Hannah’s POV

“Would you care to join us, Mr. Sterling?”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Across the pool, Miguel’s eyes widened in horror. Tyler froze mid-exit, looking like he might faint. Amy frantically shook her head at me underwater, her expression screaming “are you insane?”

My stomach knotted as I realized what I’d done. Yesterday this man had held a knife to my face, and here I was, casually inviting him to play water volleyball like we were old friends. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating as the humid air around us.

Finn’s jaw tightened visibly. “I can’t see,” he snapped, voice like ice. “What exactly do you think I’d contribute?”

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how vulnerable I was, half-submerged in water while he stood above me. But retreat wasn’t an option now.

“Actually,” I said, keeping my tone light and professional, “vision isn’t required for water games. At the Sunshine Center, we have several blind students who are excellent swimmers.”

I treaded water, moving slightly closer to the edge where he stood. “Your hearing is incredibly acute,” I said, my voice rising to that slightly higher pitch I used when trying to flatter difficult parents at school conferences. “You knew exactly where I was standing yesterday in the office—without any cues at all. I’ve never seen such amazing spatial awareness, even among my students who’ve been blind for years.”

I watched his face carefully as I laid it on thick. The hard line of his mouth softened almost imperceptibly, and the crease between his brows relaxed. My heart gave a little flutter of triumph.

The transformation was subtle but striking—without that perpetual scowl, his features arranged themselves into something almost approachable, certainly more handsome. The severe angles of his face appeared less harsh, more classically sculpted. I found myself wanting to see more of this version of him, the one not constantly radiating murderous intent.

“What do you say?” I extended my hand, water dripping from my fingers. “Want to join us?”

Finn tilted his head slightly. For a moment—just a brief moment—I thought I’d broken through. Then his lips curved into a cold smile.

“Not your charity case,” he said softly.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his movements fluid and confident despite his blindness. Each step was measured and precise, betraying years of memorizing this space before he lost his sight.

As soon as he disappeared, Amy released a shaky breath. “Holy shit, I thought he was going to drown you.”

“Why would he do that?” I asked, though my racing heart suggested I wasn’t as calm as I pretended.

“Because he can?” Amy whispered. “Miss Hannah, you don’t understand. Mr. Finn doesn’t… he doesn’t react well to being challenged.”

The remaining staff kept their distance for the rest of the afternoon, their earlier camaraderie replaced by professional reserve. I couldn’t blame them. I’d provoked the beast in his den and survived—barely. But the message was clear: getting close to me meant getting close to Finn’s unpredictable fury.

Only Amy stayed by my side, helping me gather towels and offering to show me the gardens afterward. When we were alone, strolling among meticulously trimmed hedges, I finally had to ask.

“Why aren’t you avoiding me like everyone else?” I tugged my robe tighter against the afternoon breeze. “I’m pretty sure I’ve just been categorized as radioactive by the entire household staff.”

“What?” I stopped walking, my heart plummeting. “But then how am I supposed to—” I gestured vaguely, unable to finish the sentence.

Amy shrugged uncomfortably. “Even if his preference is men, the… equipment still works, you know? And now that he can’t see…” She bit her lip. “Maybe it’ll be easier for him to… proceed, if he can pretend you’re someone else.”

The thought made me feel slightly ill. “Great. So I’m basically an anonymous incubator.”

“There’s more to it,” Amy whispered, glancing over her shoulder again. “I overheard Mrs. Sterling talking once. Finn was supposed to be the heir, to take over everything. But since he went blind, he can’t run the company anymore. She needs him to have a child quickly, before his father decides to make other arrangements.”

“Doesn’t he have brothers or sisters?” I asked. “Other potential heirs?”

Amy hesitated, her expression suddenly guarded. “It’s… complicated. Look, if you’re not planning to stay here long-term, it’s probably better you don’t know too much. Some things about this family—” She shook her head. “The less you know, the safer you’ll be when you leave.”

I spent the remainder of the day exploring the grounds under her guidance, mentally preparing for the days ahead. Victoria’s instructions echoed in my mind: make Finn comfortable with me, gain his trust, fulfill my part of the contract. All while avoiding becoming another casualty of his temper.

Simple, right?