Chapter Three

Ava’s POV

My mind couldn't stop racing with thoughts about my CEO’s offer to be his daughter's nanny. I loved the cute girl, but being her nanny would mean working closely with her cold father.

I’d asked for two days to think over it, maybe before then, I’d make a decision.

“Why are you just coming?” my stepmother’s cold voice stopped me in track as I walked in.

I released a deep sigh, hoping she wasn't about to start her trouble. “Aunty, I told you yesterday I got employed at the King’s enterprise, so obviously I’m coming from work….”

Before I could finish speaking, a stinging slap landed on my cheek. If a mirror had been in my front at the moment, I would have seen the red marks from her fingers.

My eyes burned with anger as I glared at my wicked stepmom, who stood tall, satisfied with her action.

“What have I done to deserve such a slap?” I asked, a tear rolling down my cheek.

“When you learn to speak to your mother with respect, you won't be getting slapped,” my father said, his voice stern as he emerged from his room.

“Dad….” I called out, disappointed at him, my hand still clutching my burning cheek.

“I heard how you replied to your mother's simple question….”

“She's not my mother,” I snapped, but earned another slap, this time from my father. My cheeks started to burn with pain.

I opened my trembling mouth to speak, but words failed me. Since my father's remarriage to Alicia, just a week after my mom's death, I’d been treated like a maid.

“She's been the one taking care of you and your late brother since your mother died.” My dad sneered.

‘Taking care’ I scoffed inwardly. A woman who was always satisfied to starve me and my late brother, Aiden.

“Can I at least go…to my room,” I stammered. My dad and his wife eyed me with disdain and irritating hiss escaped their throats. I took that as an answer and strode to my room.

My gaze fell on my mother's picture and my grief only intensified. I missed her so much. I gently took down the picture, clutching it to my chest as I collapsed to the ground, and sobbed silently.

Suddenly, I sighted a long creature crawling towards me, making me jerk up from the floor. Its slithering movement sent chills down my spine as I leaned against the wall, my breath becoming fast with fear.

Its scary pupils seemed to lock onto mine as it moved closer, and I froze, paralyzed with fear. A loud scream for help escaped my throat, but no one came to my rescue.

The copperhead snake raised its head off the floor, and I screamed again, my fear intensifying.

A rush of adrenaline ran through my spine, and I grabbed the door knob, but it wouldn't budge, it seemed like it had been locked from outside.

I was trapped in the room with the deadly snake. Who would have done that?

With no means of escape, I summoned up courage and grabbed my wooden stool and began smashing it down on the snake’s head. Sweat dripped down my body as I continued the relentless attack, my chest was heaving with fear.

After what felt like eternity, the snake’s head finally severed. A wave of relief washed over me as I stared at its lifeless body on the floor.

I collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, sweat streaming down my face. Just then, my door creaked open and my dad and Alicia walked in.

“Oh my goodness!” My dad exclaimed as he saw the dead snake.

Alicia rushed towards me, and began inspecting my body. I could see the disappointment in her eyes when she couldn't find any mark of snake bite on me.

“How did this enter?” My dad asked, his voice dripping with shock as he inspected the snake.

“You should ask your daughter,” Alicia said sharply, making my eyes widened in shock.

‘Ask me’ but how?

“This snake can't be found in clean, developed areas. Not even in a neat house like this. Ava, why did you bring a snake into this house?” She snapped, her eyes flashing with accusations.

I couldn't believe my dad started believing her as he turned his accusatory gaze at me, expecting me to reply.

My breath was still heavy, I couldn't speak, I just allowed my tears to flow.

“I know your plans,” Alicia sneered. “You want to kill Rowan, just like you killed your only brother.”

“Alicia, it's okay,” My father snapped. “My daughter can't do that,” he cautioned.

“Then explain what a snake’s doing in a clean house like this?” She snapped back, her voice raised.

I cleared my throat and slowly rose up, my teary eyes locked on Alicia.

“Alicia,” I called, her eyes narrowed as I called her by name.

“I called for help when I saw this snake in my room, but no one showed up. I wanted to run, but discovered my door was locked from outside. Tell me, what have I done to deserve this cruel treatment from you?” I said, my voice firm, despite the emotion brewing in me.

Alicia's expression changed and she bursted into fake tears to gain my father's trust and sympathy. “Will you stand here and watch your daughter accuse me falsely,” she said to my dad before storming out of the room.

“Can you see what you’ve caused,” my dad said, his jaw clenched with anger and then he strode after his wife.

I felt helpless…..My dad believed his wife over me.

I knew sobbing wouldn't help me, instead, I grabbed a packer and carefully placed the dead snake inside it to dispose of.

I was about to reach the wastebin when I heard my stepmother's voice on a call with someone.

I stopped to eavesdrop on her as I heard her mention the snake.

“Stop telling me the snake is poisonous. Why didn't it bite her then? She killed the snake instead.” A cold chill ran down my spine as I heard the words from her mouth.

Not wanting her to find out I’d overheard, I decided to return to my room and dispose of the snake later, but her next words almost made my soul jump out of my body.

“She's a threat to my son. Almost all of her father's properties are in her name!”

My hand trembled as I took in her words, the packer almost slipped from my grasp. My stepmother wanted me dead over inheritance I didn't even care about.

‘I have no other choice than to accept my CEO’s offer to be Lily's live-in nanny.’