity."
Massimo kept his eyes on the road, face unreadable. "That's because home's different now."
I raised a brow. "Different how?"
Declan, who'd been silent for most of the ride, finally spoke up. "Ivy changed the house."
I frowned. "Changed the house?"
Jaxon twisted around to look at us. "He means it doesn't feel like we're coming back to silence anymore. It feels like... something's waiting for us."
Vale smirked. "Yeah. A tiny, bouncing ball of sunshine who somehow makes you assholes less miserable."
I snorted, but I couldn't deny it. Ivy had done something to the place — to us. Work used to be the escape, a reason to avoid the empty house. Now? Work felt like the distraction.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, the house was quiet. I stepped out, expecting to hear Ivy's laughter or see her barreling toward us with one of those megawatt smiles. But there was nothing.
"Where is she?" I asked, frowning. "She should have tackled us with her daily activities the second we walk in."
The others exchanged glances before Jaxon stormed toward the kitchen. "Lucia!" he barked.
Lucia appeared, her face unreadable as usual. "Yes?"
"Where's Ivy?" Jaxon demanded.
Lucia's lips pressed into a thin line. "The last time I saw her, she was in the garden."
"In the garden?" Massimo repeated, his voice low.
She shrugged. "She was sleeping under the oak tree."
Without another word, we all moved toward the backyard, our pace quickening. My heart pounded a little harder with each step. I didn't know why. It wasn't like she was in danger... but the idea of her being alone out here made my chest feel tight.
The garden was quiet, the sky painted in shades of soft orange and purple. Then I saw her.
She was curled up beneath the old oak tree, her dark hair spilling across the grass, her face peaceful, lips slightly parted as she slept. The sight of her lying there, so soft and still, did something weird to me. I swallowed past the sudden warmth in my chest.
"Sleeping Beauty," Vale whispered.
A wicked grin spread across my face. "Wanna wake her up?"
Vale's eyes gleamed. "Absolutely."
We crept closer, silent as shadows. Once we were close enough, I exchanged a look with Vale, and we nodded.
"IVYYY!" we shouted in unison, right in her ear.
Ivy jolted awake with a gasp, flailing as she scrambled backward, eyes wide with panic. Vale and I collapsed onto the grass, howling with laughter. I clutched my stomach, tears streaming down my face.
"You dumbass !" she shrieked, glaring at us. "I nearly had a heart attack!"
"Totally worth it." I wiped at my eyes, grinning.
"You're so dead." She pointed a finger at us, but her lips twitched. "Revenge is coming."
"Can't wait." I winked.
The others had caught up by then, watching the scene with varying degrees of amusement. Massimo crossed his arms. "What the hell were you doing out here?"
She shrugged, stretching her arms over her head. "Gardening. Then I got tired and... well, the grass looked really comfy."
Declan frowned. "How long have you been out here?"
She blinked. "Um... since after lunch?"
"Wait," Declan's eyes narrowed. "You've been sleeping since the afternoon?"
She nodded sheepishly. "I guess."
His jaw tightened. "Did you even eat lunch?"
Ivy hesitated. "Not really. I wasn't hungry."
Massimo pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. Declan's frown deepened, and without another word, he turned toward the house. "Lucia!" he called. "Get some food ready."
Ivy shifted awkwardly. "I'm fine, really—"
"No, you're not," Declan interrupted quietly, his voice soft but firm. He guided her toward the house, his hand resting gently on her back.
As they walked inside, I caught Vale's eye, and we shared a grin. Sure, we'd scared the crap out of her — but at least things weren't boring anymore. Not with Ivy around.