What's wrong with nurse Lana?!

Chapter 8

*** Lana's POV ***

I tried to steady my trembling hands as I examined Kylian’s weak knees. My mind, however, kept drifting to the dangerous situation I had signed myself into.

Twenty thousand dollars a month, plus every luxury one could possibly imagine. But was any amount of money worth enduring a stubborn, difficult billionaire patient like him?

From the way Ms. Paltz spoke about him and how the rest of the staff avoided even mentioning his name, it was clear: Kylian was cruel, demanding, and impossible to please. No one lasted long in this role. I was probably just the latest in a long line of broken nurses who had walked through these doors with hope, only to leave defeated.

I glanced up at him. His head was turned stubbornly to the side, refusing to cooperate as I gently checked the mobility and swelling around his joints. The pain in his expression was evident, yet he still fought me every step of the way.

This shrewd man right here was exactly why the salary was so ridiculously high. Mr. Tristan hadn’t wanted someone from a regular agency. They had probably tried that route already and failed. What they needed now was someone desperate—someone with everything to lose. Someone like me.

I wondered what terrible clauses I had blindly agreed to in that contract.

“Oh, come on, Kylian. Be a good boy and let her take care of you,” Finn said, barely looking up from his phone as he lounged in the corner of the room.

Kylian shot him a deadly glare. “Stop talking to me like that, Finn. We’re not an item.”

“Aww, my sweet Kylian, that hurts my feelings,” Finn replied dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “But I’ll forgive you as long as you let Lana do her job nicely.”

“What are you even doing here?” Kylian snapped, his voice laced with bitterness. “The last time I checked, I told you never to show your face again. You’re always taking my uncle’s side instead of mine—your best friend—and now you suddenly appear acting all nice?”

Finn grinned, flashing his perfect white teeth. “I’ve apologized over and over again, Kylian. What more do you want from me?”

The tension between them was thick and strangely intimate. For a moment, one could almost mistake them for lovers having a lovers’ quarrel. The thought made me want to laugh, but I held it in. Kylian was far too much of a hard-headed jerk for that kind of softness.

“Breakfast is almost ready,” Finn announced, ignoring Kylian’s protests. “Come on, let’s get you downstairs. I’m sure your uncle is waiting.” He turned to me with a charming smile. “Come on, uh… what’s your name again?”

“Lana,” I replied quickly, straightening up.

“Right. Lana, help me get him down for breakfast. There’s nothing Uncle Tristan hates more than an incomplete table.”

“And when exactly did I agree to have breakfast with anyone this morning?” Kylian growled, his eyes narrowing.

Of course he had to be difficult about everything.

If it were up to me, I would have let him starve in his room. I glared at him, already regretting every decision that had led me here, yet more determined than ever not to quit. No matter how many tantrums he threw, I was staying. I had a sick father who needed expensive surgery, mounting debts, and a future that depended entirely on this paycheck.

Finn simply ignored Kylian’s complaints. He grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and began wheeling him out of the room and down the long corridor. Kylian groaned and howled like a stubborn child the entire way, drawing curious glances from the passing maids.

When we finally reached the grand dining room, Uncle Tristan was already seated at the head of the table, looking polished and refreshed.

“Kylian, son,” he said warmly, “nice to see you joining us for breakfast this morning. Thanks to Finn, I presume?”

“Good morning, Uncle,” Finn greeted cheerfully. “You look quite the part. Back from your morning run?”

Uncle Tristan chuckled, clearly delighted. “Yes, my boy. I have to keep myself fit for as long as possible. It’s obvious your stubborn friend here isn’t willing to do the same.”

“I’m trying,” Kylian grunted under his breath.

I couldn’t help it—a loud snort escaped me before I could stop it.

The entire room fell into awkward silence. All eyes turned to me. Finn smirked in amusement, Uncle Tristan’s expression remained carefully neutral, and Kylian… well, he looked utterly disgusted.

“Lana, please,” Uncle Tristan said softly, breaking the tension, “join us. Let’s all have a seat.”

“What? Right here?” I stuttered, my heart racing.

“Yes, why not? Come on, the food is getting cold.”

We took our seats in uncomfortable silence around the massive dining table. Finn kept cracking jokes and playfully poking at Kylian, who refused to stop glaring at me even while eating. I felt incredibly out of place, but I forced a pleasant expression. I couldn’t let Uncle Tristan see how much his nephew was already getting under my skin.

Twenty thousand dollars every month. I couldn’t afford to lose this opportunity. Not now. Not ever.

“So…” Uncle Tristan began, cutting into his eggs, “how are you enjoying your stay and the job so far, Lana?”

“Huh? Oh… it’s been wonderful,” I said quickly, plastering on a bright smile. “It’s bliss. Absolute bliss. I love it here.”

Finn snorted into his coffee while Kylian rolled his eyes dramatically. Without thinking, I rolled mine right back at him. The second I did it, I regretted it. *Am I actually trying to get myself fired?*

Uncle Tristan studied me for a moment. “Are you sure? You aren’t having any problems with… anyone so far?”

I chuckled nervously, nearly choking on a piece of toast. “Why would I? It’s bliss. Surreal bliss.”

He nodded slowly, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. The rest of breakfast passed in heavy, awkward silence, broken only by Finn’s occasional jokes.

After the meal, I tried to help Kylian out of his chair so we could return to his room, but he refused to budge. Leaning closer, he whispered darkly in my ear:

“Bliss? I’ll show you what true bliss is.”

His voice was ice-cold. A shiver ran down my spine. What did he mean by that? Was he planning to make my life a living hell until I quit? He must be joking if he thought I would break so easily.

I had a sick father counting on me, hospital bills piling up, and a mountain of responsibilities waiting back home. I wasn’t going to let a spoiled, wheelchair-bound tyrant ruin everything.

Before I could respond, he rudely pushed my hands away. Uncle Tristan’s sharp eyes were now fixed on us. Finn quickly rushed over.

“Alright, breakfast is over. Let’s get going, ASAP,” Finn said, smoothly diffusing the situation.

Thank God for Finn. Without him, I had no idea how I would handle someone as impossible as Kylian.

Once Finn helped me wheel the brooding Kylian back to his room, I excused myself and hurried to my own quarters. I needed answers. I pulled out the thick contract I had signed in haste the day before—the one I had barely skimmed.

There was something deeply suspicious about this job. The exorbitant pay, the generous bonuses, the fact that they hired someone with average qualifications instead of an experienced agency nurse… Something wasn’t right.

And I was right to be worried.

As I flipped through the pages, my stomach dropped. The clauses were horrible—cruel, even. My hands began to shake and my eyes stung with angry tears.

Mr. Tristan had tricked me with that $10,000 advance, calling it a “welcome bonus” or “relocation reward.” In reality, if I quit before the agreed six-month minimum, I would have to pay back every single cent—plus penalties. There were strict confidentiality clauses, gag orders, and massive financial repercussions if I ever spoke about the terms to anyone.

I was trapped.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I had been played. Desperation had made me careless, and now I was legally bound to this nightmare.

I sat on the edge of my luxurious bed, staring at the documents with blurred vision. Twenty thousand dollars a month suddenly felt like blood money.

But quitting wasn’t an option.

Not when my father’s life depended on it.

I wiped my tears fiercely and clenched my jaw.

Kylian could try his worst. He could glare, insult, threaten, and make my days miserable. But I wasn’t going anywhere.

I had too much to lose.

And something told me the real battle had only just begun.