Chapter 4 - The New Hierarchy of Lake ForestBy sunrise the next morning, Vivian Calloway was gone, spirited away to a secluded estate in Europe under strict orders never to return or utter a single word about the Calloway family, or face financial obliteration.
The sprawling Lake Forest mansion felt different. The oppressive chill that had haunted the hallways for three years had evaporated, replaced by the sound of actual life.
And I was no longer just the housekeeper.
“Good morning, Nora,” Grant’s deep voice echoed from the bottom of the grand staircase as I walked down holding Noah’s small, sticky hand.
Grant stood there in a charcoal-tailored suit, looking like a king ready to conquer Wall Street, but his eyes immediately softened when they landed on us. He had canceled three multi-million-dollar board meetings that morning to eat breakfast with his children.
“Good morning, Mr. Calloway,” I said, adjusting the collar of my uniform—though Grant had already informed the agency that my title was officially ‘Director of Family Welfare and Executive Household Management,’ complete with a salary that could buy a small townhouse in downtown Chicago.
“Daddy, Nora made pancakes!” Noah shouted, running ahead to grab his father’s pant leg.
Grant scooped Noah up effortlessly with one arm, while his free hand reached out to gently brush back a stray lock of hair from Lily’s face as she walked beside me.
“Did she now?” Grant smiled, his gray eyes fixing on mine across the kitchen island. There was a spark in them that hadn't been there yesterday—something warm, intense, and deeply attentive. “Nora seems to excel at everything she does. Especially protecting what matters.”
My cheeks flushed warm. I looked down at the breakfast tray to hide my sudden nervousness. “It was just doing the right thing, sir.”
“Stop calling me sir,” he murmured, stepping closer as the children ran off toward the sunroom to play with their toys. The scent of expensive cologne and crisp morning air surrounded him. “In this house, Nora, you are an equal. And outside of it… well, people are already asking who the mysterious, stunning woman is who suddenly commands the respect of the Calloway estate.”
I looked up, startled. “What do you mean?”
Grant leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low, magnetic register. “I mean that last night, I instructed my public relations team to brief the Chicago Tribune. By noon, society circles will know that the Calloway family has a new guardian angel. And tonight, I’m hosting a charity gala at the Drake Hotel.”
He reached out, his thumb gently brushing the fading red mark on my neck—the bruise left by Vivian’s slap. His touch sent a jolt of electricity straight down my spine.
“I want you by my side, Nora,” he whispered fiercely. “I want all of Chicago to see the woman who brought light back into my home.”
Before I could process the sheer magnitude of what he was asking, the heavy oak front doors of the mansion suddenly flew open with a deafening bang.
May you like
A furious voice echoed through the marble foyer.
“Grant Calloway! You treacherous bastard! You can’t just erase my sister from this family and replace her with a cheap domestic whore!”
