Chapter 289
Chapter 289
Iris & Arthur
Iris
+25 BONUS
When Arthur and I pull up to my parents‘ estate, the sum has nearly set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The security gate swings open as we approach, and Arthur parks the car My feet are tired as we climb out, but it’s a good sort of tired after a fun, relaxing, and dare I say it–even a productive day, if you count the conversation with those people in the butterfly
conservatory.
“I hope Miles wasn’t too much trouble,”
as we walk up the path to the front door.
Arthur chuckles. “Your parents probably spoiled him rotten. We’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
When we walk into Miles‘ room, however, it’s Nora we see, the nanny, not my parents. She’s sitting in a rocking chair by the window while Miles lays on his belly on the floor, kicking his feet as he reads a picture book. Her eyes widen when she sees us standing there.
“Oh,” she says, jumping up. “You’re back.”
I open my mouth to say something, but Miles jerks his head up and gasps. “Mommy! Daddy!” He jumps up and runs over, throwing his arms around Arthur’s legs. Arthur scoops him up, and Miles is already chattering away about how much fun he had today, and how hungry he is now–he wants mac and cheese and chicken nuggets for dinner.
When I turn toward Nora to thank her for watching him, she’s already gone. The last I see of her is her pristine gray dress disappearing around the corner.
Arthur exchanges a confused glance with me. Even he seems to be perturbed by that, so I know it’s not just in my head this time.
“Did we do something to offend her?” he asks.
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t think so. She’s always been a bit… awkward around me. I assumed it was because of the whole switched–at–birth thing.”
“Maybe she blames herself?” Arthur suggests as we begin making our way back out to the car. happened, wasn’t she?”
“She was
the nanny when it
“Yeah,” I nod. “But that was years ago, and it wasn’t her fault. It was the hospital’s mistake, right?”
Arthur shrugs. “Maybe she feels she should have noticed sooner that something was off.”
>>
“Maybe.” I bite the inside of my cheek as we step outside. While Arthur gets Miles, who is still yapping away about his day, situated in his car seat, my steps falter. I feel… a prickle on the back of my neck. Like I’m being watched.
Frowning, I turn and look back up at my parents‘ home, and that’s when I see her.
Nora.
She’s staring at me from a window, her face pinched into a look that unsettles me for reasons I can’t explain. Even from here, the deep lines around her mouth seem deeper than ever, and her lips are downturned.
We lock eyes, and although I’m not entirely sure why, my breath hitches. A feeling of cold dread settles in my stomach.
But it’s gone in an instant. She quickly snaps the curtains shut, and that’s the end of that.
I blink, both confused and put off. Does she dislike me for some reason? Does she dislike Arthur? Miles, even?
Or is Arthur right, and she just feels guilty that I was switched with Selina at the birth she assisted with?
Arthur
1/2
Chapter 289
+25 BONUS
The moment I open my laptop, I know I’ve made a mistake. Dozens of emails flood my inbox, most marked urgent. I should have known better than to neglect my phone for an entire day, even if it was a Saturday spent with my family.
With a sigh, I start sorting through the messages, flagging the ones that need immediate attention and ignoring the ones that can wait until tomorrow. Most are standard governmental affairs budget approvals, meeting requests, policy documents for
review.
I’m just about to get started responding to the emails when my office door swings open so abruptly that it crashes against the wall. I jump, knocking over my coffee cup in my surprise, and curse as the dark liquid spills across a pile of paperwork.
