Chapter 2

Kyra

I couldn’t sleep. Anxiety consumed me. The way he had looked at me—and everything that went unsaid—left me terrified and uneasy. I used the night to drink something strong, hoping I could forget the day and be in a better state to face this new life in the morning.

The sky was still gray when I returned to the mansion the next day, this time with my small suitcase in hand and my throat tight with expectation. What if everything went wrong? The place felt far too silent. No music. No life. As if no one breathed loudly inside that house—only whispered orders or stayed quiet to avoid disturbing the boss.

The door was opened again by the same employee from the night before. He simply nodded, as if I already belonged there.

But I didn’t. I didn’t even feel welcome.

Liam—or rather, Mr. Blackthorne—was waiting for me in the side hallway, dressed in a dark suit with an expensive watch on his wrist. The kind of man who always looks late for everything, except for commanding someone. And exactly the kind of man I wanted to keep my distance from.

“Punctuality,” he said dryly. “A good start, Miss Lystem.”

I nodded, gripping the handle of my suitcase tightly. I wanted to be strong. But everything about him made me feel… exposed. As if he could read my thoughts before I could even organize them. Damn it.

“I’ll show you what you need to know,” he continued. “The house is divided into three floors. You’ll stay on the first, in the room next to Julie’s. Never go up. The second floor is private, and the third is my bedroom and a few rooms. You may go up if you need to—but keep your distance from the second-floor corridors.”

The way he said private sounded like a code. Like an invisible wall that, if crossed, would bring consequences without warning.

“Alright,” I murmured.

We passed through the minimalist living room, the oversized kitchen that looked rarely used, and a hallway decorated with monochrome paintings. Some of the frames were just childish scribbles—probably Julie’s.

“This is Julie’s room. She only uses it when she wants to draw. She rarely speaks or interacts much. Almost never smiles at anyone. Don’t try to force anything. She’ll observe you for days before allowing any closeness. I hope that won’t be a problem for you.”

“Respecting boundaries will never be a problem for me. I’m here to learn from her as well.”

“She’s asthmatic,” he added, stopping in front of a white door. “That’s important. The attacks may be rare, but when they happen, you need to act in seconds. Because they’re silent.”

He opened the door, revealing a built-in cabinet full of medication, inhalers, masks, oxygen cylinders, and laminated instructions.

“Read everything. Twice. Until you know it by heart. This is the only part of the house where I do not tolerate mistakes.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. I knew that tone. That weight in his words. Liam wasn’t asking. He was delivering a verdict.

“She goes to school three times a week. The driver already knows the schedule. When she’s home, keep the windows closed. Humidity affects her breathing.”

“Does she sleep with the door open?”

He looked at me intensely.

“She doesn’t sleep through the night. She has frequent nightmares and usually wakes up several times.”

Silence. And then I saw her.

Little Julie. Small. Shoulder-length blonde hair. Huge, sad blue eyes. A stuffed bunny stained with paint clutched in her arms.

She stood at her bedroom door, silently watching us.

“Julie,” Liam called, his voice lower but still firm. “This is Kyra. She’ll be your new nanny starting today. I want you to meet her, sweetheart.”

The girl didn’t answer. Didn’t move. She simply turned and walked away as if she already knew there was no reason to interact.

“She’s four,” he explained. “But sometimes she seems older. I hope you can handle her lightly and kindly. I hope you don’t give up easily.”

He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt. Straightened his tie with precision. Everything about him was control. Even love—if there was still any left inside him.

“You can start now. Take your suitcase. Read the instructions. And be ready at 7 p.m. We have dinner punctually. Every day. At the same time.”

I looked at him, unsure whether we included him or just the child.

“Should I serve dinner?” That was also written down, but only for Julie.

He gave me a half smile. The first one. But it was cruel.

“No. You should just be present. I want to observe how she reacts to you at the table.” He took two steps closer. “And how you behave when placed under expectation.”

The air seemed to grow heavier. There was no physical contact. No direct threat. But something in his words marked me like a branding iron.

I nodded slowly, keeping my chin up even as everything inside me trembled.

Before stepping away, he looked at me firmly and said:

“Welcome to the routine, Miss Lystem.”

Liam

She didn’t ask anything else. Good girl.

I watched as she disappeared down the hallway with her suitcase. Her walk was hesitant, but her neck remained straight. Kyra wasn’t built to submit easily. But something in her… was already bending, even without realizing it. Was it fear or caution? That was what interested me.

Julie was still watching from afar, hidden behind her bedroom door, with those curious little eyes that reminded me of my cruel past.

“What did you think of her?” I asked, looking at my daughter with a faint smile, trying not to get lost there.

My daughter simply hugged the bunny tighter against her chest and went back into her room without answering.

It was the closest thing to approval I would get at that moment. And it was enough.

I returned to my office. The day would be long. Meetings, contracts, decisions.

But for the first time in months, something in the house felt different.

Not quieter.

Restless.

And I liked that restlessness. Because it reminded me that I am still human. That I have a daughter, and I need to move forward without looking back—or I will keep losing myself.

Julie needs me whole.

Because now, we only have each other.