0005.

Tilda's POV.

The next morning, I got up before dawn. I was Ted to be as early as possible in order to make a good impression.

After the chaos of yesterday, I had expected to be brought down by thoughts of Wyatt and Emily’s betrayal, but instead, my mind kept returning to the little girl—Ivy, the director's daughter. Today, I would officially become her nurse, and I felt a strange feeling of excitement blooming in my chest.

I slipped into my uniform, taking extra care with my appearance. My hair, usually thrown up in a messy bun, was neatly styled, and I applied a touch of makeup, just enough to enhance my features. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to look my best, but I was meeting the director for the first time and I wanted to make a good impression.

Dr. Ben and Nurse Abby had been clear in their instructions—there was a certain way to behave around the director. I had heard many things about him - a man of few words and strict boundaries. He valued discretion, and more importantly, he expected competence. Dr. Ben would be visiting twice a week to oversee Ivy’s treatment, leaving the daily responsibilities to me.

As I left my apartment, I checked my bag once more, ensuring I had the entry card for the director’s residence. The last thing I needed was to be caught off guard or have to run back. Today needed to go smoothly.

When I arrived at the estate, the same huge mansion greeted me. The huge building reminded me of the world Ivy lived in—a world of wealth and isolation. The head maid, a kind woman named Grace, welcomed me with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Nurse Tilda. Right this way," she said, leading me up the grand staircase to Ivy’s room. The mansion was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy with secrets.

Ivy was still asleep when I entered her room. Her small body seemed almost lost in the oversized bed. Her dark curls spilled across the pillow. I couldn't help but smile as I approached, gently brushing a stray curl away from her face. The soft touch stirred her awake, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey!" I said softly.

"My name's not 'Hey'," she replied with a playful grin. Her voice was stronger than it had been yesterday. "I'm Ivy. What's yours?"

“I’m Nurse Tilda," I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Nice to meet you, Nurse Tilda," she said, extending her hand in a mock-serious gesture. Her eyes twinkled as I took her hand, and we both laughed.

"I'm glad my dad finally listened to me and let me choose my own nurse. I like you," Ivy continued, her smile widening. "From the moment I saw you, I knew you were different. Special."

Her words took me by surprise.

"Why do you like me so much?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Because you’re calm and serious... like someone who wouldn’t drool over my dad," she said.

I blinked, caught off guard. What had happened with the previous nurse for her to say something like that? I cleared my throat, unsure how to respond, but Ivy pressed on, her hand slipping into mine again.

"Come on, let me show you around my house," she said with excitement "I want to introduce you to my favorite teddy."

I hesitated. "Are you sure you're up for that? I don’t want you to tire yourself out."

Her face fell, and she crossed her arms with a stubborn huff. "I’m not a weakling. You only saw me like that yesterday because I had an attack. I’m stronger than I look."

There was a fierceness in her eyes that was hard to argue with. I smiled, standing up. "Alright, let’s go."

As she led me through the halls of the mansion, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of family photos. The walls were decorated with expensive art, but there was no sign of Ivy’s mother, no images of family gatherings. It felt blank, as if this house wasn’t really a home, but more of a fortress.

When we returned to Ivy's room, she pulled out a large, fluffy brown teddy bear from her closet, almost as big as she was.

"This is Zach," she said, hugging the bear tightly. "He’s my best friend. May gave him to me... before she left."

There was a sadness in her voice that tugged at my heartstrings. I knelt down beside her.

"Who’s May?" I asked gently.

"May was my neighbor... and my best friend," Ivy said "Her mom was accused of having an affair with my dad, and after that, everything changed. They had to leave. I haven’t seen her since."

I felt a empathetic towards her, understanding the loneliness she must have felt.

"I’m so sorry, Ivy," I said, taking her hand. "That must have been really hard."

“It was," she whispered, blinking away the tears. "But Zach helps. He’s been with me since she left."

She hugged the teddy bear tighter, and I reached out, gently brushing a tear from her cheek. It struck me just how young Ivy was to be carrying such heavy emotions, such complicated grief. She didn’t just need a nurse—she needed someone who could understand her, someone who could listen.

Before I could say anything more, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Ivy’s head snapped up, and she quickly wiped her face. Her sadness was replaced by a bright, forced smile.

"That’s my dad," she said. "You can’t let him see me cry, or he’ll think you upset me and fire you."

I barely had time to process her words before the door swung open. Ivy leaped off the bed, running toward the man who entered the room.

But when I looked up, my heart dropped into my stomach.

Standing there, with Ivy clinging to his side, was the man from the night before—the stranger, the same one who had sent me that unnerving text, the one I spent the night with.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The shock was mirrored in his face as he realized who I was.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.