"Miss Sera, can we go to the dinosaur exhibit again?" Jake tugged at my sleeve as we walked through the science museum, his blue eyes wide with excitement.
"We just saw it, buddy." I ruffled his sandy hair, trying to maintain some semblance of order while Millie skipped ahead, pigtails bouncing. "Let's check out the space section now."
Being a nanny to the Peterson kids had its challenges, but days like this—away from the mansion, just enjoying their wonder at the world—made it all worthwhile. Especially now, with hope blooming inside me.
Six days. In six days, I'd know if the insemination worked. If my dream of motherhood might finally come true after all the heartbreak with Mark. I pressed a hand to my flat stomach, allowing myself a moment of cautious optimism.
"Miss Sera! The astronaut suits!" Millie called, her voice echoing through the hall.
After exhausting every exhibit (and my patience negotiating at the gift shop), we headed back to Shadow Crest. The wealthy neighborhood was a world apart from the tiny apartment I'd grown up in with Lyra. Massive houses sat back from tree-lined streets, each one more impressive than the last.
"Can I fly my airplane?" Jake asked as soon as we stepped off the bus, already pulling the toy from his backpack.
"Just be careful near the road," I cautioned, helping Millie with her jacket.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows as we walked. Jake whooped with delight, sending his prized airplane soaring in wide arcs. I was helping Millie retie her shoe when I looked up and felt my breath catch.
A man was walking toward us on the opposite side of the street. Even at a distance, he commanded attention—tall, impeccably dressed in what had to be a designer suit, moving with the casual confidence of someone who owned everything his eyes fell upon.
Kaelen Thorne.
Everyone in Shadow Crest knew who he was. The billionaire owner of the largest estate in the neighborhood, rumored to be ruthless in business and intensely private. I'd seen him from afar a few times, but never this close.
"Miss Sera, that's the scary man," Millie whispered, pressing against my side. "Daddy says he makes grown men cry in meetings."
Before I could respond, a gust of wind caught Jake's airplane, sending it spiraling into the street. To my horror, Jake bolted after it without hesitation.
"JAKE! STOP!" I screamed, lunging forward.
Everything happened in seconds. The screech of car tires. The blare of a horn. My heart in my throat as I reached for him—and then a blur of movement so fast it seemed impossible.
Kaelen Thorne was suddenly there, snatching Jake back from the edge of the street as a car sped past, missing him by inches. I froze, my brain struggling to process what I'd just seen. How had he moved so quickly? He'd been across the street only a moment ago.
"Oh my God," I gasped, rushing forward with Millie in tow. "Jake! Are you okay?"
Jake nodded, looking more surprised than scared as Kaelen set him down with surprising gentleness. Up close, Kaelen Thorne was even more intimidating—broad-shouldered and towering over us, with sharp features that could have been carved from stone. But it was his eyes that truly captured me—a vivid green that seemed to glow with an inner light, assessing us coldly.
"Young man," he said, his deep voice commanding as he crouched to Jake's level, "toys can be replaced. You cannot. Never run into traffic."
"Yes, sir," Jake mumbled, properly chastened.
I found my voice at last. "Thank you so much, Mr. Thorne. You saved him."
Those unnerving green eyes shifted to me, and I felt a strange shiver run through my body. His gaze swept over me—not lasciviously, but assessing, as if cataloging every detail of my appearance.
"Keep better watch of your charges," he said curtly.
The dismissal in his tone stung, but I was too rattled to feel properly offended. "I will. Thank you again."
Without another word, he straightened and continued walking, his stride purposeful. I stared after him, questions swirling in my mind. Had he really moved that fast, or was it just adrenaline-fueled perception?
"My airplane," Jake said sadly, pointing to where his toy lay crushed in the street.
I pulled him close. "We'll get you another one. Let's go home."
---
"He moved like nothing I've ever seen, Lyra," I said that evening, sprawled on my sister's couch. "One second he was across the street, and the next he was pulling Jake back from being hit. It was... unreal."
Lyra's expression tightened as she handed me a glass of wine. "Adrenaline makes people do crazy things."
"This was beyond adrenaline," I insisted. "And his eyes—they almost seemed to glow. Like, literally glow."
"Sera," Lyra said firmly, "Kaelen Thorne is just a wealthy businessman. Nothing supernatural about him."
Something in her tone made me pause. "Why do you sound so weird about this?"
"I'm not." She busied herself with straightening magazines on her coffee table. "Just tired. Long shifts at the clinic this week."
I sipped my wine, letting it go. Lyra worked as an OBGYN at the same clinic where I'd had my insemination, and she often came home exhausted.
"Six more days," I murmured, setting my glass down. "I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but..."
Lyra's expression softened. "I know. Try to stay distracted until then."
Little did I know how distracted I was about to become.
---
The next morning, I was flipping pancakes for the kids when Mrs. Peterson entered the kitchen, her face unusually stern.
"Seraphina, my office. Now."
My stomach dropped. In eight months of employment, she'd never used that tone with me.
I followed her into her immaculate home office and sat when directed, noticing how she wouldn't quite meet my eyes.
"I received several concerning calls this morning," she began, her voice clipped. "Apparently, Jake nearly ran into traffic yesterday."
"Yes, but I—"
She held up her hand. "I was also informed that you were seen at Kaelen Thorne's residence last night, causing a scene. His security apparently had to remove you from the property."
My mouth fell open. "What? That's completely false! I've never been to his home!"
"Please don't make this more difficult," she sighed. "This neighborhood runs on reputation, Seraphina. I can't have my family associated with... unprofessional behavior."
"Mrs. Peterson, none of that happened!" My voice rose with desperation. "Yes, Jake did almost run into the street chasing his toy, and Mr. Thorne happened to be there and helped. But I've never been to his house! Someone's lying to you!"
Her expression remained unmoved. "I'm sorry, but I'll need you to pack your things. My mother is already on her way to stay with the children until we find a replacement."
Tears burned behind my eyes. "Please, just call Mr. Thorne's office if you need verification!"
"That won't be necessary." She slid an envelope across the desk. "Two weeks' severance. I'd appreciate if you could be out by this afternoon."
An hour later, I sat in my car packed with everything I owned, shell-shocked and furious. The accusations were blatant lies—someone had deliberately sabotaged me. And the only connection to all of this was Kaelen Thorne.
Why would he do this? We'd barely exchanged ten words. None of it made sense.
My phone rang—Lyra's ringtone. I answered immediately.
"Lyra, you won't believe what just happened—"
"Sera," she cut me off, her voice tight with panic. "I need you to come to the clinic right now."
"What's wrong?"
"I can't explain over the phone." She took a shaky breath. "Seraphina Moon, I think... I think I'm going to be fired. And if there's an investigation, I could lose my medical license."
"What? Why?"
Her next words sent ice through my veins.
"It's about Kaelen Thorne's missing sperm."