Chapter 77

I stood at the window of my apartment, gazing out at the busy street below, but my mind was far away. I couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas was on to me, even though he hadn't given any indication of doing so.

It had been months since our divorce, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me, keeping tabs on my every move. I knew it sounded paranoid, but I couldn't help it.

I had been careful to avoid him, only venturing out when I knew he wouldn't be around. I changed my routine, switched up my gym schedule, and even started taking a different route to work. But despite my efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me.

As I stood at the window, lost in thought, I suddenly saw a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see a man walking down the street, his face obscured by the hood of his jacket.

My heart raced as I realized that it could be Lucas. But as he drew closer, I saw that it was just a stranger, and I let out a sigh of relief.

But the feeling of unease lingered, and I couldn't shake the sense that Lucas was out there, watching and waiting for his chance to strike.

I knew I had to be careful, to stay vigilant, but the constant fear and anxiety were wearing me down. I needed to find a way to move on, to leave the past behind and start anew.

But for now, I would stay vigilant, always watching my back, always looking over my shoulder, always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

*******************

''Hey Kiara.'' Martha smiled, walking into the room.

She knocked softly on the door to my bedroom before entering. She held a beautiful dress in her hands that she had bought for her. Martha had been with Kiara since she was a baby, and she loved the girl as if she were her own.

"Good morning, Kiara," Martha said again with a smile as she entered the room. "I have a surprise for you."

Kiara looked up from her book and smiled at Martha. "What is it?"

Martha held up the dress for Kiara to see. It was a beautiful pale blue color, with intricate lace detailing on the bodice and hem. "I saw this in the store the other day and I knew it would look lovely on you."

Kiara gasped. "It's beautiful, Martha! Thank you so much!"

Martha beamed with pleasure. "I'm so glad you like it, my dear. Shall I help you get dressed in it?"

Kiara nodded eagerly, setting her book aside. She hopped off the bed and stood in front of Martha, holding out her arms. Martha carefully slipped the dress over Kiara's head and smoothed it down over her slender frame.

"It fits you perfectly," Martha said with a smile.

Kiara twirled in front of the mirror, watching the skirt of the dress spin around her legs. "I feel like a princess," she said, giggling.

Martha chuckled. "You look like one too, my dear."

Kiara turned to Martha and hugged her tightly. "Thank you for being the best housekeeper and friend ever, Martha."

Martha hugged her back, her heart swelling with love for the girl. "Anything for you, my dear. Now, let's go show off that beautiful dress to your parents."

Later on, Martha walked into Kiara's room with her phone in hand and it didn't take Kiara a moment to know that something was wrong with her. Martha wasn't like that earlier on and she hated not knowing what the problem was. Kiara noticed that she was moved to tears and her eyes took on a teary look. This was the first time Kiara was seeing her like this and she was alarmed because usually, Martha was the strong one and not the one to easily show emotions and seeing her like this had alarm bells ringing in her ears.

"Kiara, I have something to tell you," Martha said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Kiara looked up from her laptop, sensing the seriousness in Martha's tone. "What is it, Martha? Is everything okay?"

Martha hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "One of my sons is really sick, Kiara. I have to leave for a while to take care of him."

Kiara's heart sank. She knew how much Martha loved her children and how hard it was for her to be away from them. "Of course, Martha. You should go be with your son. Don't worry about the house or anything. We'll take care of everything here."

Martha's eyes filled with tears as she nodded her head. "Thank you, Kiara. You are very kind. I will make sure to come back as soon as possible."

Kiara could see the worry and sadness etched on Martha's face, and she wanted to do something to help. "Is there anything we can do for you, Martha? Do you need any help with your son?"

Martha shook her head. "No, thank you, Kiara. I have some family nearby who are helping out. I just wanted to let you know that I wouldn't be able to come to work for a while."

Kiara nodded, understanding completely. "Of course, Martha. Please don't worry about work. Your family needs you right now. We'll manage without you."

Martha thanked her once again before turning to leave. Kiara watched her go, feeling a pang of sadness for her friend. She knew how hard it was to see a loved one suffer, and she could only imagine what Martha was going through.

As Martha left, Kiara promised herself that she would do everything she could to support her friend. She would pray for Martha's son's speedy recovery and offer any help she could, even if it meant taking care of the housekeeping duties for a while. After all, Martha was more than just an employee to her - she was a part of her family.