Chapter 22: Forsaken NightmaresKathleen’s P.O.VI walked into the living room, as always in awe of just how gorgeous this house was. I had a feeling that no matter how many times I came into the Dalton Mansion, it would never get old.There was no butler today, nor did anyone walk me in. I didn’t know if it was because Arthur could trust me a bit more around the house or not, but since Hayley had already shown me the way yesterday, I was no longer in fear of getting lost.I thought I was going to head straight to Hayley’s room first, but as I walked towards the entrance to the hallway, I noticed another person standing by a bookshelf, completely oblivious to my presence.Arthur kept turning the pages of the book he was holding in his hands, looking at it intently as he worked even this early in the morning. He ran a hand through his midnight black hair, his brow furrowed in thought. He was muttering something under his breath, lost in a world of his own. On the wall, an ornate clock
Chapter 23: Stay with MeKathleen’s P.O.VTo say that I was taken aback by her request…would be a vast understatement.At first, I thought she was joking, maybe this was a whole ploy for her to try and get me to stay with her. But her face was serious, and her eyes were hopeful. I didn’t think anyone could fake the tears and the heartbreak in their voice like that."What did you say?" I slowly asked, still processing her words."I want you to stay over at night." She repeated herself, feeling more confident now. “Please?”I was flattered that she wanted me to be such a big part of her life, but I also knew that I couldn't just up and move in with her family. I had my mother to think about, whose health demanded my attention often, as well as my father, who would often need help around the restaurant since we were all new to the business.And then there was that jerk of a best friend I had, Cole, who was starting to sound like I was neglecting him, and a life outside this job.But some
Chapter 24: Like a Real FamilyArthur’s P.O.VI sat in the dining area, my whole body jolting to a pause as Kathleen’s hand touched mine. Even though the contact was brief, I couldn’t help the tingles that shot up my arm, momentarily rendering me speechless.Forgetting what I was about to do, I moved my hand away quickly, and tried not to meet her gaze even though I could feel her eyes on mine.Did she feel it too? That jolt of electricity? Or was it just a part of my imagination?I took the glass from beside me and took a sip of water, not knowing why I suddenly felt nervous."Wow! It’s like we are eating like a real family."I was mid-sip when Hayley made her announcement, and a mouthful of water went down the wrong pipe as I let out a shocked gasp."Are you okay?" Hayley
Chapter 25: Convincing Kathleen’s P.O.V Hayley peered at me expectantly, as I sat hunched in my seat, my emotions all over the place as I tried to comprehend what just happened. I could feel my stomach in knots as I looked from her to her father. But even looking at Arthur proved fruitless as he too seemed to be deep in thought. I knew that if I agreed, he would definitely pay me extra…but in this case…payment wasn’t the actual problem…was it? "Well," I said, unable to think of a better excuse. "I would need to get my mother's permission before making a big decision like this, Hayley." Hayley was quick to respond, her eyes wide with surprise. "You need your mother's permission? But…you’re an adult!" "Yes, I do," I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed at having a child point that out to me. "I
Chapter 26: Convincing the Parents Kathleen's P.O.V I had a long day at work, credit to Hayley. And usually, I was eager to get home and crash onto my bed. In fact, I was so tired that I didn’t even want to change out of my clothes. But this time, I strode from the bus stop to our house with mixed feelings and uncertainty. I could feel the knot in my stomach as I walked towards the door. My mother would be excited to hear this, but not my father. This was news that could change everything. Knowing how much my father frowned at all forms of indiscipline and unethical behavior, it wouldn't surprise me if he asked me to quit the job and come back to the restaurant. Somehow, I knew it would get to this. But I didn't suppose it would be this soon. I'd been waiting for this moment for what felt like foreve
Chapter 27: Sincere ApologiesKathleen’s P.O.VEverything was going to be different now that I was going to live in the Dalton mansion. Aside from the fact that I would have to see Arthur more often, I would also have to be near Hayley a lot more so that she wouldn’t be lonely or sad. Especially since she had nightmares quite often.That morning, I was up before three in the morning as I began packing my stuff to move. I slowly packed my belongings, savoring each moment in the familiar room that I grew up in since childhood. It was time to move on, and welcome a new chapter of my life. I had mixed feelings, especially now that my mom wasn’t well.On the one hand, I was thrilled at the prospect of staying close to the man that intrigued and infuriated me at the same time, even though I hated to admit it. I hated his arrogance; how he was always unapologetic about things he did and didn’t even feel remorse for his actions. But at the same time…I couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.May
Chapter 28: Build a SnowmanKathleen’s P.O.VI couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, even as I felt a pang of disappointment. Arthur and I might have held hands by accident, but the physical contact had left us both feeling things we weren’t supposed to feel.Or at the very least…I wasn’t supposed to feel for my employer.I knew that if Hayley hadn't interrupted us, things might have gone in a direction that I wasn't ready for. Still, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to see where this could’ve led us.I could still remember the feeling in my chest when our eyes had locked for a fraction of a second. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming, and I relived how I felt completely drawn in by his gaze. I tried to play it cool, but inside I was a jumble of emotions.I could feel my cheeks flushing with color as my h
Chapter 29: First Kiss…Tasted like SnowArthur’s P.O.VAs I sat by the window, my laptop on my lap as I continued to work even as I tried to keep my eyes on my daughter and Kathleen…I could feel her eyes on me. I didn't turn to look at her, but I knew she was there, looking at the window from outside. The thought of meeting her gaze made my heart skip a beat, and my mind raced with memories of this morning when she had mistakenly touched my hand. The memory alone made a shiver run down my spine with uncertainty, so I stayed still and kept my eyes fixed on my computer, not knowing how to react in a situation like this. Despite the fact that I always wanted solitude while working, I decided to work in the living room window seat from where I could keep my eyes on both of them. Hayley was playing with her nanny on the snowy grounds outside, and as long as she was with Kathleen, I was sure that she wouldn’t let any harm come to my baby girl.I was itching to look up and rest my gaze at