Chapter 23
I scowled at my reflection in the mirror. I couldn’t be seen with Ethan’s hickey on my neck. I had to cover this up—somehow.
After a quick shower, I dressed and grabbed a scarf that paired nicely with my blouse and jeans. I tied it around my neck and took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself before leaving my room.
Downstairs, my mother was waiting for me, her expression disapproving.
“Honestly, Judy. Just do what he’s asking,” she pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. “It can’t be that hard. Your father’s life is at stake.”
I stayed silent, unwilling to engage in that conversation any further. I couldn’t bring myself to do what Ethan wanted, not when it came at the cost of my dignity. We would find another way—there had to be one.
Later that afternoon, I took an Uber to Gavin’s house. I was relieved to find that only Adam and Matt were home, meaning I didn’t have to face any awkward encounters with anyone else.
Adam took me on a tour of the house, showing me the rooms I could use and warning me about the ones I needed to stay away from, like Gavin’s study and the entire upstairs floor.
“The interview was only the first step,” Adam said, turning to face me. “You may have proven yourself to Master Matthew, but now you need to prove yourself to me. None of the other tutors managed to get him to finish his tasks. Your job is to get him to complete them. Understood?”
“I’ll try my best,” I said, doing my best to sound confident.
Adam smirked and folded his arms across his chest.
“No offense, Miss Judy,” he said, “but I personally don’t think you have what it takes to handle this boy. Even those who passed the interview were unsuccessful. He’s a complicated child, and it’s going to take more than a pretty face and good fighting skills to get him to listen.”
Third-Person POV
Judy looked taken aback by Adam’s words, but there was truth to what he said. Just that morning, he had been talking to Ethan while Miss Irene was getting dressed. Ethan had told him that Judy had never been around children before and didn’t know much about handling them. He also confessed that, despite knowing her for quite a while, he didn’t think Judy could handle the job.
Judy had once mentioned to Ethan that she had a serious condition she’d managed, but it made her less capable in some areas. When Adam learned of this condition, he felt a bit deceived.
Adam made a mental note to keep an eye on Judy and report anything suspicious. Ethan had seemed oddly interested in Matt and his preferences as well.
“I noticed Matt doesn’t do much around here,” Ethan had said. “What should I get him for his birthday? I know it’s still months away, but if I’m going to be in Irene’s life as her husband, Matt will be my brother-in-law. I want to start thinking of things now.”
Adam didn’t find it strange, so he nodded thoughtfully.
“Well, he’s into video games right now,” Adam explained. “He has a tablet he plays on. There’s one game in particular he loves, but he’s not allowed to play it right now.”
Chapter 23 (Continued)
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because it takes up too much of his time. He’d spend all day locked in his room playing that damn game. Getting him to do anything else is impossible.”
“Can I see the tablet?” Ethan asked. “Maybe I’ll get him a new game—an educational one.”
