Page 64 of Love Me Not

Her lower lip jutted out, and she gave me a disbelieving expression.“He sounded angry.Did he hurt your feelings?”

“No, baby.”My voice was calm.“Wait for me outside, and I’ll come play with you, okay?”

She nodded and ran away.Only then did I look up at Lux.

My heart stopped in my chest before slowly breaking because Lux had tears rushing down her face.She was silent, but they never stopped, only slowed.She was looking into the distance.

I looked around to see if anyone was watching, but the chef had disappeared, and Bella was outside.

“It’s okay,” I whispered and leaned my head back on her chest.“Just stay like this.”

I could see her fists balled at her sides as she tried to rein herself in.I let her stay there for as long as she needed.

She was so focused on Bella, she never gave herself time to grieve.

Maybe there was a bigger reason why I was here.I wasn’t sure I believed in fate, but it sure seemed like this family needed some extra love and care.

And maybe I did too.

Chapter17

Lux

The air was chilly, but it helped calm my mind.

Instead of the tears taking a weight off my chest, they only seemed to make the pressure of it all just that much worse.

Because she wasn’t supposed to see that.No one was.I had always been a person that kept all my emotions carefully locked away, never showing too much, even to my family.

With the exception of my sister, no one had ever seen me cry past the age of seven.It was at that time, when my relationship with my mother was at its worst, that I vowed to never let people see me in a vulnerable state.

I took pride in my cold and unbothered demeanor.People couldn't take advantage of it like they did vulnerability.

I never intended to cry in front of Juliette, no matter how good of a person she was.But it felt like my tears had a mind of their own.One minute, I was furious because of how her brother was treating her, and then all of a sudden they were running down my face.

I was glad Bella didn’t see it.The last thing she needed was to see the only person she could lean on in this world having a mental breakdown.And luckily, she was too worried about what Juliette was feeling to even notice me.

It was for the best.

I had stayed behind even when Juliette told me to leave.I hid myself beyond the sliding glass door and eavesdropped on their conversation.

I was more curious than anything else.I had a feeling that I knew what she was going to do with the money I gave her, and I was proud of her when she confirmed it.

Her needing this job made so much more sense now.She was going to use it all on her brother’s education.Based on my math, nannying didn’t give her much, especially after whatever cut the agency took out.

And she was going to give every single penny of it to him.

She would still work herself to the bone, live in less-than-perfect situations, never splurge on herself—or at least I assume she didn't, given the small number of boxes she’d brought so far.

It was all so he could have a chance at a good life.But he didn't want any of it.

I couldn’t help but feel for her.I didn’t want her to suffer like this, to work so hard for a little payout, to put others first only to be knocked down.

She seemed happy enough, but she was too sweet for this world.

She shouldn’t have lost her parents so young.She shouldn’t have been kicked out of her aunt’s.She shouldn’t have to work so hard for the bare minimum.

I should have offered more than a million for her.

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