The cold night air kissed her cheeks as she unlocked the iron gate. The Hanbok house stood before her once again. The porch light she had left on earlier spilled a warm amber glow across the path, guiding her toward the door.
This was her home.
She ran her fingers along the railing as she ascended the stairs. "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood," She murmured under her breath, the name of the man who had once called this house his own and who, in his kindness, had left it to her to stay when he passed.
It had been a long day, and she was savoring the quiet peace of the evening when her phone buzzed on the side table. The screen lit up with an unknown number. Her brow furrowed as she hesitated. She rarely got calls from anyone outside her small circle of friends. After a moment, she sighed and answered.
"Hello?" She said cautiously tucking a strand of hair behind her hair.
"Is this Mary Calloway?" The voice on the other end was deep, calm, and unnervingly cold.
"Yes, who is this?"
"This is Harry Ashworth, secretary to Mr. Blackwood."
Mary's breath caught. She hadn't spoken to anyone in Mr. Blackwood's family since she was in the orphanage. The man had clarified that she could stay as long as she wanted.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know he was in town."
"I'm not surprised, " he replied curtly. Now that you're aware, you need to move out."
Mary's stomach twisted at the implication. "Mr. Blackwood was a dad to me," she said firmly, her voice shaking slightly. "He cared about me, and he wanted me to stay here as long as I wanted."
Harry sighed. "I'm not here to argue, Mr. Blackwood will be in town next week to check up on the Orphanage."
Before she could respond, the line went dead. Without thinking, she scrolled through her contacts and hit call.
"Please pick up." She whispered, pacing the room again.
"Hey, Mary!" Came the cheerful voice of her best friend, Taylor, on the other end.
"I just got the weirdest phone call. Guess?"
"The devil himself?"
"He wants me to leave the house."
"Oh, hell no." Taylor said, her voice firm now. "You're not meeting that guy alone, girl. Don't let him intimidate you."
She smiled, despite the storm brewing inside her. He had no idea what would hit him. He would be the one one to run for his dear life at the end.
Mary hummed to herself as she reached for the door handle, but her excitement crumbled. The door didn't budge. Frowning, she tried another key, but it would not fit the lock.
"What the...?" She murmured, crouching down to inspect the handle. The lock was shiny and new, clearly replaced. Confusion turned to unease as she stood back up and glanced around.
There was no note, no explanation.
Her heart sank as the truth started to dawn on her. This wasn't a mistake. Someone had deliberately changed the locks. Only one person came to mind: Mr. Blackwood's son.
Mary's chest tightened with anger. Changing locks now?
She sighed in frustration. No. She wasn't going to break down. She walked over to the window and tested it. Sure enough, it wobbled slightly. A rush of hope surged through her. With force, she slide the window open and climbed inside, landing on the floor.
Rummaging through the drawers, she found an old tool box Mr. Blackwood had kept under the sink. Inside was a new screwdriver.
Minutes later, the deadbolt lay on the floor in a pile of parts. She smiled, inspecting her work.
She replaced the locks with a spare key she'd found in the tool box and shut the door behind her, turning the key in her hand.
"He changed the locks?" Taylor asked, arranging the children's books in the library. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting warm orange hues over the Orphanage.
"I changed the locks in return." The loud, sharp rev of an engine shattered the peaceful atmosphere. A sleek black car pulled into the driveway, its polished surface gleaming in dimmed light. The man who stepped out was no stranger to Mary.
"Damn! He's hot." Taylor whispered.
Adrian Blackwood stepped out with an arrogant look, ruthless, and unfortunately, devastatingly handsome. His sharp jawline, tousled dark hair, and tailored suit starkly contrasted the orphanage's surroundings.
Mary braced herself as Adrian's piercing blue eyes swept the area, narrowing as they landed on her. He strode toward her with the confidence of someone who thought the world was his to command.
"You." He barked, his voice cold and cutting as he stopped a few feet away. "Is this what I'm paying for?"
Mary walked towards him, brushing her hands on her jeans before meeting his gaze. Her heart hammered in her chest but she refused to show it. "Good evening Mr. Blackwood. If you're here to discuss the condition of the Orphanage, I'd be happy to give you full report."
"I don't need a report," He snapped, his tone dripping with disdain. "I can see the incompetence in my own eyes. The building is practically crumbling, the surrounding a disaster, and you're out here doing what?"
"We do the best we can."
Adrian scoffed, crossing his arms. "Spare me the sentimentality. You'll be out of here by the end of the week."
"With all due respect, Mr. Blackwood, firing me won't solve a thing. I've been here for years and I've worked tirelessly to keep this place running. If you want me gone, I'll go, but don't pretend it will make this orphanage better."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as if he couldn't believe her audacity. "You think you're irreplaceable?"
"No," Mary said firmly, her voice unwavering. "But I care about these kids, and I won't apologize for doing everything I can to make them feel comfortable."
For a moment, he said nothing, his cold exterior cracking ever so slightly as her words hung in the air. His gaze flickered, almost as though he was seeing her for the first time.
Finally, he stepped back, his expression hardening once more. "Fix this mess," He said curtly, gesturing towards the surroundings. "And pray I don't find another reason to have you replaced."
He turned and strode back to his car with his secretary trailing behind.