His Daughter's Nanny, His Heart's Obsession

led like lave

in the entire mansi

mp left on even though it was morning. A round rug in soft blue covered the floor, embroidered with stars. A row

r was

m, curled up on a cushioned window se

s

breath

nd knees tucked tight to her chest. She wore a simple cotton dress and socks that looked like they'd

t the window with

n notice the world

e just didn

g the door behind her. The soft

idn't

ntly. No baby voic

eyes fixed on the garden below, whe

to be staying here for a while. Your d

r. No ey

mply looked around the room and

ooks," she smiled softly, letting her gaze travel back to Is

th

pace between them. There was no point crowding her.

he Fox and the Fern - a story Aria remembe

r it. "Do you

subtle shift in Isla's fingers, grip

ped the

o you anyway. You don't ha

The kind of voice you'd use with someone

heek now pressed against her knee instead of the glass. Sh

'Even if you're quiet, I

st exhale from the c

ifted. She sensed it lik

res

she didn't need to.

hallway floor. The distant scen

mo

se it w

ce steady. If he expected her to fumble, to push or

control. It was

connection. You bui

ed again. The scent faded

as g

ked back

way. But her posture had softened. Her bunny now re

on it. She knew better than to c

she kep

-

red the halls alone, still lea

no friendly smiles, no casual chatter. Just nods a

ys in silence. Aria gently asked about Isla's preferences, b

ple didn't last l

ursery with a small plate of cut-up fruit,

me window seat, bu

paper into little animals while pretending not to glance up. After a long w

hen a

chest

he child spok

she smiled

e in what must have been mont

't sleep

ite, staring at the ceiling whil

by a cold man. Caring for a child

d

n't fee

... resp

ot

ate study, staring at his glass of bourbon, wondering why the sound of a woman reading a children