Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 7

I had given Noah everything I could. 

And yet, at the first whisper of doubt, he chose to hate me. 

I picked up my small suitcase—the only belongings I had when I first came to the Miller house seven years ago. 

Mrs. Taylor had already wasted too much of my time. 

I needed to hurry, or I'd miss my flight. 

I had only taken a few steps when I heard a heavy thud behind me. 

Turning around, I saw Noah lying at the bottom of the stairs. 

The marbles he had thrown at me were scattered across the floor. 

In his rush to chase after me and hurl more insults, he had stepped on them and slipped. 

The house was empty—Mrs. Taylor had sent all the staff away. 

No one else saw him fall. 

Gone was his usual arrogance. 

Blood dripped down his forehead, staining half of his face. 

And maybe the pain was too much, because instinctively, he called out to me. 

"Aunt Charlotte… it hurts…" 

My heart clenched. 

I was the one who taught Noah how to walk, holding his tiny hands as he took his first steps. 

Every time he fell, he would call for me. 

Beg me to kiss his scrapes and make the pain go away. 

It had been years since he last called me that.

I sighed and knelt beside him, checking his injuries. 

Noah's pale skin made the gash on his forehead look even more shocking. 

"Miss Charlotte, is Noah unwell again?" 

The voice on the phone was the Miller family's private doctor, instantly tense. 

Since I was the one who always noticed when Noah got sick, the one who called for help, he knew something was wrong the moment he heard from me. 

"Noah fell down the stairs," I said flatly.

"There's a lot of blood." 

"Miss Charlotte, take a few pictures of the wound for me. I'll be there immediately!" 

"You'd better hurry," I said, indifferent. "I have a flight to catch." 

"So it was all an act, huh?" 

I looked down. Noah was glaring at me, hatred burning in his eyes. 

"I knew it. You only took care of me so my dad would like you more." 

"Get lost! Don't pretend you care!"

"You think I'll stop hating you just because you're putting on a show?" 

He shoved me hard, as if the mere thought of me touching him made him sick.