Chapter 49: The Boy and the Dog

“What did my mom ask you to bring?” The boy’s gaze landed on the item in her hands.

“An antique vase,” Ellis glanced at him, silently asking if he wanted her to bring it inside.

Without a word, he stepped aside, making it clear she could enter.

Ellis belatedly took a closer look at him. He was at least a head taller than her, lanky in that way teenage boys often were—youthful but not yet fully grown. Even with the fringe of his bangs partially covering his brows, his sharp features were undeniable. Judging by his looks alone, he had to be one of the most popular guys at his school.

Though he carried a certain air of arrogance… Wait. Was this the child Lois had mentioned needing help with? Ellis was twenty-four—she wasn’t that much older than him. How was she supposed to take care of him?

After she placed the vase down, the boy pointed to a pile of scattered belongings in the corner. “Tidy that up.” Didn’t this place have housekeepers? Before she could ask, the boy disappeared.

Taking money meant doing the job. With no other choice, Ellis started cleaning. She hadn’t expected it to take two whole hours. By the time she finished, she was exhausted, collapsing onto the couch for a break.

Lois called just then. “Casey didn’t give you any trouble, did he?” It was obvious who she meant.

Ellis hesitated before answering, then said, “He just asked me to help him clean up. I just finished.”

“From now on, go check on him every Wednesday and Sunday. See if he needs anything.”

“Madam Lois. When you said ‘taking care of a child’ in the interview, you meant him?”

“Yes. Didn’t you minor in child psychology during university?”

Ellis suddenly remembered her past dream of becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, when it came time for college applications, her adoptive mother had insisted she choose a major that could make big money. In the end, she had forcibly picked both her school and major for her. Since she hadn’t been able to study medicine, she had taken child psychology as an elective to make herself feel better.

Thinking back on the past three years of her marriage, where her entire world had revolved around Easton, she realized how much she had lost. She had almost forgotten she had ever studied anything at all.

She nodded. “Yeah, I took the class. I even got certified.”

“Casey isn’t easy to deal with. You’ll need to be patient,” Lois reminded her.

“I will!” Ellis replied with a smile.

She didn’t want to take this job, but survival didn’t give her much of a choice. After ending the call, she went to find the boy to let him know she was leaving. But the moment she turned, she nearly jumped out of her skin—he was standing right behind her like a ghost.

Hearing that she was leaving, he showed no reaction. She suddenly had second thoughts. Was he going to be difficult? That thought lingered even as she stepped outside. But then it turned into something else entirely—something unsettling.

On instinct, she glanced back over her shoulder. The boy was on the second-floor balcony, watching her. Or maybe not watching her. It was hard to tell. A chill ran down her spine.

Without thinking, Ellis picked up her pace, walking as fast as she could, nearly breaking into a run toward the estate’s main gate. Then, right as she reached it—

“Ellis!” Her heart nearly stopped. The sudden voice behind her sent a shiver down her spine.

“Ellis, is that you?” The voice came again, followed by the sound of a car pulling up. Ellis turned and immediately recognized the person. Morty.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, frowning.

“I should be asking you that,” Morty said, stepping out of his car and glancing around. “It’s late. Shouldn’t you be at home with Easton?”

People really did group together based on their personalities. Morty and Easton had been childhood friends, and they shared the same superiority complex. Right now, Morty was looking down at her like she was beneath him. Ellis had never liked him. The biggest reason? Morty was two-faced. In front of Easton, he was all politeness, addressing her with the perfect amount of respect. The moment Easton wasn’t around, his attitude completely changed—cold, snide, condescending. She had no idea if she had ever unknowingly offended him, or if he was just the type of person who enjoyed looking down on others.

She was about to brush him off when he spoke again.

“Wait, no,” Morty corrected himself, smirking. “Easton shouldn’t be home with you. He told me he’s spending the evening with Victoria and his mom. Looks like you’ll be sleeping alone tonight.” The mocking tone in his voice was impossible to miss.

Ellis snapped back, “And what does that have to do with you?” Some people just had no shame. Morty was one of them. In the past, she had held back, knowing he and Easton were close. But now? She had no reason to be polite. In fact, the fact that she hadn’t punched him in the face was already an act of mercy.

“I’m just looking out for you,” Morty said, pretending to be concerned.

“Looking out for what?” Ellis sneered. “Who the hell do you think you are? Why would I need your concern?” She didn’t believe for a second that Morty had good intentions. He was just rubbing it in—rubbing Easton and Victoria in her face.

“Ungrateful,” Morty muttered. “Just like a dog biting the hand that feeds it.”