Chapter 8
The days flew by.
Leo was changing right before my eyes.
He started taking the initiative to chat with the butler.
He finally wanted to step outside.
He even began calling me "Sophia" instead of "Miss Winters."
Charles checked in with the butler about Leo every day.
The butler said Leo had been smiling more than ever lately.
One day, the butler pulled me aside and said, "Miss Winters, I've worked for the Landon family for fifteen years, and I've never seen Mr. Landon come home this early before."
"Maybe work's just been slow lately," I said.
The butler gave me a knowing smile.
On the tenth day, something unexpected happened.
I was taking Leo for a walk in the estate's garden when my phone buzzed with a message.
It was from Claire.
A photo of a wedding invitation.
It read: [Mr. Jason Reed and Mrs. Claire Reed cordially invite you to their wedding.]
Claire added: [Sophia, the invitations are all printed, and your name's on them. I saved a spot for you as a bridesmaid.]
I didn't reply.
Ten minutes later, another message popped up.
[Heard you're a nanny now? A master's degree from Northbridge University ends up as someone's nanny. LOL. You've certainly put the Winters family on the map, haven't you?]
I still didn't reply.
[Got nothing to say? Whatever. It's kind of pathetic, you all by yourself out there, drifting around. Just come to the wedding, and I'll have Jason give you some cash.]
I slipped my phone back into my pocket.
"Sophia," Leo tugged at my hand.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Look, there are flowers over there," Leo said, pointing toward a bunch of roses deep in the garden.
"Want to go take a look?" I asked.
Leo nodded.
I took his hand and led him over.
He crouched in front of the roses, reached out as if to pick one, then hesitated and drew his hand back.
"They'll prick your fingers," Leo said.
"Yeah, pretty things can hurt you sometimes," I replied.
Leo thought for a moment.
"Then I'll just look. I won't pick any," he said.
I smiled.
"You know, you're smarter than most adults," I said gently.
Just then, the butler hurried over, looking a bit anxious.
"Miss Winters, someone's at the gate asking to see you," he said.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"A woman. She says she's your sister," the butler replied.
My smile vanished.
Claire showed up here.
"I'll go out for a bit," I told the butler. "Can you keep an eye on Leo for me?"
The butler nodded.
I walked to the front gate.
Claire was leaning against her white Porsche, rocking a designer dress and sunglasses. As soon as she spotted me, she slid off her shades.
"Sophia!" she called out, walking over with a big smile. "I finally found you!"
"How did you find me here?" I asked.
"Dad gave me your address. He said you were nannying at Lakeview Manor," Claire replied.
Richard.
I should have told Mother the address sooner. I ought never to have breathed a single word to him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Just came to check on you," Claire said, eyeing the front gate. "This place is seriously upscale. Who are you working for? Your boss must be rolling in cash."
"None of your business," I replied.
"Don't be like that, Sophia. I really want you to be my bridesmaid. Think about it. At the wedding, you'll be surrounded by all the big shots from Northbridge.
"Maybe you'll meet someone amazing. Isn't that way better than being a nanny here?" Claire said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.
Her smile was sickeningly sweet.
So sweet it made me want to gag.
"Claire, what are you really after?" I asked.
"I just want you to come, that's all..." Claire whined, still trying to sound sweet.
"No way. You can go now," I said, my voice icy.
Her smile faded.
"Sophia, don't make this harder than it has to be. Dad already told you, if you don't show up, your mom's surgery..." Claire said, her voice turning cold.
"I already paid for Mom's surgery myself. What else do you have to threaten me with?" I shot back.
Her expression shifted.
"How'd you get the money?" Claire demanded.
"I paid for it with my own salary," I shot back.
"How much does a nanny even make?" Claire sneered.
"More than your stolen man ever gave you," I shot back.
Claire's face drained of color.
"What are you trying to say, Sophia?" Claire snapped.
"You know exactly what I mean. When you took my bridal home, my wedding dress, and my fiancé, one after another, did you ever stop to think how I felt?" I shot back.
"Jason made his own choice. He picked me!" Claire snapped.
"Yeah? Then what are you doing here? Are you feeling guilty or something?" I sneered.
Claire's chest was heaving with anger.
"Sophia, don't get cocky! You think being a nanny here makes you something special? You're just a servant!" she spat.
"At least I'm not a thief," I shot back.
"You..."
"Miss Winters," A voice called out from inside.
The butler appeared, his expression polite but cold.
"May I ask who you are? This is the Landon family's private residence. Unauthorized visitors are not allowed inside," he said.
Claire looked uneasy as she glanced at the butler's crisp suit and the grand estate behind him.
"I'm Sophia's sister..." she started.
"The Landon family only acknowledges Miss Sophia Winters. If you don't have an appointment, please leave," the butler cut her off.
He pressed his earpiece.
"Security, there's someone causing trouble at the front gate," he said.
Claire was absolutely livid.
"Sophia! Are you seriously letting the nanny's butler throw me out?" she shouted.
I turned and walked back into the estate without even glancing back.
"Sophia! You'd better remember this! If you don't show up at the wedding, I'll make sure the whole of Northbridge knows you're just a pathetic reject who got dumped!" Claire screamed after me.
The butler closed the gate.
Her voice was cut off outside.
The butler looked at me, hesitating for a moment.
"Miss Winters, should I let Mr. Landon know? If she comes back..." he asked.
"No need to bother Mr. Landon," I said. "She's not going to cause any trouble."
The butler nodded.
Little did I know, the manor's surveillance system was all hooked up online.
Charles had watched the whole thing unfold from his office at Landon Corp.
That night, when he got home, he didn't say a word.
He just handed me a cup of warm milk when I came out after reading Leo a bedtime story.
"Drink this and get some rest," he said.
Then he went upstairs.
I stood in the hallway, holding the cup of milk.
Charles was different from anyone I'd ever met.
He was cold, but somehow, that icy attitude made me feel strangely comforted.
It was such a weird, mixed feeling.