Chapter 3
I stood there in the rain for a long time, clutching that thousand dollars.
My phone suddenly buzzed. It was the hospital.
"Ms. Bailey? Bella had another episode. She's in emergency surgery right now. You need to get here immediately to pay the fees."
"I'm on my way," I said.
I wiped the rain from my face and ran toward the intersection.
The next morning, after making sure Bella was stable post-surgery, I showed up at Skycrest Villa like I'd promised.
Not because I had no pride. Lillian had filed a complaint against me on the driving app.
If I didn't come, they'd take my entire deposit and ban me for good.
I couldn't lose this job.
Lillian opened the door, wearing silk pajamas, her neck covered in telltale red marks.
"Oh, you actually showed up. Right on time." She stepped aside, her eyes full of mockery. "Supplies are in the bathroom. Make sure you scrub it clean. Nathan's a neat freak."
I didn't say anything. I just walked straight to the bathroom.
The villa's layout felt familiar, yet completely different.
It was pure Nathan, cold, luxurious, utterly devoid of warmth.
The bathroom was huge. The toilet wasn't even dirty.
This was clearly just a power play.
She leaned against the doorframe, swirling a glass of red wine, watching me put on gloves and pick up the brush.
"So, I heard you dumped Nathan back in the day because he was broke? Ran off with some trust fund kid?" she asked, smirking.
She added, "Where is he now? Dump you? Or was it never that serious? Just a fling?"
I scrubbed the toilet, mechanically going through the motions. "None of your business."
"Oh, but it is." She stepped inside, heels clicking on the tile. "Nathan's mine now. I need to know about his past."
She leaned in close, lowering her voice. "Hannah, how do you even have the nerve to show your face around here? If I were you, I'd have crawled into a hole by now."
"I'm just here to work." I straightened up and met her gaze coldly.
"Work?" Lillian burst out laughing. "You think Nathan actually wanted you here to scrub toilets?"
She dramatically tipped her glass, splashing red wine all over the floor.
"Oops. Slippery fingers." She blinked innocently. "Clean that up, too."
I took a deep breath and grabbed a rag.
Just then, footsteps approached.
Nathan appeared in the doorway in dark grey loungewear. He frowned at the puddle on the floor.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Nathan." Lillian instantly shifted, throwing herself into his arms with a pout. "I tried to offer Hannah a drink, but she was so rude about it and just... threw it on the floor..."
Her talent for twisting the truth was practically an art form.
I looked at Nathan. I didn't bother explaining.
What was the point? In his mind, I was already just a gold-digging liar.
Sure enough, he didn't even glance my way. He just stroked Lillian's hair gently.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Just a little startled." She nuzzled against his chest. "Hannah seems to really hate me."
Nathan finally turned his head. His gaze sliced across my face like a blade. "Hannah. Apologize."
"I didn't spill it." I straightened my spine and looked him in the eye.
"I said apologize." His voice dropped, carrying that undeniable weight of authority.
"Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?" I asked.
A cold laugh. He let go of Lillian and stepped toward me, closing in.
"Seven years ago, you dumped me for money. Why would spilling some wine out of spite be beneath you now?" He backed me against the sink, hands on either side, trapping me.
That familiar cedar and smoke scent hit me. For a second, I felt dizzy.
"Hannah. Don't make me do something we'll both regret," he said.
There was no warmth in his eyes. Only disgust.
My heart clenched.
"I'm sorry." I barely managed to force the words out through clenched teeth.
"Can't hear you." Lillian chimed in from behind. "You call that an apology?"
Nathan stared at me, a cruel smile curling his lips. "Beg her and clean it up. Then we're done here."
My head snapped up. I stared at him in disbelief.
"What did you say?" I asked.
"What? You deaf now?" He pointed at the wine stain. "Beg her. Clean it."