"Are you deaf? Come on, like I said, get out of here now!"
Annie spoke in a hostile tone. Her voice was sharp and confident, completely at odds with her delicate appearance. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she looked more like a fragile child than someone capable of such attitude.
"I knew this from the very beginning."
Stella wasn't surprised. From what she had heard about Annie, this reaction was expected.
All the previous nannies had either left after a few days or disappeared after a few months. That alone was enough to tell her the problem wasn't simple.
"I have to calm her down first… then talk to her."
Annie lay back on the bed again and pulled the blanket over herself.
"Come on, would you like me to take you out myself?"
Before she finished, Stella pulled the blanket away and made her sit up.
"We need to talk. It's not bedtime, Miss."
Annie frowned immediately.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Stella answered calmly.
"I'm just doing my job. From what I was told, it's study time now. Please sit at the table."
Annie crossed her arms.
"I'm not doing it. Honestly, you're the one who should be studying. You look like you need it more than I do."
"She really is like her brother."
Stella realized pushing further would only make things worse. For now, she decided to step back.
"Fine. We'll skip studying today. But if this happens again tomorrow, I'll report it to your grandfather."
Annie scoffed.
"Oh? And who exactly is going to believe you?"
Without replying, Stella turned and left the room.
The corridor outside was quiet, the light softer and more comfortable than the tense atmosphere she had just left behind.
As she walked, she heard that Mrs. Loran wasn't at home now.
"That explains it… no wonder she's acting like this. I need a better approach, or this will become a real problem."
Annie stayed seated on her bed after she left, her expression slowly fading into something more distant.
"I've always been like this… the one people pity."
Her condition had set her apart since childhood. Being different had never been easy, and that difference had often turned into isolation.
Her family life hadn't been any easier.
Her mother left after the divorce, and a few years later, she lost her father. Since then, the house had been full of people, yet she often felt alone.
She had also learned to hear things she wasn't supposed to hear, whispers from servants, conversations about her mother, things said behind her back.
"All of them… they pretend they care, but in the end, it's just talk."
She turned away, sinking deeper into silence.
The next morning, Stella returned.
She knocked on the door. No response.
"Fine… I'll open it myself."
Using the spare key, she entered.
The curtains were still closed, blocking the sunlight. The room felt dim and heavy. Stella walked to the window and pulled the curtains open. Light slowly filled the room.
Annie didn't move.
"Good morning, little Miss. It's time to wake up."
Annie's voice came from under the blanket, "I told you yesterday to leave. Why are you back?"
Stella gently pulled the blanket away.
"First, sit up. Then I'll explain."
Annie sat up reluctantly.
"There. Now talk. You're annoying."
Stella replied without changing her tone, "Sorry, but some things need to be done properly before we talk."
"I'm not doing anything you say."
Stella ignored her protest and stepped closer.
"What are you doing?" Annie asked, surprised.
Without hesitation, Stella lifted her out of bed.
" You crazy! Put me down!"
"You're smaller than your attitude."
She placed Annie on the chair and walked to the closet.
"What are you wearing today?"
"I don't want anything, just leave me alone."
Stella picked out a purple dress.
"This one should be fine."
"No. That color is terrible, do you have no taste?"
"It actually suits your eyes and skin."
Annie paused slightly, "…It does?"
"Yes. Now get ready. We're going out today."
"Who gave you permission? I'm not going anywhere with you."
Stella sat beside her.
"You remind me of someone I used to know."
Annie didn't respond at first, but Stella continued anyway.
"When I was your age, I had a friend. She loved going out and playing all the time. But one day, she changed… she stopped coming out."
"Why?"
" She fell ill. I kept visiting, thinking it was only fatigue. Always insisted she'd recover… that we'd go out again. "
"And then, what happened?"
"After that…"
Before she could continue, the door opened.
Mrs. Loran entered with a calm smile.
"Oh? Are you going out?"
"Yes, if you allow it."
"Of course. But I'd like to hear Annie's opinion first."
Stella looked at Annie briefly.
After a moment of hesitation, Annie finally spoke.
"…Yes. I'm going out today."
"Good. Then I'll leave you to prepare."
Mrs. Loran hugged her granddaughter gently and left.
As expected, Annie chose another dress instead of the purple one.
Stella watched her quietly, "what a stubborn child !"