Until Love Breaks Through

interrupted by the hurried approach of a housekeeper. She looked fluste

ickly!" she exclaimed, he

cern etched across his face. "What h

iel," she

r sides, her expression a mixture of fury and despair. "Why can't you see what's happe

ing the tense atmosphere. "What's going on

im," Leo explained nerv

uneasy, and the chains are cutting into him. He just fell! If this keeps up, something worse

e cut through the tension like a blade. She stood stiffly, her disapproval

Laura began, but Nana

mmotion, his repeated cries tearing thro

voice breaking. "He won't calm down unless the

aniel's pained face. Finally, he turned

wing well that it

me" John sa

she immediately set him fre

footsteps quiet against the garden path. Laura's fingers curled protectively around Daniel's han

he asked softly, her voice steady

ightly in his other hand. "Good now. Okay," he murmur

hurt you again," she said firmly, her tone carrying the weight of

face breaking into a gentle smile. "Look at the clouds," she said,

s the blue expanse. Laura sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she followed his gaze. "It's so n

irt and deep blue skirt, lying on her back in the storeroom. The door had creake

er voice sharp. "Have you

e out," Laura had pleaded, h

riend," Matron continued,

oulders. "I won't apologize," she retorted. "She sai

shot back coldly. "Nobody

rs, she had been adopted by the Barnes, who had become the parents she had longed for. Yet here she was, tangled in the mess of a

niel's voice cut through them

and seek!" he called, tugging at

as she looked down at him. Smiling, she nodded,

*

on the mannequin, a masterpiece now marred by a glaring tear in the delicate fabric. Sema, one of John's

iled floor. Her eyes fell on the ruined dress, and she froze. "Plea

eet her gaze. "I'm sorry, ma,

pened. "Good morning, sir," one of the staff greeted nervously, breaking th

. His presence was commanding as always, but Eva noticed something different. As she moved

she asked softly, h

d smile. "But it'll settle down.

ed. "Caregiver? Whe

" John said, raising an e

f internally for missing the memo. She followed him closely a

eyes scanning the room as he approached the

followed her hand, and his face darkened as he took in the damage. He stepped closer, running

than the needle still stuck in the material. His eyes la

"I put it on too quickly... I wasn't c

were on John, waiting for his response. He stood there for a l

e measurements." Without another word, he turned and returned to hi

ousekeeper, led Laura through the exp

where the staff eats and gathers." She gestured to a long, gleaming t

simple yet inviting space. "This will be your room. You can store your belongings in the wardro

y suitcase was stolen at the station," she lied

d some clothes," she said evenly. "For now, I'll find you something to wear t

wood. Pausing at the landing, she turned to Laura with a serious expression. "Mr. Jo

course,"

se. He needs complete silence while he works, and it will be yo

ith a commanding presence appeared. Her c

ke it from here,

lied with a bow of her head bef

aura with a penetrating gaze. "Come," she

Mrs. Vianney lowered herself into an orn

ce sharp and unyielding. "You've been congratulated on this

, caught off

ponsibility is to care for Daniel in every way. Feeding him, cleaning him, b

slowly, her

s narrowing. "To truly fulfill your duties in a

erclap. "Marry him?" she echoed,

if you refuse, we won't force you. You can leave, and

oice echoed: "This is your new home. You'll take care of your new brother." She'd been j

here with him?" young

the orphanage and find another child w

in-trapped between an impossible future and a horrifying past. Either she would become a stepmother to an

nd fear battling for control. How