Chapter 5

Kyra

I woke up in the middle of the night with my phone vibrating beside me. I answered urgently, thinking it was something important, but it was just the bank reminding me that I’m drowning in debt.

The bedroom window was half open, and the cold wind was freezing me. I knew I wasn’t in my home—if I ever really had one—but I still dared to go downstairs to the kitchen.

“You should be sleeping. Tomorrow will be a long day. Julie has many tasks throughout the day.” Blackthorne stood with his back to me, shirtless, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“Sorry, I just came down for some water. I’m already going back upstairs.” Truth was, I wasn’t thirsty. I was anxious. And lonely.

I made a move to go back up, but he stopped me before I even reached the second step.

“What brought you here, Kyra?”

It wasn’t a question about why I was in the kitchen. It was about how I had managed to turn my life into this mess.

“I… I needed to survive, like everyone does. And you know, people who aren’t born rich have to figure things out.”

That wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the real reason I was in this situation.

Before this miserable life, I had a good job at a good company. I had a house, friends, and I thought I had a good boyfriend by my side. But all I really had were people who knew everything Marcelo was doing to me. Intimate videos and photos leaked into group chats, recorded without my knowledge… and all the shame, humiliation, and even my own mother’s abandonment were left for me to carry.

His life was the complete opposite of mine.

And I have to think carefully before speaking to Blackthorne, because I’m afraid of getting lost in my words and saying something that should never be said.

“Things weren’t always easy for me either, Kyra. You know nothing about me. You are just my daughter’s nanny, and don’t think you’ll ever be more than that.”

I prefer to blame the alcohol too.

“You’re right, Mr. Blackthorne. I don’t know anything about you. I’m just your daughter’s nanny, and I will never interfere in your life, sir. I apologize if I came at a bad time. I’m going back to my room.”

“You have nothing here, Kyra. That room isn’t yours. It’s only temporary.”

“I’m sorry. I thought it was allowed for me to sleep here until—”

“Until what? In your profile I didn’t read that you needed a place to live. So what are you, Kyra? And what do you think I am? Do you think you can replace Ana?”

I didn’t answer. I just went upstairs, changed clothes, grabbed my backpack, and came down again.

I was tired of being treated like trash. But I still had the freedom to leave.

He was still in the kitchen when I walked past him.

“It’s almost 2 a.m. Where are you going?”

“See you later, Mr. Blackthorne. I’ll be here at 6 a.m. sharp. Don’t worry.”

I left quickly before he could say anything else.

Now I was truly alone, walking through the streets without knowing what to do and without a place to return to. As soon as I started working, I had been evicted from the apartment I was renting because of the late payments.

I wanted to quit this job.

But it’s the only thing I have. The only source of income left.

Liam

I didn’t see her return, but I saw her arrive exactly on time. Not a minute late. No explanation. No extra words beyond the necessary.

She was sitting at the table with Julie, watching her eat breakfast while gently brushing her hair as Julie laughed between spoonfuls of cereal.

I watched from a distance, unnoticed.

“I like it when you brush my hair, Kyra. Your hands are very gentle,” my daughter said, radiant in a way I hadn’t seen in days.

“I love brushing your hair too, little one. It looks like fairy hair,” Kyra replied softly, caressing Julie’s face as if she already knew every detail of it.

Then I appeared.

It was my day off, as I had told Kyra before hiring her. The moment they saw me, both grew serious.

“Good morning, Mr. Blackthorne,” Kyra stood up immediately. Julie simply kept eating as if my presence weighed down the room.

“Good morning, Kyra. Good morning, Julie. I was thinking about taking you both out for a walk today. What do you think?”

“A walk in the park, Daddy? With cupcakes and apple juice?”

Kyra didn’t respond. She didn’t even look at me.

“Of course. Today you choose everything,” I kissed Julie’s forehead and waited for Kyra to agree—but she did the opposite.

“May I speak with you, Mr. Blackthorne?”

Her voice sounded gentle, but I knew it was because Julie was there.

We walked down the hallway to the office, and I realized how silent the house felt—and how much I regretted what I had said the night before. I had been out of my mind. I hadn’t thought before speaking. And the worst part: she was acting as if everything were fine.

Once inside, I closed the door and gestured for her to sit, but she refused and went straight to the point.

“I want to apologize for yesterday. I was tired, but I’ve always known my place. And I’d like to ask you not to make me go to the park. You made it clear in the contract: when she’s with you, the employee’s presence isn’t necessary. And… I wanted to ask if you could advance my salary. I know I’ve only worked a few days, but I swear I won’t disappear, sir.”

Her eyes looked lost, as if searching for the right words to justify herself.

“I want to apologize for yesterday too, Kyra. I don’t usually act like that. I was… lost and tired. And I ask you to break a few rules. Julie likes you.”

“I like your daughter too. But I was also warned about rules,” she said, challengingly—and that made me want to possess her more than I’d like to admit. “What time do you need me back, Mr. Blackthorne?”

Hearing my name from her lips was tempting. And irritating. I felt the provocation in the way she said it.

“Stop calling me sir, please. I thought you would organize your room before coming back. I’m sorry. There won’t be scenes like that again. I swear.”

She was about to protest, but I picked up the phone and transferred five thousand dollars to her account. I should have apologized with words only—but practicality and opportunity go well together.

I showed her the receipt. This time, she held my gaze firmly.

“I hope you accept this as an apology. Thank you for coming back. I wouldn’t know what to tell Julie otherwise.”

“I’m not quitting, if that’s what you expect. Until then, I’ll stay by your daughter’s side for a long time.”

She didn’t say anything else. But before leaving, she looked at me and said:

“I will never take up your space. I never want to take your wife’s place, Mr. Blackthorne. I’ll be back before 4 p.m.”

And just like that, she left.

She helped Julie get dressed, packed her small backpack with a care I could never manage.

I saw her putting Julie into the car seat, then walking away with her worn backpack and quick steps, as if she were running from someone.

I didn’t want to do this.

But I had no choice.

I followed her.

She took a taxi and stopped not far away. Entered a building—old, nearly leaning sideways, looking like it could collapse at any moment. There was a sign outside: Apartments for rent.

She didn’t take long to come back out. But she came out smiling. Almost skipping as she walked. Spinning a set of keys around her fingers.

And then it hit me.

She had nowhere to go in the middle of the night.

She left out of pride.

And out of pride, she’s about to leave for good.

A tremendous mistake on my part.