Chapter 5

Amy's POV 

I had spent days reading everything I could find about Thane Sterling and his family. He was married to Seraphina and they had a little boy. I stared at my son through the screen and ran a finger across it. My lost child. I noticed how he wasn't identical to Ronan and a part of me thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to take the job.

The choice was quickly ripped away when Ronan's medical bill had arrived in the mail alongside my termination of employment from the jewelry shop. 

Right now beneath the scorching sun, I was trying to locate Thane's mansion.

“Mummy, who do we know here?” Ronan whined, his little hands tugging at my skirt. 

I swallowed. “Nobody.”

“Oh my goodness.” A woman who was walking by suddenly started taking quick steps towards us. 

I grabbed Ronan’s hand. 

“That hair.” She crouched in front of him and he hid behind me. “Is this child royalty?”

“He is not.” I snapped at her. “He is just a normal child who played with his grandma’s dye.”

She blinked and suddenly took a step back. 

“I’m sorry.” She muttered beneath her breath as she slipped away. 

I pulled Ronan’s hoodie over his head. “Don't take this off, okay baby?”

He nodded and I pulled him close. I finally found the house number. I knocked once and the gate slid open. 

“I knew you'd come.” 

My head shot up and I saw Thane sitting in the balcony shirtless. I swallowed and looked away. He threw his towel around his neck and started descending down the stairs. 

Seeing him like this revived a pulse in the middle of my legs. I pressed my thighs together. I needed to focus. I was here for the money and more importantly, I was here so I could see the child that was taken away from me. 

“I need the money.” I said in a low tone. 

“Come in.” He gestured for us to follow him and we did. I stared at the building. It was very similar to what we had planned. I shook my head. There was no need to think about the past. 

He looked down at Ronan and my hand tightened around his wrist. “What’s your name?”

“Ronan.” He replied innocently. 

He looked up at me. “And you?”

I almost scoffed. He couldn't be serious right now, could he? He needed to drop the acting. 

“What's your name, ma'am?”

“Amy.” I replied. I watched his face for any sort of recognition but there was nothing. If I wasn't holding my son in my hands right now, I would be convinced that I imagined our relationship. 

“Where is your son?” I cut in before he could start a conversation with Ronan. 

“He went horse riding with his mother.”

His mother. My breath caught in my throat but I managed to keep a straight face. 

“Don’t be stupid.” A shrill voice rang from outside. “Do you know how much my boots cost?”

Thane exhaled. “That is my wife.”

I straightened my shoulders as the sound of shoes clicking against the marble floor approached. She walked into the main area and looked from Thane to me.

“I didn't know we run charity in our house now.”

A maid walked in with the boy tagging behind. My heart almost burst with emotions when my eyes fell on him. His shirt was dirty from horse riding. His eyes were wild and mischievous. Although they were twins, the two boys were different sides of a coin. I could remain undercover and close to my son. 

“Lucien.” Thane called and he walked over. 

“Seraphina, this is Amy. She would be the new nanny.”

She glared at me as if trying to see through me. I looked away and avoided her eyes. She muttered something beneath her breath and immediately started climbing the stairs. 

My mouth almost fell open. What sort of mother didn't care to interact with her child's nanny? I knew the answer. One who didn't birth the child. 

Thane held Lucien against his legs. The boy stared at us with blank eyes. 

“He doesn't talk much.” Thane said. 

My lips twitched but I couldn't say a word because of how badly my eyes burned with unshed tears. If I said a word now, I wouldn't be able to hold back anymore. 

“Seraphina had a really tough time during his birth and I don't think she ever truly recovered from it. Their relationship is quite…” He exhaled. “Strained.”

I swallowed. I wanted to scream at him that it was strained because Seraphina didn't give birth to him and she was tired of acting. I wanted to grab him and tell him to drop the act now but I simply stood there and stared. 

“I wouldn't lie to you.” Thane continued talking and I looked at him. “My boy is difficult. Almost ten nannies have quit on us.”

I inhaled and edged closer to him. “Hello Lucien.”

I spread my arms apart and he caught my thumb and twisted it. 

I yelped in pain. 

“Don’t do that.” Ronan screamed, running to hit him. I grabbed Ronan back while nursing my injured thumb. 

“Lucien, that's no way to treat a stranger.” Thane said and he folded his arms tightly across his chest. 

“I told you I don't need a nanny.” He screamed at him and walked away. 

I watched in horror what had become of my child. 

Thane pinched the bridge of his nose. “I understand if you can't do this. I just needed to get you away from that toxic environment.”

My first instinct was to ask why. Was it because he recognized me? Did his wolf stir up too? Or was I just a charity case? 

“What’s in it for me?” I asked even though deep down I knew I would work here with a shitty pay because it broke my heart to see my son like this and I knew he needed me. 

“Seventy thousand dollars monthly and health insurance. Added perks if you do a good job.” He winked. 

Heat crawled down my stomach and settled between my thighs. “I will take it.” 

“Great.” He grinned. “My Beta would fill you in.” 

The door behind me creaked open. I turned around and my eyes met with Kane. Terror flooded his eyes as the bottle of wine in his hand slipped and shattered against the floor.