Firstborn of Kenneth and Lucy Mercer. One younger brother—Caleb.
One niece—Grace, age five. She is a cute little angel and is in Cathryn’s class. I could see the Mercer genes in her.
Head of the Mercer household? Queen Grammy Mercer herself.
She might just be the key to my survival.
I plucked a piece of soft beef and crisp bok choy between my chopsticks and savoured the bite, eyes flicking back to my screen.
Photos from last year’s Harvest Festival.
Grammy, grinning beside her prize-winning pie—again.
But it was him I kept seeing.
Kade—everywhere. With kids, with the elderly, laughing, scolding, human.
So how the hell had I brought out the animal in him?
I stabbed my chopsticks into my bowl with a groan.
Of course, he had to look that good in uniform. Full head of thick brown hair, those stupidly intense blue eyes… and I knew exactly what he was packing beneath those pants.
Are you going to run away again?
His voice echoed in my head.
I didn’t have the energy to pack up and run again, not this time.
Yes, I might be pregnant—but what exactly did he want from me?
?? ?? ??
The week went by with no incidents of stalking.
That should’ve been reassuring.
It wasn’t.
I peeked into Cathryn’s classroom and spotted her tidying up her book corner. I knocked gently before stepping in.
“Hey. What a week,” she groaned. “I need to let loose tonight.”
“Mmm. That doesn’t sound half bad,” I said, mulling it over. I deserved some fun.
“YAS!” she shouted, practically vibrating. “Rick’s Bar, tonight. Eight p.m. Dress sexy—and I mean for me, not the men. Sam’ll drop you off.”
“It’s just drinks. Calm down,” I laughed.
“Just go. And no cardigans tonight. I swear to God.”
I flipped her off on the way out. “See you later.”
It wasn’t until I got to the car park that I realised—I probably couldn’t drink. Just in case.
I still had at least a week before I could confirm I wasn’t carrying Satan’s child.
Great.
