CHAPTER FIVE
The penthouse doorbell rang at exactly ten a.m.
Kade Nightwell looked up from his laptop, irritation flickering across his face. He hadn't scheduled any meetings. His mornings were sacred—controlled, predictable. The bell rang again, sharper this time, impatient.
He already knew who it was.
"Leo," he said calmly, standing. "Stay with Kiera."
Leo nodded, instinctively moving closer to her side. Kiera felt the tension ripple through the room, sudden and heavy, like the air before a storm.
Kade straightened his suit jacket and walked toward the door.
When he opened it, the woman standing there looked like she belonged on magazine covers and red carpets, not in the quiet space Kiera had worked so hard to soften.
Vivienne Laurent.
Tall. Elegant. Ice-blonde hair pulled into a flawless low bun. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble as she stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her designer coat draped over one arm like an accessory rather than clothing.
"Kade," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
He turned his head slightly. The kiss landed near his jaw instead.
"Vivienne," he replied coolly. "This is unexpected."
She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I was in the city. I thought I'd visit my fiancé."
Fiancé.
The word echoed through Kiera like a gunshot.
Her breath hitched before she could stop it. She hadn't known. Not once had Kade mentioned—
Vivienne's gaze swept the room and landed on Kiera.
And sharpened.
"Oh," she said slowly. "So this must be her."
Kade stiffened. "Vivienne—"
"You hired a woman," Vivienne cut in, her eyes never leaving Kiera. "A young woman. To live in your home."
Kiera felt suddenly very small.
"I hired a nanny," Kade said flatly. "For my son."
Vivienne laughed softly, the sound brittle. "And since when did nannies look like this?"
Kiera swallowed.
She stood slowly, instinctively placing herself slightly in front of Leo.
"Good morning," she said politely. "I'm Kiera."
Vivienne didn't respond. She didn't even acknowledge the greeting. Her attention snapped to Leo instead.
"And this must be the child," she said, crouching slightly. "Hello, Leo."
Leo shrank back, pressing into Kiera's leg.
"No," he whispered.
The word was small—but unmistakable.
Vivienne straightened, her smile tightening. "He's shy, I see."
"He doesn't like strangers," Kade said, his voice dangerously calm.
Vivienne turned to him sharply. "And whose fault is that? You keep him hidden away like some fragile thing."
"That's enough," Kade snapped.
Kiera's heart raced. She could feel Leo trembling.
"I'll take him to his room," she said quietly.
Vivienne's eyes flicked back to her. Cold. Assessing. Hostile.
"Don't," Vivienne said. "I want to know exactly what kind of woman you brought into this house."
Kade stepped between them instantly.
"You're crossing a line."
Vivienne scoffed. "I'm your fiancée. There are no lines."
"There are," he replied. "And you're standing on one."
Silence fell.
Kiera gently took Leo's hand. "Come on," she whispered. "Let's go."
Leo didn't hesitate.
As they disappeared down the hall, Vivienne exhaled sharply. "Unbelievable."
Kade turned on her. "What are you doing here?"
"What I should've done weeks ago," she said. "Checking on my future husband. Imagine my surprise when I hear rumors that you've hired a live-in female nanny."
"They're not rumors."
"Clearly," Vivienne said, folding her arms. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because my household decisions don't require your approval."
Her eyes narrowed. "Everything you do reflects on me, Kade. On us."
"There is no us when it comes to Leo," he said coldly.
Vivienne laughed again. "That's exactly the problem."
Down the hall, Kiera helped Leo onto his bed, her hands shaking despite her calm expression.
"Is she going to stay?" he asked, voice small.
"I don't know," Kiera admitted. "But I'm here. Okay?"
He nodded, gripping her hand tightly.
Back in the living room, Vivienne paced.
"I don't like her," she said bluntly.
"That's irrelevant."
"She's inappropriate. Emotional. Too close to your son. Too comfortable in your space."
"She's doing her job," Kade replied. "Exceptionally."
Vivienne stopped pacing and stared at him. "You sound defensive."
He didn't respond.
She stepped closer. "Tell me something, Kade. Does she know about us?"
He hesitated.
Vivienne's lips curved into a sharp smile. "I thought so."
"She didn't need to know," he said.
"And yet," Vivienne continued, "she's already replaced me in this house."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?" Vivienne asked softly. "She cooks. She comforts your son. She stands where I should stand."
"You've never wanted that role," he said.
Her expression hardened. "Because I knew my place. And so should she."
A knock interrupted them.
Kiera stood at the doorway, composed but pale. "Leo is settled."
Vivienne turned, eyes flashing. "Good. Then perhaps you can explain something to me."
Kiera met her gaze steadily. "I'm just doing my job."
"Your job," Vivienne said mockingly, "seems to involve more than childcare."
Kade moved instantly. "Stop."
Vivienne ignored him. "Let me be clear, Miss Frost. I don't want you here."
The words landed like ice.
Kiera's chest tightened, but she didn't flinch. "I understand."
"No," Kade said sharply. "You don't speak for me."
Vivienne turned to him, stunned. "Excuse me?"
"She stays," he said. "That's final."
Something broke in Vivienne's eyes—anger, humiliation, disbelief.
"This is a mistake," she said. "And mistakes have consequences."
She grabbed her coat and stormed toward the door, stopping only once.
"You may think she's harmless," Vivienne said without turning back. "But women like her? They don't know their place."
The door slammed behind her.
Silence swallowed the penthouse.
Kade dragged a hand through his hair, breathing hard.
"I'm sorry," Kiera said quietly. "I didn't mean to cause—"
"You didn't," he cut in immediately.
She hesitated. "She's your fiancée."
"Yes."
"And she doesn't want me here."
"That doesn't matter."
"It does," Kiera said softly. "Because I don't belong where I'm not wanted."
Kade looked at her then—really looked.
"You belong here," he said firmly. "As long as you choose to."
Her heart pounded painfully.
"Be careful, Kade," she whispered. "I don't want to be the reason something breaks."
His jaw tightened. "Some things are already broken."
As Kiera walked away, her chest ached with a truth she couldn't ignore anymore.
The danger wasn't Vivienne.
It was how much Kade Nightwell was willing to fight for her.
And how much she was starting to wish he would.