Chapter 3

Jude’s small frame goes rigid under the covers, but a faint flicker of quiet relief softens his sharp little glare.

“Fine. Only tonight, since storms freak you out. Don’t get used to sharing my bed.”

Classic stubborn little tsundere kid.

“Thank you, Jude. The thunder’s making it impossible to sleep—can you read me a bedtime story to calm me down?” I grab a fairy tale hardcover off his nightstand and press it into his hands.

He rolls his eyes dramatically. “You’re way too old for storybooks, that’s embarrassing.”

Even so, he accepts the book, flips to the first page, and clears his throat to read aloud. Within ten minutes his voice grows softer and slower, the book slipping loose from his fingers as he drifts asleep mid-paragraph.

I tuck the duvet snug around his shoulders and pull him close to my chest, letting both of us pass out through the rest of the storm.

Early the next morning, the butler knocks the bedroom door open with a breakfast tray balanced in his hands. He freezes, tray nearly slipping from his grip, eyes blown wide.

“Master Jude never lets any stranger cross his bedroom threshold, let alone sleep beside him—this is unheard of.”

Jude blinks awake slowly, rubbing sleep crust out of his eyes, rushing to defend our shared bed.

“She’s the one scared of thunder last night. I let her crash here, that’s all.”

The butler stares at me like I’m some kind of miracle, rushing off to deliver a full report to Kai Rossi immediately.

I stretch my arms out, reaching to help Jude pull on his tiny suit jacket. He twists away fast, cheeks flaming.

“I dress myself! Don’t think this little stunt makes you special. All the other women who applied only care about my dad’s fortune anyway.”

I hold back a quiet laugh. I absolutely took this job for the massive paycheck—nothing more, nothing less.

We head down to the formal dining room for breakfast, and that’s when I lay eyes on the infamous Kai Rossi for the first time. Now I fully understand Jude’s comment about gold-digging applicants.

Sharp sculpted jaw, icy dark eyes, tailored black designer suit, the cold, untouchable head of the entire East Coast Rossi crime syndicate with a legitimate multi-billion dollar finance empire front. Every single socialite in Manhattan would kill to lock him down.

Kai sets his morning newspaper flat on the tabletop, those piercing dark eyes locking directly onto my face without breaking contact.

“You’re the new caretaker. Name?”

“Sage Voss.”

His fingers pause mid-tug on his suit jacket’s button, leaning back slow against his leather dining chair.

“Butler says Jude’s taken a strong liking to you. If my son accepts you fully, we sign a civil marriage license per the employment contract—your monthly salary doubles after that. One rule to drill into your head: look after Jude properly, and cut out any greedy ulterior motives targeting me.”

“Understood, Mr. Rossi.”

Jude marches out of the kitchen carrying a covered ceramic plate, sliding it onto the table directly in front of me with a deceptively sweet smile.

“I made you breakfast all by myself. Hope you love it.”

The butler’s eyes bug out, rapidly shooting panicked side glances in my direction.

I lift the plate’s lid off. Two slices of sourdough sandwich bread sandwich a thick clump of dark green caterpillar paste, with a plump live caterpillar wriggling dead center on top.

“Homemade protein sandwich. You aren’t gonna turn it down, right?” Jude challenges, eyes sharp with expectation.

I pick up the whole sandwich and take a huge bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing without a single flinch.

“Tastes solid. Only complaint’s the caterpillar’s a little small. Back when I lived off-grid, I pan-fried way bigger caterpillars for dinner all the time.”

Jude’s cocky scheming face drops completely, stunned silent. Off to my side, Kai’s mouth twitches upward in a faint, barely noticeable smile.

“Looks like your little prank didn’t land this time.” He lifts his espresso mug, voice low and calm. Jude’s face burns scarlet, jumping down off his dining chair and sprinting out the back door in frustration.

I grab his canvas backpack and chase after him. “Wait up—I’ll drive you to private school!”

Kai’s gaze tracks my retreating figure across the lawn, his cold expression melting into tangled, aching longing. He murmurs quiet enough only he hears the words.

“Sage… you really don’t remember a single thing about us.”