Chapter 4

Olivia

“I still don’t understand why you have to live in that house,” my father said quietly.

We sat in our tiny living room, the old television humming softly in the background. Dad was in his recliner while I sat curled up on the couch across from him, explaining everything about my new job.

For once, he was sober enough for us to actually have a conversation.

“Dad,” I said gently, “it’s part of the position. I have to stay there so I can take care of Lily.”

“You don’t understand, Liv.” He rubbed a tired hand over his face. “Those people aren’t normal.”

I sighed.

“I know they’re rich. I know they practically own this town,” I replied. “But can’t you see how huge this opportunity is for me?”

“It’s not about the money.” His voice lowered. “There are things about the Hawthornes you don’t know.”

I frowned.

“And you do?”

His silence answered enough.

“Dad,” I said softly, “I can’t keep living like this. I need my own life too.”

The second the words left my mouth, pain flashed across his face.

“Olivia…” His voice cracked. “I know I’ve been a terrible father.”

“You haven’t been terrible.”

“Yes, I have.” He looked down at his hands. “When your mother died, part of me died too.”

My chest tightened instantly.

“I miss her too,” I whispered. “She was my best friend.”

And she had been.

Before the accident, Mom had been the heart of our family. Warm. Funny. Alive.

After she died, our entire world collapsed around us.

“But I can’t keep taking care of everything by myself anymore,” I admitted. “You have to start taking care of yourself too.”

Dad stared at the floor without answering.

The silence stretched painfully.

Finally, I asked quietly, “Are you okay with this?”

His jaw tightened.

“I just wish it was another family,” he muttered. “I don’t want them taking my little girl too.”

My heart broke a little at that.

“They’re not taking me,” I said quickly. “I’ll always be your daughter.”

Honestly, I didn’t understand why he was reacting so strongly. Maybe years of drinking had twisted his fears into something irrational.

Or maybe he was simply scared of losing the last person he had left.

“You should probably start packing,” he whispered finally.

I stood and walked over to him slowly before kneeling beside his chair.

“Dad,” I said softly, taking his hand in mine, “I love you. This job is good for both of us. It’ll help with the bills, and maybe… maybe it’ll help you focus on yourself again.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“I just want my old dad back.”

His eyes watered instantly.

“I want my old life back too,” he admitted hoarsely. “I just want her back. God, Liv… it’s so hard.”

I wrapped my arms around him tightly.

“I’m not leaving you,” I whispered. “I’m just moving closer to work. That’s all. You’ll always be my dad.”

He hugged me back silently for a long moment before finally letting go.

“Just don’t let those people walk all over you,” he muttered.

I smiled weakly.

“I won’t.”

Afterward, I went upstairs to pack.

The second I stepped into my room, reality hit me hard.

Nothing had changed in here since I was thirteen years old.

The faded posters.

The old comforter.

The tiny vanity in the corner.

It was like time had frozen after my mother died.

Now I was twenty, and somehow I was still trapped inside the same bedroom belonging to a girl who no longer existed.

This nanny job wasn’t just employment.

It was escape.

I crossed the room and pulled my battered suitcase from the closet before setting it on the bed.

As I packed my clothes, I realized how little I actually owned.

A few pairs of jeans.

Leggings.

Cheap shirts.

One decent dress.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d bought something purely for myself.

Every dollar I earned went toward survival.

Bills.

Groceries.

Keeping the lights on.

There had never been room for luxuries.

By the time I zipped the suitcase closed, my eyes drifted toward the framed photograph sitting on my desk.

I picked it up carefully.

It was a picture of me and my mom on my thirteenth birthday.

We were laughing so hard in the photo that both of us looked blurry.

This had always been my favorite picture of her.

After she died, I couldn’t even look at it for years.

Part of me hated her for leaving us behind.

Her death had forced me to grow up overnight while my father drowned himself in grief.

But now…

Now all I felt was tired.

A tear slid down my cheek as I stared at her smiling face.

“Mom,” I whispered shakily, “I’m drowning here.”

My voice cracked.

“I need this job. I need to get away for a little while. I need something that’s mine.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

This was the right choice.

It had to be.

I placed the photograph carefully back on the desk before grabbing my phone.

There was one more thing I needed to handle.

I scrolled to Uncle Mike’s contact and pressed call.

He wasn’t really my uncle—just my father’s lifelong best friend—but he’d been more reliable than most actual family members.

“Hey, kiddo,” he answered warmly. “What’s going on?”

“My car won’t start,” I admitted immediately. “Any chance you could come look at it? I really need it running tomorrow.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

“Well…” I hesitated. “I got a nanny job.”

“That’s great, Liv.”

“For the Hawthorne family.”

Silence.

Then—

“You’re working for the Hawthornes?”

“Mrs. Hawthorne offered me a trial position taking care of their daughter. I move in tomorrow.”

Another long pause.

“You’re moving into the Hawthorne estate?” he asked carefully. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I really need this job,” I said quietly. “The pay is amazing, and honestly… I just need a life outside this house for a while.”

He sighed heavily.

“I know, sweetheart. You deserve to actually live like someone your age.” His tone softened. “Life’s been unfair to you.”

Tell me about it.

“But the Hawthornes…” he muttered. “Just be careful around those boys, okay?”

I laughed weakly.

“They’re not going to notice me.”

“Olivia.” His voice turned serious. “You’re a beautiful girl whether you believe it or not.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me.

“They definitely aren’t my type.”

“Still,” he said firmly, “promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.”

“Good. I’ll head over now and look at the car.”

“Thanks, Uncle Mike.”

After hanging up, I sat quietly on my bed for a moment.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow everything changed.

Tomorrow I’d officially start my new life at the Hawthorne estate.

And for the first time in years…

I actually felt hopeful.

“Kiddo, your battery connection is completely corroded,” Uncle Mike announced while looking under the hood of my car.

I grimaced.

“What exactly does that mean?”

“It means you need a new battery.”

Fantastic.

“You can’t just jump it?” I asked hopefully. “I really can’t afford a new battery right now.”

“I can jump it temporarily,” he said, “but it won’t fix the actual problem. The car will die again soon.”

I groaned.

“So I’m basically stranded?”

“No.” He shut the hood firmly. “I’ll buy the battery. You can pay me back whenever.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Liv,” he interrupted gently, “do you need the car working or not?”

“Yes,” I admitted miserably. “I really don’t want to lose this job before I even start.”

“Then it’s settled.”

He leaned against the car and crossed his arms.

“Answer me something though,” he said. “Why the Hawthornes specifically? You could find babysitting work anywhere.”

I hesitated before answering honestly.

“I don’t know. It’s like something about the job pulled me toward it.” I shrugged awkwardly. “And maybe living there gives me a chance to breathe for once.”

Uncle Mike nodded slowly.

“I get wanting to escape,” he admitted. “You deserve freedom, Olivia.”

His expression darkened slightly.

“I’m just worried about you. The Hawthornes are powerful people around here.”

“I know.”

“I just don’t want anything happening to you.”