Chapter 2

Stephen's father, Oscar Sedgwick, had died in his study. Julia had been accused of neglecting her duty and thrown out of the house without mercy.

Noelle had stared at the luggage scattered outside the front door, trying through her tears to explain what had happened. She'd hoped Stephen would believe her and her mother.

But when he finally looked at her, all she saw was hatred and disgust.

"Noelle, we paid your mother to work for us, and she couldn't even do her job right. She got my dad killed, and you have the nerve to ask me to forgive her?

"If my mom hadn't insisted on letting you stay, you'd have been thrown out right alongside her. But don't get too comfortable. One day, you'll leave this house on your own. I'll make sure of it."

Stephen hadn't been bluffing.

At school, he'd told everyone that Noelle was the person he hated most. He'd let Rachel bully her and ignored her pleas for help.

Noelle was right back in the same nightmare Stephen had once rescued her from.

Night after night, she'd held the stuffed rabbit close and cried quietly, telling herself Stephen would be kind to her again tomorrow.

Day after day, she'd kept fooling herself.

But today, she was ready to leave the rabbit behind. She'd been hurt enough.

The next day, Noelle slept until noon for once.

She was about to get out of bed when her bedroom door flew open. Stephen stood in the doorway, furious.

"You knew I didn't come home last night, and you couldn't even have something ready for me to eat? My mom let you stay here to take care of me, not to act like you own the place."

It was the same tone the Sedgwicks had used when they scolded Julia.

Noelle gave a rueful smile. To Stephen, she'd never been anything more than the housekeeper's daughter. And just because his mother had been fond of her, she'd let herself hope for something more.

She should've known better.

Noelle looked up at the man she'd loved for nine years. "I'm sorry I overslept. I'll make you something to eat right away, sir."

Sir?

Noelle's sudden formality caught Stephen off guard, but he figured it was just another attempt to get his attention. He let it go.

By the time Stephen finished his shower, Noelle had breakfast ready. His stomach growled. He grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his phone, its battery long dead. It reminded him of how Rachel had teased him the night before when she'd seen him without Noelle.

"Where's your little tagalong tonight? You've really gone soft, Stephen. Since when do you let a maid boss you around?"

Stephen had scoffed and set his phone on the table in front of everyone. He'd boasted that even if Noelle called him a hundred times, he wouldn't so much as glance at it.

But by morning, there hadn't been a single message from her.

Stephen stopped chewing.

"Why didn't you call me last night and tell me to come home?"

Noelle looked up in surprise.

Stephen had always complained that she talked too much. He'd even scolded her for talking at meals or when it was time for bed. Yet here he was, making conversation over breakfast.

"Before you left, you told me not to bother you."

For the first time in nine years, Noelle couldn't make sense of him.

He'd told her over and over not to call him or follow him around. Now that she'd done exactly what he wanted, he was questioning her for not calling.

Maybe he'd just gotten used to her chasing after him. She wasn't going to get her hopes up again.