Chapter One

The cab dropped Amelia off in front of her residence in the Hamptons. The girl stepped out of the vehicle, concentrating on getting into the seaside property with her right foot. The wheeled suitcase was dragged to the door and soon she rang the bell that rang silently outside.

"Good morning." Said the housekeeper as soon as she opened the door to the residence.

" Good morning, Mr. Alderidge asked me to come." Amelia answered.

The housekeeper just smiled and gave Amelia the way, leading her through the house to the living room.

" I will tell Mr. Alderidge, please wait here. " The housekeeper said, walking out of the room and leaving her there alone.

She watched the place, approaching the main wall where some pictures were hanging. She was startled when she heard the metallic noise of a lighter, and noticed a man sitting facing the fireplace, as the smoke and smell of cigarettes gradually filled the room. 

" Good morning. " Amelia spoke as she approached, but the man seemed to ignore her. 

Amelia tried again, walking towards the man sitting there.

" Good morning, sir. " She tried again to get his attention. " My name is Amelia Jones, I'm the new nurse. 

He continued to ignore her, enjoying his cigarette. The smell made Amelia slightly nauseous. She hated cigarettes.

She took a deep breath, her fingers caressing the Greek eye hanging from her bracelet.

" I hope you like my work. It's the first time since I graduated that I've been hired, but I swear I'm great at what I do. " Amelia said, trying somehow to get his attention, even if uselessly. " My professors gave me great references and I graduated from the best medical school in South Carolina.

" And at what point will you tell the truth? " The man asked as he interrupted her, his penetrating voice so deep it made Amelia uncomfortable. He turned the wheelchair around, facing Amelia, bringing the cigarette to his lips.

Amelia was surprised by his question, staring into his blue eyes. He was a handsome man. His square jaw was covered by a thick blond beard, despite his elongated face. A blanket covered his legs and he wore a sweatshirt over his torso. His hair was equally short and blond, sticking up in all possible directions.

As Amelia looked at him, she felt intimidated.

" I didn't lie. " Amelia replied, standing her ground. She wouldn't let herself be intimidated by that man, he didn't have that power like all the others did. Not that time.

" So you, a child, took the job as a nurse in this place away from everything just out of kindness? " He spoke as he sneered, taking a drag on his cigarette. " Or did you come after a rich invalid man for the purpose of an advantageous marriage? " he asked, his expression hard and shrewd.

Amelia's green eyes widened with shock; what he was saying was complete nonsense.

" You offend me! " She raised her voice, astonishment transforming her face.

" It's your presence here that offends me, girl. " The man replied, frowning and squeezing his eyes shut. " Clearly, there is another reason. 

" I took this job because I need it. Your bank account doesn't interest me. " Amelia replied, feeling her heartbeat quicken. " Now I understand why no one takes this job.

" You don't have the profile of a nurse that we usually hire, much more experienced than you. You're young, and this place at the end of the world is not the favorite kind of job for people of your age. " He replied, realizing that he had really offended the girl.

" Well, that's exactly why it's perfect. I'm not interested in anything more than the peace this place brings.  " Amelia answered, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes to try to pull herself together.

" Look, I really need this job. I have no interest in your bank account or in you other than my own. Besides taking care of your health. " she said.

The man was watching her, his piercing blue eyes analyzing not only Amelia's expression, but also her posture. She was hiding something and he could tell.

 

She was hiding something, but it was not what he was thinking. Amelia's mind was never as absurd as the one he was talking about. Marriage was definitely not in her plans, not even a blow from the chest. Even more so with a man as arrogant and rude as that, sitting in front of her. 

She just wanted a new life, new expectations beyond what had been created and molded for her all those years. But he was a man and rich, he would never understand what it would be like to be a woman and even more, to go through everything she went through in her twenty"three years. 

He preferred to judge her with all his prejudice, hurting his pride right away without even meeting her. 

" Well, I am here. I want this job, and hardly anything you say is going to change my mind. " Amelia replied, slowly regaining her composure, even though her breathing and heartbeat were still rapid. " Although my future patient turned out to be a very difficult person.

" So you're hiding something, girl. " He stared, his face hardening.

Amelia took a deep breath, sadness clouding her features as she recalled some of her past and her personal wounds.

" My past and my motives are none of your business. " she replied.

The door was opened again and the housekeeper entered the room accompanied by another man, equally blond and with features similar to the man in the wheelchair. 

" Miss Jones, I'm Ethan Alderidge. " The man introduced himself, approaching Amelia and greeting her with a handshake. " I see you've already met my brother, Alexander. " Ethan hushed, and Amelia could see his nervous smile.

" Yes, I've had that pleasure. " She lied, smiling wanly at him as Alexander swiveled his chair toward the fireplace once more.

" I hope he was polite to you. " Ethan spoke up, but Amelia realized that those words were meant more for Alexander than for her, and she nodded. 

" Come, Miss Jones. We'll talk better in the office. " Ethan spoke up, and Amelia motioned to grab her bag, but the housekeeper beat her to it.

" I'll take it, don't worry. " The woman spoke and Amelia nodded, even more so when she noticed her compassionate smile. 

Amelia was about to leave the room when she heard Alexander move in his chair and light another cigarette.

" Whatever you are hiding, it can't be any worse than this pathetic life. " Amelia and Ethan listened to him speak.

Amy took a deep breath, remembering all the shit that led her to that place, all the scars, and the man she abandoned in Charleston on her wedding day.