CHAPTER 13

**AVA CLARKE**

"I think it's best for me to go back to my room now. Thank you for the music, Lucius.", I say, moving away from the piano and hearing him wish me good night.

Lucius leaves the house to talk to Damien as I start climbing the stairs to return to my room. I close the door and shut my eyes, feeling my heart beating fast in my chest. I place my hand on my chest, realizing I almost kissed my boss.

Furthermore, I can't afford to lose this job. I'm here to start a new life in the place where I was born, and I can't ruin this great opportunity I have right now. In the room, I remember what Elara said about all the other nannies falling for Lucius. Before, I was completely confused because I couldn't understand it, but now I know that all the other women left their jobs because they, too, were attracted to Lucius.

I can't be like those other women. I'm here in this city again after a long time to discover more about myself. Likewise, I need to be here, and I need to continue in this job because it's crucial to me.

"God, I can't be so attracted to my boss.", I whisper to myself alone in the room. This time, I remember to lock the door and approach the window to close the curtains when I see Lucius and Damien talking near the mansion gates.

I stand still and am confused when I see that Damien seems to be arguing with his older brother. Lucius tries to stay calm, but it seems their conversation is very tense. I'm about to step away when Damien turns his head and looks out the window of my room, his eyes fixed on me. I quickly closed the curtains before putting on my pajamas.

Furthermore, I grab my phone before lying down on the bed, trying not to think about Lucius's lips. We were almost kissing, but Damien appeared at that moment, preventing it from happening. I sigh, touching the screen of my phone and looking at the picture of my aunt and uncle with me. I smile, starting to miss them. Not only that, but I want to be with them, but I also know I need to be here right now to discover more about myself.

I send messages to my aunt and uncle, letting them know I'm fine, before putting the phone away and trying to sleep on the comfortable bed. I close my eyes, touching my lips, remembering the dream I had with Lucius and Damien at the same time. Furthermore, I feel like a completely naughty person for thinking about it again.

Days pass quickly, and today is the beginning of the weekend, meaning I don't have to take care of Elara or go to the University. It's my first weekend here, and I'm excited to explore this small town that seems to hide secrets.

I sit on the bed before taking a quick shower and wearing warm clothes. It's Saturday, and it's very cold, but despite the strong wind and the threat of rain, I won't give up exploring the town today.

I leave my room, and in the past few days, I haven't seen Damien anymore, and I don't know why that's happening. Elara hasn't played those kinds of games, like in the bathroom, anymore.

I quickly descend the stairs and have breakfast. Lucius hasn't treated me differently after our almost-kiss, and I like that. He is a mature man and knows how to behave.

"So, today you're going to explore the city. I recommend taking an umbrella, Ava.", Lucius says, and I nod with a smile on my lips.

"Yes, I was thinking about that too. Are you sure you won't need me while I'm out of the mansion today?", I ask, and he agrees with a smile.

"We'll all be fine. Today is your day off, so enjoy, and I hope you have fun.", he says, and I get up from the chair.

I look at the table, noticing Damien is not here again, and this time I decide to ask if his brother is okay.

"Lucius, I haven't seen Damien anymore. Is he okay?"

"Yes, Damien is difficult, and when he's like that, he spends all his time in his room drawing. But don't worry, Ava."

I smile before grabbing my bag and leaving the mansion, seeing Lucius starting to play with Elara. The way from the mansion to the town is very long, and today I don't have a ride, so I decide to call an Uber through the app on my phone.

A driver accepts after long minutes, and I feel relieved. While I wait for the car to arrive, I look up at the completely cloudy sky this morning, announcing that it will rain a lot today. But I am also prepared for that.

Inside the car, I look at the address of my old house, where I lived with my parents during my childhood. The night before, my aunt and uncle sent me the address of the house because I couldn't remember anything anymore. I was just a child with deceased parents the last time I was here.

The driver drops me off on the right street, and I walk down the street looking for the house I lived in with my family in my childhood. Some residents look at me with curiosity as I continue walking down the long street.

I stop and lift my head when I see that I have finally found the house, but I am completely taken by surprise when I see an old and abandoned house.

I confess that I expected a completely different house than this, but I need to understand that this house was abandoned because there was no one left here to take care of it and live in it.

Likewise, I feel something inside me as I observe the house with worn white paint. I look at the address again to see if I'm in the right place, and I realize that I am.

"Hello, good morning. Are you lost?", I turn my head, finding a woman with gray hair coming out of the house next to the one where I lived in the past.

"Good morning, no, I think I'm in the right place.", I say it with a smile, approaching her.

She smiles kindly at me, seeming to have lived here for a long time, and maybe she knows about my house and my parents; perhaps she even knew my parents before they died.