Chapter 5

“The Ex Returns”

I thought I had survived the first week. I had managed Chloe, navigated the mansion, and even avoided making any glaring mistakes in front of Cade. But peace, I quickly learned, was temporary.

That morning began like any other: the sun pouring through the tall windows, Chloe already absorbed in her drawing, and the mansion humming quietly around us. I had just finished preparing breakfast when the sound of the front gates echoed — louder than usual.

I frowned. Deliveries didn’t come this early. And visitors… well, I hadn’t expected any.

Cade entered the kitchen with his usual commanding presence, eyes scanning the space. “Someone’s arrived,” he said, voice low but precise. “I suggest you keep Chloe inside until I handle it.”

I nodded, heart racing. “Yes, sir.”

The doorbell rang again, and with it, a voice that made my blood run cold.

“Lila Monroe.”

I froze.

The voice was smooth, familiar, dripping with charm and arrogance. I had heard it before — countless times — in a life I had tried to leave behind. My stomach churned as I turned slightly, just enough to see her.

Vanessa.

Cade’s expression didn’t change, but I caught a flicker of recognition — subtle, almost imperceptible — in his eyes. Vanessa was stunning, the kind of woman who could command attention without trying. Her dark hair shimmered under the sun, her heels clicking with purpose across the marble floors. And that smile… the one that was meant to disarm everyone, everyone except me.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I whispered, voice trembling.

Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with something I couldn’t place — amusement, or malice, maybe both. “I could say the same about you, Lila,” she replied smoothly. “Quite the change… from the small flower shop to this mansion. Impressive.”

I clenched my fists under the table. “What are you doing here?”

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh, I’m just checking in. Making sure everything — and everyone — is where it should be.”

Cade’s deep voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Vanessa. This isn’t a social call. State your purpose or leave.”

Vanessa’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m merely concerned about Chloe,” she said, with an exaggerated softness. “I want to ensure she’s… comfortable and well taken care of.”

My chest tightened. Her tone was saccharine, but I could sense the threat beneath it. She wasn’t here to visit; she was here to interfere, to test me, to see if I was weak enough to break.

Cade’s eyes locked onto Vanessa, gray and unflinching. “You’ll have no involvement with Chloe beyond what I approve. Any attempts to disrupt her routine, and you’ll leave immediately.”

Vanessa laughed softly, a musical, poisonous sound. “I wouldn’t dream of overstepping, Cade. But… the girl has potential. Don’t crush it.”

I didn’t like the way she looked at me — like she was studying, judging, calculating exactly how much I could handle before I faltered.

After Vanessa left, the mansion felt heavier. The light outside didn’t reach me the same way, and Chloe seemed smaller, more anxious.

“Who was that?” she asked, tugging at my sleeve.

I hesitated, kneeling beside her. “Someone from my past… someone who isn’t very kind.”

Chloe’s small hand squeezed mine. “Will she hurt us?”

I swallowed. “No. I… I’ll protect you, Chloe. Always.”

Her eyes softened, and she nestled closer to me. For the first time since the mansion, I felt a tiny spark of strength. Maybe I wasn’t completely powerless here. Maybe I could fight, even against people like Vanessa.

Later that afternoon, I found myself in the library, trying to focus on Chloe’s lessons. My mind, however, kept drifting back to Vanessa. Her presence was like a shadow that lingered in the corners of my mind. I could feel her eyes on me, even though she was long gone.

Cade entered silently, standing behind me. “She’ll test you,” he said, voice low. “Vanessa… she knows weaknesses, exploits them. Do not let her.”

I flinched. “I… I won’t.”

His hand brushed my shoulder — brief, almost accidental, but it made my stomach flutter. “Remember,” he continued, voice softer now, “strength isn’t just about resisting others. It’s about protecting what matters. Don’t forget that.”

I looked up at him, gray eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. Vanessa. Chloe. The mansion. The contract.

Just one glance from Cade, and the world shifted.

Dinner that evening was tense. Chloe poked at her food, still shaken by Vanessa’s visit. I tried to keep the mood light, telling her stories and making her laugh in small bursts. It helped, just a little, but the shadow of Vanessa lingered like smoke in every corner.

After Chloe went to bed, I lingered in my room, my thoughts racing. Vanessa had a reason for showing up. She hadn’t come just to intimidate me — she had plans, schemes, and I was certain Chloe was part of them.

I opened the desk drawer in my room to find the note from the hallway again. I hadn’t looked at it since the day before. The elegant handwriting stared back at me, warning me once more:

“Be careful, Lila. Not everyone here wants you to succeed.”

My hands trembled. Vanessa’s visit had confirmed it — there were people actively working against me in this mansion. My life, already precarious, was about to become even more dangerous.

And as I stared out at the sprawling gardens beyond my window, I realized something terrifying:

I wasn’t just surviving for myself anymore. I was surviving for Chloe. And someone was trying to take her away from me.

But who? And how far would they go to break us?