Chapter 2

Clara scooped Leo into her arms.

She turned toward the door, intending to take him to the guest bathroom to clean the blood off his hand.

Rapid, frantic footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Dorcas rounded the corner.

The nanny rushed out, wearing a simple cotton nightgown, her hair hastily tied back. She looked genuinely panicked.

Dorcas took one look at Autumn in Chadwick's arms and let out a dramatic gasp.

She dropped to her knees right at Chadwick's feet.

Her hands shook as she reached out to touch Autumn's perfectly fine knee.

"Oh, my baby! I'm so sorry, I looked away for one second," Dorcas cried. Tears spilled over her eyelashes, tracking down her cheeks.

She slowly tilted her head up. Her fingers drifted to her collarbone. She looked past Chadwick, aiming a wide, terrified look directly at Clara.

"Mr. Brewer, Mrs. Brewer, I am so sorry," Dorcas sobbed. "We will pack our bags tonight. We can go to the homeless shelter in Brooklyn. I won't let my daughter ruin your family's peace."

Chadwick stiffened. The muscles in his jaw ticked.

"Don't be ridiculous," Chadwick snapped.

He reached down with his free hand and grabbed Dorcas's arm, pulling her to her feet.

"You are not going to a shelter," Chadwick said. His voice was thick with an emotion Clara couldn't quite name. "This is your home."

Clara's expression remained cold, her silence a clear judgment. Chadwick saw her lack of sympathy and his jaw tightened. He turned his head and glared at Clara, his eyes full of accusation, as if Clara had been the one to suggest throwing them out on the street.

Clara didn't blink. She shifted Leo's weight on her hip.

She held up Leo's bleeding hand again.

"Who exactly is ruining the peace, Chadwick?" Clara asked.

Dorcas gasped. She slapped a hand over her mouth.

She took a step toward Leo and bowed her head repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, Leo. I'm so, so sorry," Dorcas whimpered.

Leo shrank back, burying his face in Clara's neck. The woman's intense, erratic behavior terrified him.

Chadwick let out a harsh breath.

"Stop it, Clara. You're scaring her," Chadwick said. "You're the woman of this house. Show some grace."

Clara let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"Grace?"

"Yes," Chadwick said, his tone shifting into a command. "Autumn is traumatized. I want you to go to the kitchen and make her dinner."

Clara stared at him. The air in her lungs felt suddenly thin.

"Make her that gluten-free organic mac and cheese," Chadwick continued. "The one that takes three hours. She needs something comforting. A mother's touch."

Clara looked at the antique clock on the hallway wall.

"It is nine o'clock at night," Clara said. "I just finished a marathon session with the estate trustees."

"Dorcas stayed awake for three days straight when I had pneumonia as a child," Chadwick fired back. He rubbed the heavy gold ring on his thumb. "She saved my life. The least you can do is show some empathy. You have a very comfortable life because of me."

Dorcas sniffled loudly. She reached out and lightly touched Chadwick's sleeve.

"It's okay, Chadwick," Dorcas whispered. "I'll just go boil some plain noodles for her. We don't want to be a burden."

The sheer manipulation in the woman's voice made bile rise in the back of Clara's throat.

Clara lowered Leo to his feet but kept a firm grip on his uninjured hand.

She walked over to the console table and picked up her Birkin bag.

"You're absolutely right, Dorcas," Clara said. Her voice was deadly calm. "You guys look like a beautiful family right now. We'll get out of your way."

Clara didn't wait for a response. She pulled open the heavy front door.