The morning after the strange message, Jane barely slept. Her dreams were riddled with shadows, whispers, and Carlo's piercing gaze. By the time sunlight filtered through the curtains, she was already dressed and pacing her small room.
Who sent that message?
Who knew her secret?
And how much did they know?
She picked up her phone again. The message was still there: *"He doesn't know yet. But he will. Soon."*
Jane deleted it.
She had to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't solve anything. If she started acting different, Carlo would notice—and from the look in his eyes last night, he was already halfway there.
She pulled herself together, grabbed her to-do list, and headed to the kitchen. But the house was unusually quiet. Even the usual hum of staff moving around felt muted.
"Where is everyone?" she muttered.
Just as she turned the corner, she bumped straight into Mrs. Steele.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, ma'am."
The old woman smiled kindly. "It's alright, dear. I was just coming to find you."
"Is everything okay?"
Mrs. Steele nodded. "Carlo has gone out of town for a day or two. A business emergency in New York. So it's just us here."
Relief washed over Jane's face before she could hide it. No Carlo meant no suspicious questions for a while.
"Danny's upstairs," Mrs. Steele added. "He's asking for you."
"Of course." Jane smiled and turned to go.
"Oh, one more thing," Mrs. Steele said gently, "Did something happen between you and Carlo last night?"
Jane froze. "Why do you ask?"
"I saw him looking at your file again this morning. And he seemed… off. He doesn't usually pay attention to staff like that. Be careful, dear."
Jane nodded slowly. "Thank you, ma'am. I will."
As she walked up to Danny's room, her thoughts were a storm. Carlo was digging. Looking through her file? That wasn't a good sign.
When she reached Danny's room, the little boy ran up to hug her. "Jane! You didn't come for bedtime last night."
"I'm so sorry, champ. I wasn't feeling too well."
Danny pouted. "Are you okay now?"
She smiled. "Much better."
The boy's energy was a welcome distraction. They played, did homework, and built a pillow fort in the corner of the room. For a few hours, Jane almost forgot the dark cloud hanging over her.
But peace never lasted.
That afternoon, Jane went to the garden to pick herbs for lunch. The sun peeked through the clouds, warming her skin. She knelt beside the rosemary bush, breathing in the calming scent.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned—expecting a maid or Mrs. Steele.
Instead, a stranger stood by the gate.
A woman.
Tall, stylish, with sharp eyes and blood-red lipstick. She looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine. There was something cold about her beauty—like a blade dressed in silk.
"Can I help you?" Jane asked cautiously.
The woman tilted her head. "You must be Jane."
Jane stood slowly. "Who are you?"
The woman walked closer, heels clicking against the stone path. "Vanessa."
Jane blinked. The name echoed in her mind. She had seen it in the newspaper articles during her research.
Vanessa Harlow. Carlo Steele's ex-girlfriend.
Vanessa smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd say hello."
Jane's instincts screamed. This wasn't a casual visit.
"I'm sorry," Jane said politely. "Mr. Steele is out of town. If you'd like, I can—"
"Oh, I'm not here for him," Vanessa interrupted smoothly. "I came to see *you*."
Jane's heart skipped. "Me?"
Vanessa stepped even closer. "I've heard about you. The new nanny with the innocent eyes and mysterious background."
Jane kept her face blank. "I don't know what you mean."
Vanessa chuckled. "You're good. I'll give you that. But let me give you a little advice, sweetheart. Men like Carlo? They don't fall for girls like you. And if they do—it never ends well."
"I'm just here for the child," Jane replied calmly.
"Of course you are," Vanessa said with a mocking smile. "Just don't get too comfortable."
Before Jane could respond, Vanessa turned and walked away, hips swaying, confidence radiating like perfume.
Jane stood frozen.
Who sent her?
Why now?
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message. Same unknown number.
**"She knows too. But she won't be the one to ruin you. I will."**
Jane's blood ran cold.
The messages. Vanessa. Carlo digging through her file.
It was closing in.
She hurried back inside, trying to act normal. But every smile felt forced. Every sound made her flinch.
That night, after dinner, she sat by the window in her room, staring at the rain.
She had never felt more alone.
She picked up the Bible again. The photo inside stared back at her like a ghost.
Her mother. Her baby self. And Carlo.
The man who ruined their lives.
She thought coming here would give her answers. Closure. Justice.
But all it had given her was confusion, fear… and something worse.
Feelings.
For a man she was supposed to hate.
How could she fall for someone who didn't even recognize her? Someone who might destroy her all over again?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
She stood quickly. "Who is it?"
No answer.
She opened the door cautiously.
No one.
But at her feet was a small envelope.
She picked it up, opened it slowly.
Inside was a single photo.
A recent one.
Her. Holding Danny's hand in the garden.
Taken without her knowing.
On the back, a message:
**"He'll know who you are before the week ends."**
Jane dropped the photo, hands trembling.
Someone was watching her every move.
And whoever it was—they were playing a dangerous game.
She looked out the window, into the darkness.
"God help me," she whispered.
Then her door creaked open again.
She turned, expecting a maid.
But it wasn't.
It was Danny.
Eyes wide. Voice trembling.
"Jane… there's a man in the hallway."
Jane stiffened. "What man?"
"I don't know," Danny whispered. "But he was looking for you."
Jane's pulse quickened.
She grabbed Danny's hand and gently pulled him behind her.
"Stay close," she whispered.
And slowly, she stepped into the hallway.
The lights flickered.
The air felt colder.
And somewhere in the shadows…
A figure moved.
**To be continued...**