Page 1 of Knot Just Their Nanny
Chapter 1
Zara
The door closes softly behind me, but I don’t move an inch, taking in the small flat and the alpha sitting, flicking through channels on the TV. He barely looks up as he hears me enter, but that’s fine. I’m saying what I’ve come here to say, and nothing will stop me.
“Zara,” Eddie starts, looking up briefly from his channel surfing, his tone already laced with that casual arrogance I’ve come to loathe. “What took you so fucking long? Where’s the snacks?”
“Eddie, we need to talk.”
He raises an eyebrow, turning his focus to me, leaning back against the cushions. “Sure, love. What do you have to say that’s so important?”
I don’t sit down. Standing by the door so I can leave as soon as I’m done, I give him a level stare. “This isn’t working for me anymore. Our relationship has been more draining than fulfilling, and I can’t continue pretending otherwise.”
Eddie’s face shifts, the half-serious expression is melting into something else—something less pleasant, as I expected and why I planned this meticulously so I could get away.
I keep going, my voice a firm thread in the quiet of the room. “I’m moving on from whatever this has become,” I continue. “I need to do what’s best for me, and that means ending things between us.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” he asks incredulously. “You’re fucking overreacting as usual because I haven’t paid you enough attention.”
My jaw clenches tightly. His eyes are doing that thing where they try to look sincere and hurt, but I see right through it now. “Am I?” I keep my tone even.
“Absolutely,” he says, rising, taking a step closer, trying to close the space between us. “We have something special, and you’re trying to throw it all away because of a few rough patches?”
I shake my head slightly; a chuckle almost escapes me. It’s funny how clear things become once you make up your mind. “A ‘few rough patches’ is a bit of an understatement, don’t you think?”
Eddie runs a hand through his hair – a nervous habit when he knows he’s losing ground. “Look, I’ll change, I promise. We can start fresh, pretend none of this ever happened.”
The old me might have fallen for these lines, but she’s not here anymore. “Pretending doesn’t change reality, Eddie. It’s time I face it.”
He lets out a frustrated sigh, realising his usual tactics aren’t working. “Zara, baby, come on. Don’t do this.”
The term of endearment is empty, like it belongs to another lifetime. “Bye, Eddie,” I say as I open the door and step out.
“Where are you going?” He follows after me, his voice pitched with a hint of desperation.
I ignore him as I walk steadily out of the building, knowing even if he follows me, I’ll still get away from him.
“Zara, get back here—“ he yells. “You’re being a complete bitch.”
A few weeks ago, that would’ve hurt me, and I’d have done anything to make it up to him; sorry for speaking out, but I know now who he is and what he does. He is a gaslighting narcissist, and I need to get away from him.
Iamgetting away from him. I have it all planned and have left nothing to chance. I’ve closed the lease on my flat, sold all my furniture, and sold anything else that wouldn’t fit into my tiny car.
I stride toward my white Fiat 500 parked along the curb, the cool morning air brushing against my skin. It’s just a car, nothing special, but I smile as I unlock it and climb in. This little car is mine, all mine – a ticket to wherever I want to go, a companion on the road to freedom.
Settling into the driver’s seat, the fabric of the upholstery feels familiar beneath me. My smile widens as I turn the ignition, the engine hums to life, steady and reliable. I’ve got a full tank, a playlist of my favourite tunes cued up, and the open road ahead.
“Zara!” Eddie snaps, marching towards me. “Where do you think you’re going? No one else is going to want you if you walk away from me, you know!”
Ignoring him, I lock the door, and without a look back, I pull away from the curb and turn the corner to head towards the motorway and the new life that I’m about to carve out for myself.
“Here we go,” I murmur.
The outskirts of the city buzz around me as I navigate through the streets one last time. The towering buildings, the endless sea of people—they’re all part of a chapter I’m closing now. With each mile, the urban landscape of Greater London starts to fade, giving way to new beginnings.
The motorway stretches out in front of me, a ribbon of possibilities. There’s something invigorating about driving withno one to answer to, no one waiting on the other end to tell me what to do or how to feel. Just me, the road, and the promise of a fresh start in the Lake District.
I forget all about Eddie, knowing he will try to ring me, but I’ve already blocked his number. There’s room formythoughts now, my dreams, my doubts. No one to tell me how I should feel or that what I’m feeling is wrong. Nope. All that is behind me, and now I have something new and exciting to look forward to.
