Chapter 8

Mr. Jenkins jumped, quickly pulling Buddy aside. "My apologies! He didn't scare you, did he?"

"This dog is usually quite fierce. Any stranger who comes into the house, he'll bark at them like crazy. But today, it's strange, I don't know why he's so friendly with you."

I stood up from the ground, looking down at Buddy.

Buddy's wet eyes stared at me unblinkingly.

He was panting heavily.

Occasionally, he'd twitch.

I was on the verge of tears and quickly looked away. "Maybe it's because I have a dog at home too; I probably smell like pets."

Mr. Jenkins nodded. "Well, that's great. The previous housekeepers were all too scared to feed him, they thought he was too fierce."

Mr. Jenkins had to leave for something.

I seized the moment when no one was around.

I rushed towards Buddy, who was tied near his doghouse.

I buried my face in his fur, tears and snot streaming down.

Buddy was howling too.

It was the first time I'd ever heard such a sorrowful cry from a dog.

Just as I was sobbing uncontrollably.

A familiar, deep male voice sounded behind me:

"Who are you?"

7

The male voice, compared to two years ago, carried a new depth of maturity and steadiness.

When I heard Liam Thorne's voice.

I froze, rigid and motionless.

My mind buzzed, a complete blank.

Buddy obediently rested his chin on my thigh, peering with one eye at Liam behind me.

"Turn around."

The man's voice was full of authority.

I didn't move.

I hadn't thought about how to face him yet.

"Buddy, come here."

Perhaps fearing that I, a stranger, might harm Buddy, Liam called out to the dog, his voice softer than when he'd questioned me.

But Buddy remained motionless, nestled in my arms.

Liam's patience seemed to have worn thin.

He said, somewhat impatiently, "I'll ask you one last time.

"Who are you, and why are you in my house?"

So stern.

8

Mr. Jenkins rushed over to rescue me. "Mr. Thorne, Mr. Thorne, this is the new housekeeper, Miss Evans."

Only then did I turn around.

But I kept my head down the entire time, not daring to look at him.

"Hmm." Liam finally let down his guard, but seeing Buddy so affectionate with me.

He frowned.

Mr. Jenkins again explained, "She has a dog at home too, so Buddy probably smelled it. It's a good thing Buddy isn't aggressive with her."

I gently patted Buddy's rump.

Only then did he reluctantly walk over to Liam, head bowed.

Liam bent down and stroked his head. "You ungrateful little thing, are you not fond of Daddy anymore?"

He spoke to Buddy so gently.

Just like he used to coax me.

Back when we had no money, we rented an old, old apartment, a basement unit.

At night, it would get so cold the water pipes would freeze.

We couldn't even afford the heating bill back then, so we'd sleep in our clothes, huddled under the covers, with Buddy sleeping at our feet, warming them for us.

Liam would tuck my hands into his chest.

I'd count his heartbeats and breathing, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Later that night, I got too warm and rolled over.

He was still holding me tightly.

In a hazy dream, I felt him kiss the nape of my neck and heard him say:

"Chloe."

"I promise I'll give you a good life, a big house, and you'll be dressed beautifully every day."

I believed him.

I always did.