CHAPTER |3
1307 Words
Amarah’s POV
The room Marcus showed me was bigger than my entire house back in Alaocha.
I stood in the center of it, barely breathing, afraid that if I touched anything, the spell cast on me would break and I’d wake up back to chaos.
A soft lamp glowed by the bed. Heavy curtains swallowed every bit of moonlight. The air smelled faintly of cedar and something clean… expensive… and unfamiliar.
I closed the door slowly and let my back rest against it.
I had made it.
I had escaped.
And I had survived.
But my relief didn’t last because the moment I exhaled, Casper’s voice echoed in my head.. rough, angry, promising hell.
“You.. You’re mine.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing both hands over my ears.
“No,” I whispered to the darkness. “I’m not yours. Not anymore.”
A tear slid quietly down my cheek. I wiped it fast because I didn’t want to cry not when I had fought this hard.
I climbed onto the bed, sinking into the plush mattress. It felt too comfortable, too soft, like it could swallow all my fears. I pulled the blankets up to my chin.
But sleep didn’t come.
Instead, every little sound inside the huge mansion made me flinch and Aiden’s eyes flashed in my memory.
Cold and controlled yet sharp enough to slice through excuses and my white lies.
“Don’t make me regret this..”
That line replayed in my chest like a warning siren.
I shivered.
“Mom… I hope I’m doing the right thing,” I whispered, staring at the ceiling. “I hope you’re safe. I’ll get a job.. I’ll save up.. I’ll come back for you.”
The thought soothed me enough that eventually after what felt like hours my eyes finally grew heavy, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
With Aiden’s words dancing in my ear “Come to me..”
Then..
A sharp knock jolted me awake.
“Miss Amarahh?” Marcus’s voice carried through the door. “Breakfast is served. The children will be waiting and Mr. Hart expects a report on how you settle in.”
Mr. Hart.. Aiden.
My stomach tightened instantly.
“I’ll be out in a moment!” I called and I freshened up as fast as I could, braiding my hair and tugging on the only decent blouse I owned. When I stepped into the hall, Marcus gave me a nod of approval.
“You look presentable,” he said gently. “Let’s begin the tour.”
We walked through the long corridors lined with abstract paintings and glass sculptures. Each room looked larger than the last.
“This place is like a museum,” I murmured.
Marcus chuckled. “Aiden Hart likes order and silence.”
“Of course he does,” I muttered under my breath.
We reached the heart of the house.. an airy living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that poured sunlight across the marble floor.
On the far side, two children sat at a long dining table.
The little girl maybe eight had glossy brown hair and an iPad propped in front of her. She didn’t even glance up as we approached.
Her brother, slightly older, swung his legs and looked my way curiously.
Marcus cleared his throat. “Children, this is Miss Amarahh. Your new nanny.”
The girl didn’t blink she didn’t even move.
The boy smiled shyly. “Hi.”
I smiled back. “Hello. Shouldn’t you two be getting ready for school?”
Marcus shook his head as he spoke. “They’re homeschooled.”
“Oh.” I blinked. “That’s… impressive.”
“It’s boring,” the boy corrected, rolling his eyes. “Everything is just worksheets what’s the fun in that.”
The girl slid her eyes up slowly and lazily just to look at me.
Then she went right back to ignoring my existence.
Ouch.
I stepped closer, hoping to make a better impression. “What are your names?”
The boy perked up. “I’m Liam. That’s Ava. She doesn’t talk to strangers.”
Ava paused her game long enough to give him a death glare.
“I didnt ask for your help,” she hissed under her breath.
He shrugged. “Someone has to teach her how life around here works.”
A tiny laugh escaped me, but I swallowed it quickly.
Ava narrowed her eyes at me as she looked at me from my head to my toe then back to my face. “Are you even a real nanny? You don’t look like one”
My stomach clenched.
Marcus stepped forward smoothly. “She comes highly recommended.”
Ava looked between us sharply, like she could smell a few secrets.
Before I could respond, heels clicked against the marble floor..sharp, fast and loud.
A woman burst into the room.
She was tall, glamorous, with dark red lipstick and a fitted dress that screamed confidence and money.
Her perfume hit me like a wave.. sweet and yet oddly suffocating.
The kids stiffened instantly. Ava straightened her posture, as if she had forgotten her iPad.
Liam suddenly focused on his cereal like it was holy scripture.
The woman flicked a cool gaze around the room. “Marcus, where is everyone? And who is..”
Her eyes landed on me.
I smiled quickly. “Good morning, ma’am..”
She walked right past me without even sparing me a glance.
“Marcus,” she said, “is this the new maid?”
Liam groaned. “Aunt Vanessa, she’s the nanny.”
Vanessa stared at me now.. slowly, from my shoes to my braid like she was inspecting a stain.
“This is her?” she asked flatly.
Marcus cleared his throat. “Yes. This is Miss Amarahh.”
Silence stretched across the room for what seemed like an eternity.
Vanessa finally blinked. “Hmm.. Where is Aiden?”
“He left early, ma’am,” Marcus replied.
My eyes widened a little.
Left?
How?
I hadn’t heard a sound.
Vanessa scoffed. “Of course he did. Heaven forbid he interacts with his own household.”
She started walking again, brushing past me..
Hard.
My shoulder jerked from the impact.
She didn’t look back.
My cheeks burned, but I forced myself to smile at Marcus as she stormed up the stairs.
“That was…” I whispered.
“Vanessa,” Marcus spoke calmly.
“And she hates me already?”
“She hates everyone,” he said with a small sigh. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.. Just don’t cross her path.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “And don’t breathe near her.”
Liam leaned forward conspiratorially. “Don’t talk too loud in the halls either. Vanessa says loudness causes wrinkles.”
Ava snorted. “She already has wrinkles.”
“Children,” Marcus warned gently.
Ava slid her gaze back to me.. as if she was measuring me in a curious way even though she tried to hide it.
I smiled softly. “It’s nice to meet all of you.”
Ava picked up her iPad. “We’ll see.”
Then she stood, lifted her chin, and walked away with the elegance of a tiny queen ascending her throne.
I stared after her, half amused, half intimidated.
Marcus sighed. “Never take anything she says personally. She acts like that with everyone”
My chest tightened.
“Alright,” Marcus said brightly. “Tour continues. Welcome to the Hart household… where drama is always on the breakfast menu.”
I followed him, nerves buzzing, aware of how big this house was…
how dangerous my secrets were…
and how close I already was to a man who commanded silence with a single look.
A man I would have to face again.
Soon.
Very soon.
- Writer
