Chapter 6 My fear

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Nicholas stood, straightening his suit as he watched Chloe wipe her tears with the handkerchief he'd given her.

"Rest for now," he said firmly. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone show you around the mansion. You can't afford to keep getting lost."

Chloe didn't respond. She kept her head down, staring at the handkerchief in her hands. Nicholas lingered for a moment, as if contemplating saying more, but instead, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing as the door clicked shut behind him.

The silence in the room was deafening. Chloe's mind raced with thoughts of her new reality. She felt like a pawn in some grand, twisted game, trapped in a world where she had no control. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the weight of her situation pressed down on her.

"Protect the kids. Don't let anything happen to them," she muttered to herself, mocking Nicholas's command. "As if that's my only purpose here."

She tossed the handkerchief onto the table, annoyed at herself for breaking down in front of him.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, waking Chloe. The events of the previous day felt like a blur, but the tension in her chest reminded her it was all real. She got out of bed, determined to make the best of her situation.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. It was Lisa, smiling as usual.

"Good morning, Mrs. Knight. I'm here to escort you to breakfast," she said cheerfully.

Chloe nodded, quickly getting ready before following Lisa.

As they approached the dining room, Chloe's stomach churned. She wasn't sure what kind of welcome she'd receive from the Knight family today. The moment she stepped inside, all eyes turned to her.

"Good morning," Chloe said softly, forcing a polite smile.

"Ah, there she is!" Aaron said with a sly grin, leaning back in his chair. "The new Mrs. Knight."

"Enough, Aaron," Nicholas said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Chloe took her seat next to Nicholas, her nerves settling slightly with his protective presence.

"Good morning, Chloe," Laine said with a kind smile. "How are you settling in?"

"I'm... adjusting," Chloe replied cautiously.

Verona, however, scoffed. "Adjust quickly, dear. This family doesn't wait for anyone to catch up."

Chloe clenched her fists under the table, holding back a retort. Nicholas shot Verona a warning glance, but he didn't say anything.

The children entered moments later, their presence softening the room's tension. Daniel and Daniella ignored Chloe entirely, sitting on either side of Nicholas. Nora, however, gave Chloe a shy smile as she sat beside Laine.

"Eat," Mr. Knight commanded from the head of the table.

The family began their meal, but Chloe could barely touch her food. She felt like a stranger at the table, every word and glance reminding her that she didn't belong.

After breakfast, Nicholas instructed one of the maids to give Chloe a full tour of the mansion. Chloe followed the maid quietly, taking in the grandeur of her surroundings. The mansion was more than just a house; it was a fortress, a place full of secrets and power.

"Here's the west wing," the maid explained. "This is where the children's rooms are. You'll need to spend most of your time here, caring for them."

Chloe nodded, mentally mapping the layout. As they continued the tour, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every hallway, every room seemed to hold a story, a secret she wasn't yet privy to.

The maid opened the door to another large room. "This is your room, and the young master's room," she said.

Inside, Chloe noticed another room attached. She simply nodded, unsure of what to expect.

"You're moving in today," Nicholas said from behind her.

"Okay," Chloe replied softly.

The maid left them alone, closing the door behind her.

Chloe looked at Nicholas nervously. "Are we sharing the same room?" she asked, already feeling scared.

"No," Nicholas replied coldly. "Didn't you notice there's another room inside?"

Chloe's eyes widened. "Oh," she said quietly.

He continued, "We're only staying together because it's the family rule. We have to look like the perfect couple. So, do your best."

Chloe nodded. "I'll try."

Nicholas glared at her, his tone firm. "Don't say you'll try. You must do your best. Everything needs to be perfect, no mistakes. If you want to survive here, that's how it has to be."

Chloe's heart pounded as her mind flashed to the rumors she'd heard about Nicholas's past wives. They said they disappeared every seven days, and now with Nicholas's words, she feared that the rumors might be true. A shiver ran down her spine.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Nicholas calling her name.

"What's wrong with you?" Nicholas's sharp voice broke through her thoughts. "Why are you zoning out while I'm talking to you?"

Chloe quickly snapped back to reality. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

Nicholas frowned, clearly irritated. "I hate when people apologize without meaning it."

Before Chloe could respond, the door opened, and Daniel and Daniella ran in, rushing straight to their father.

"What brings my little prince and princess here?" Nicholas asked, his voice softer now as he looked down at them.

Daniel and Daniella ran up to Nicholas, their faces lighting up with excitement.

"Father! We wanted to see you!" Daniella said, her voice high-pitched with joy.

Nicholas smiled at them, his cold demeanor softening when they were around. "What's going on, my little ones?" he asked as he crouched down to their level.

"We just wanted to make sure you're okay!" Daniel said, giving his father a small hug.

Chloe stood quietly off to the side, unsure of what to do. She had never seen Nicholas like this before. His usual stern expression seemed to disappear when he was with the children, replaced with something that looked almost... warm.

Nicholas ruffled Daniel's hair and then turned his attention to Daniella. "I'm fine.

Can she leave us alone? We want to spend time with our dad," Daniella said, her sharp gaze flicking toward Chloe.

"Or maybe she doesn't know that outsiders should know their place?" Daniella added, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Chloe swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. Daniella didn't say her name, but Chloe knew the words were meant for her.

Fighting back tears, Chloe quietly turned and left the room. Once she was alone, the tears she had been holding back finally fell. Crying had become her only way to release the pain that seemed to follow her everywhere.