Page 19 of The Nanny Contract

Casey dropped the keys in her hand.

“And as for your car,” she added to Henry, “we’re going to a dealership tomorrow to find the smallest, weakest, most utilitarian car available.”

As they turned to walk into the house, Mother looked back over her shoulder at the Cadillac, obviously excited about her new toy.

I motioned for Casey to come over. “I’m sorry about earlier,” I said. “I should have trusted my gut and listened to you.”

Casey offered a slight smile. “That’s okay, Logan. I’m just glad everyone’s safe.”

He walked off toward the house, and I noticed that my mother had come back out to talk to me.

“What happened at the station?” she asked.

It was as if she already knew. My mother knew everything that happened in the historic streets of Charleston.

“The Mercers were there.”

The expression on her face told me she hadn’t known that bit.

“What did they want?” she asked through clenched teeth.

I grimaced. “I get the impression that Helen might be interested in pursuing custody of Henry. She hasn’t said it outright, but she’s hinting at it.”

Mother frowned deeply. “I see.”

I knew that by informing her she’d be immediately involved. And when Betsy Westbrook gets involved, things get real. For everyone.

It was as if she was commander in chief of the family, always looking out for everyone’s safety. Especially since Gloria’s passing, Betsy had been hawkeyed in looking after Henry. I’d never seen such mama bear—or in this case, grandmama bear—instincts from her before.

She loved my son.

Standing before her on the great lawn of Westbrook Meadows, I could see the fury in my mother’s eyes.

Crossing Betsy wasn’t just a mistake. It was an unspoken rule to avoid her bad side at all costs. Ending up on that list wasn’t just unwise. It was a surefire way to make your life complicated.

I knew it. The moment I voiced my concerns about the Mercers’ intentions, Betsy latched onto the idea, like a bloodhound on a fresh trail.

The distant cry of an owl echoed through the night, sharp and unsettling.

Like a warning.

My mother’s expression mirrored my own unease. We both knew the truth without speaking it.

The Mercers weren’t just showing up out of concern. They were plotting something.

And I was determined to uncover exactly what it was.

Chapter 5

Casey

The evening of the Westbrook Family Carnival was upon us, and I was completely out of my element.

I’d never been to a party thrown by a bonafide rich person before. Sure, as a nanny to some well-to-do families, I’d attended a few galas and soirees, but nothing of this magnitude.

Westbrook Meadows had been transformed into a glamorous, over-the-top carnival, hosted by Hunter per Betsy’s command as part of the Legacy Challenges.

I wandered the grounds and stared in awe at society’s most pristine and polished people. There were high-ranking politicians, local industry titans, and a few reporters from local media outlets.

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