sia'

had learned three things about l

e had more came

n careful whispers whenev

a walking disaster wrapped

forbidden wing, Adrian had g

that part

ust an order delivered in that cold voice that

I had done e

lowed Mrs. Davenport's instructions. And mos

Ava like

I took a sip. Another time she hid my phone somewhere in the library and

tted to anythi

as waiting to see how long

didn't

n't aff

reminded myse

nd my family

ning was str

cept for the security guards stationed outside the gates. Even Mrs. Dave

it was jus

ould have mad

started...

cious

where trimmed hedges lined the stone paths and t

the grass beside me, slo

re the only nanny who didn't cry during

er. "Should I

like the thought didn't b

looked

eally no

n caught me

I'm

hy

use your father bought my

, "Because I s

rp eyes searching my face as if she were

Before I could react, she walked o

e inst

en here, Ava had never touc

awkward, her small ar

nt, my gua

aybe she had finally decided I wasn't goi

relaxed and r

ng. Ava shifted her weight sudden

hat she was doing, sh

g me w

ross the yard.Cold wate

ath from my lungs as I pl

air, Ava was already several

scre

el

art s

ia pus

choed acros

ed at her, stunned by ho

hen shoved herself away... and now sh

dered across t

va

e exploded ac

cess what was happening

t, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.She

Daddy," s

n't seem t

pped toward me, b

were you thinki

st tig

looks like." I tri

ool?" His voice was ice co

did

w could you be so careless?" The venom

w that

" he cut in sharpl

dered me

e pool and wrapped a tow

e from behind h

old had settled d

blanket while steam curled from the bowl of soup

it while it's hot,

wil

a moment with a k

said. "Miss Ava is n

y to put it."

nport sig

e's been abandoned by every wo

row

do you

second lasted three days. The governess b

comforting.

shoulder sym

be car

om, closing the door

t heavier than before. I star

y survive thr

wasn't

leave before th

a's games

ardened into something mor

ounded on

uld answer,

stepped

trolled somehow, the sharp edges of h

an apolog

lin

ha

the securi

ng slowly d

nd

." He paused trying to gauge my react

with her, then pr

r backwards rough

blamed you without

unded reluctan

like this somet

attempted drowning?"

testi

ly. "Thats one h

ze sha

of leaving." It w

ld," he said quietly

sed my

usually weaponize

firm exactly what she already be

fell sile

efore I could spea

mber had sent

it. It was a picture of Marissa