Chapter 1
And that was when he saw Marissa.
The nanny was stretched across the massage chair in a cream satin dress, one arm draped lazily over the side, a champagne glass balanced in her hand, an eye mask still covering her face.
She had not even noticed he was home.
That made everything uglier.
On the side table beside her sat luxury shopping bags.
His black card.
A half-finished drink.
The little throne of a woman who had confused access with ownership.
Ethan looked back at Ava once.
His daughter stood behind him crying silently, still holding the rag.
Still looking guilty.
That was Marissa’s second mistake.
She had not only humiliated Ava.
She had made Ava feel like the problem.
Ethan picked up the mop bucket.
No warning.
No speech.
Just one cold, controlled motion.
He walked to the massage chair and threw the dirty water across Marissa’s satin dress.
She jerked upright with a gasp, soaked from shoulder to lap, still yanking the eye mask into place as if she thought this was just another scene she could control.
“You useless little brat!” she snapped.
Then she pulled the mask down.
And saw Ethan.
May you like
The room went silent.
Not soft silence.
