After Leaving Me for the Nanny Chapter 2

When I first started at the school, Peyton's company was just getting off the ground.

We both grabbed meals on the run.

The small diner near our apartment became our regular dinner spot.

Serena was a kitchen helper there back then.

She often sat on a plastic stool by the door, reading books.

When she learned I was a teacher, her eyes lit up.

She told me she wanted to take the self-study university exam.

She hoped to get a degree so she could establish herself in the city.

At the time, I admired her tenacity.

Only later did I realize the ambition and ruthlessness beneath that determination.

That day, Peyton and I walked to the small diner as usual.

From a distance, we saw the rolling shutter pulled down.

Serena was crouched on the stone steps by the entrance, shoulders shaking as she cried.

It turned out the owner had run off. She had nowhere to go and still owed rent.

She cried and begged me to help her get a job in the school cafeteria.

I couldn't help her with that, but I felt sorry for how hard things were for someone so young.

So I asked if she'd be willing to come cook at our place.

She threw her arms around me, overjoyed.

"Claire, I'll never forget what you've done for me."

When we got home, Peyton frowned and told me,

"I don't like having outsiders in the house."

I took his hand.

"The girl's having a hard time. Just let her come cook for us. She'll leave right after. Okay?"

He sighed softly.

He turned his hand over and clasped mine.

"Whatever you want..."

The neighbor I was friendly with saw that a young woman had been coming to our place.

She pulled me aside and quietly warned me to be careful.

I laughed and waved it off.

My relationship with Peyton had spanned our entire youth.

From childhood to adolescence all the way to marriage.

Plenty of girls had chased him.

He never even bothered to look up.

I knew him. Once he decided on something, he was single-minded.

Serena's meals were different every day, balanced with meat and vegetables.

She was very attentive.

She memorized all of Peyton's and my preferences.

Going far beyond what her job required.

A cup of hot tea handed to us after dinner gradually melted Peyton's cold expression.

His attitude toward Serena became much warmer.

I treated her like a younger sister.

But when she said the rent outside was too expensive and asked if she could set up a cot in the storage room, I hesitated.

After all, having a live-in was somewhat inconvenient.

Serena put on a pleading smile.

"Claire, I'll take care of everything at home."

"You and Peyton can just focus on your careers."

While I was still hesitating, Peyton came home.

He took the hot tea Serena handed him.

"Living here works. I'm busy with work, so you and Claire can look out for each other."

Serena happily shook Peyton's hand.

"Thank you, Peyton. I'll definitely take good care of Claire."

Serena truly lived up to her word.

She didn't let me worry about a single household task.

The bedding was fluffy and soft, smelling of sunshine.

Even the cracks in the corners were spotless.

Most importantly, she had a good sense of boundaries.

After finishing her tasks, she'd return to her room to study.

So quiet you'd forget there was another person in the house.

My concerns gradually dissolved day by day.

On Serena's birthday, I brought Peyton along to buy her gifts and a cake.

We came home early wanting to surprise her.

When we opened the door, she looked completely flustered.

Her face was as red as the red halter dress she was wearing.

That was a dress Peyton had given me when we were dating.

I'd thought it was too revealing and never wore it.

"Claire, I was sorting through seasonal clothes today and saw this dress."

"I thought it looked nice so I tried it on."

"I'm sorry..."

Though she was speaking to me, her eyes were on Peyton.

Tears hung at the corners of her eyes, with a coquettishness unique to young girls.

Peyton beside me cleared his throat twice.

"I forgot something in the car. Going down to get it."

Young girls liking pretty things was understandable.

Serena usually wore faded plaid shirts.

I just hadn't expected someone so simple to like this style.

I set aside the gift we'd picked for her that afternoon.

"Peyton and I chose a dress for you."

"Though it seems it's not your style."

She picked up the shopping bag, her eyes full of eagerness to please.

"I like it, I like it. I love anything you give me."

Peyton was gone for a long time.

When he finally came back, the unnatural flush on his face still hadn't faded.

I didn't think much of this little incident.

But afterward, Serena started wearing makeup.

From time to time, she'd go to the study to ask Peyton questions.

Peyton, who usually had no patience for incompetence, was extraordinarily patient with her.

He'd even disassemble models I wasn't allowed to touch to show her.

The atmosphere in our home began to change subtly.

Zach beside me asked,

"Is that when they got together?"

I shook my head.

"Not long after, I let her go."

The reason I fired her was...

A peach.