Chapter 4

Nina's POV 

I zipped my bag shut and hid it under the bed.

Years ago, I gave up everything for Steven. I packed my life into a single suitcase, left my hometown, and came to a place where I knew nobody. 

I had no friends here. No family to run to. I spent two whole years isolated in his house, relying on him for every meal and every step. I gave him my absolute devotion because I thought he was my safe haven.

Now I knew the truth. And I was going to go back home and play the sister that ran away. This was my way out, no matter how unpalatable the whole thing looked. 

Steven knew nothing about the phone call. He knew nothing about my plan to leave.

That evening, Steven came into the room while I was sitting by the desk, pretending to feel my way around a book. He walked over and set a stack of papers down near me.

"Nina, I had Lacy bring up some forms for you to sign later," Steven said, his tone casual.

I paused, keeping my face blank. "Lacy? Who is Lacy?"

Steven went still for a second. He cleared his throat quickly. "Oh, I mean... the maid. Her name is Lacy."

"I don't like her, Steven," I said softly, staring toward his chest. "She's aggressive. She smells like expensive perfume, not like someone who cleans houses. And she was mean to me today. Why don't you fire her and get someone else?"

Steven’s voice hardened instantly. 

"Don't be ridiculous, Nina. She works hard. You're just being overly sensitive because of your condition."

"My condition?" I asked, looking up at him. "Steven, she spat in my soup—"

"Enough!" Steven snapped, his anger suddenly flaring up. He stepped closer, towering over me, his face twisting into something ugly. 

"I am tired of your complaining! Do you have any idea how much I do for you? I took you in when you were a useless, blind mess! I stay with you every single day through all of this!"

The words were hurtful but he didn't seem to care. My breath caught in my throat.

"I stayed with you when anyone else would have thrown you away!" Steven yelled, stepping right into my space. 

"You should be grateful I’m even here! Look at you! You're blind and useless to me! Nobody else could ever love you in a state like this! Nobody!"

I sat completely frozen as his words echoed through the room. The pain sliced so deep I couldn't even breathe. 

For two years, he had acted like my sweet protector, but this was what he truly thought of me. He thought I was a burden. A piece of trash he was doing charity for.

Tears pooled in my eyes, but I forced my voice to stay steady.

“You're saying these mean words to me because of a maid?” 

“No! I just wish that for once you will look past your condition and learn to treat other people better. You slapped the maid! How horrible is that?”

"Let's break up, Steven," I whispered.

Steven stopped. He blinked, staring down at me like I had spoken in a foreign language. Then, he let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

"Break up?" Steven sneered, shaking his head. "Stop being so unreasonable, Nina. You're throwing a tantrum over a maid. Where would you even go? Who would take care of you? You have nothing without me."

"I'm serious," I said, rising from the chair and picking up my cane. "We're done."

"You're being crazy," Steven spat, waving his hand dismissively. "Get over yourself. I'm going down to the office."

He turned and slammed the door behind him.

A few minutes later, I picked up my cane and stepped out into the hallway, moving quietly toward his home office down the corridor. I needed to see if the front coast was clear so I could leave. As I neared his door, I heard his voice booming through the crack.

"I told you to back off, Lacy!" Steven was growling angrily. 

"You went too far today with the soup!"

"Why do you care so much?!" Lacy shrieked back. "You said you love me! Throw her out!"

"I am NOT leaving Nina!" Steven snapped firmly. "She stays here! Just do your job and stop pushing her, or I swear I'll lose my temper with you too!"

“It's not my fault that she is such a burden to you. You can actually get rid of something that trouble.”

“She just threatened to break up with me. She has been pushed too far.”

Lacy laughed. 

“You know she can't do that.”

“I know. That's not whh I should let you treat her like filth. I know I'm all she has and she will always come crawling back to me. But I can't make life more unbearable for her.”

I didn't wait to hear the rest. I hurried back to my room, pulled my bag out from under the bed, and grabbed my coat.

I pulled out my phone, blocked Steven's number on everything, and turned the device off completely. I didn't want him tracking me. I didn't want him calling.

I slipped down the back stairs, stepped out into the cold night air, and walked away from the house without looking back once.