Defender's Heartbeat

Chapter 4

Manuel

I had been taking care of Enzo for a month, and during that time, he became a real pain in the ass. He was always stuck to me like glue, having no one else to talk to, play with, or comfort him. He constantly sought my attention, and if he felt like I wasn't giving him enough, he got mad and started crying. To make him stop, I did anything he asked me to do.

I must have saved him from falling down the staircase a hundred times. There were no safety gates on the stairs, so I had to inform the butler to install one. Finally, they installed a safety gate, but Enzo still tried to climb up and jump over it. Dealing with Enzo all day was incredibly stressful, as he was a super annoyingly active kid. I couldn't even have a nap because he was always trying to climb bookshelves, doors, and windows in his playroom. One time, while he was playing in his playroom, which had bookshelves filled with his storybooks, I noticed Enzo just as he was about to slip and fall from one of the bookshelves. His legs had slipped, and he was teetering on the edge. I quickly jumped forward and caught him before he hit the ground. If he kept doing this, I was pretty sure I would die from a heart attack at a young age.

I never knew that taking care of a baby could be this hard.

It drove me crazy when he suddenly disappeared. You'd blink once, and he'd be gone. Then I had to look for him everywhere like a madman.

Maybe this was why Gerardo wanted someone with army training to be a nanny for his little brat. I don't think any ordinary human can deal with this rascal as I do, I thought, looking at the little monster running around me, saying something loud in his baby language.

The other annoying thing he did was sneak into my room every night, whether he was scared or not. My room was next to his, and I didn't lock any doors. The main reason I didn't lock Enzo's door was that when he tried to open it in the middle of the night and couldn't, he would scream his lungs out.

I wasn't allowed to let him sleep in my bed, and I was not allowed to sleep in his room when he got scared. When he snuck into my bed, I tried to put him back in his, but he started crying loudly and wiggling on the floor. Finally, I gave up and let him sleep on my bed until he fell asleep, and then I secretly put him back in his bed without waking him up.

But getting him to fall asleep was no easy task. He wanted me to tell him stories. He would climb onto me and jump on my body as if my body were his trampoline. He always bit me, and when I screamed in pain, he laughed. Sometimes, he kissed my face, calling me Papa, melting my cold heart. Finally, when he got sleepy, he cuddled up to me and fell asleep. And that's how every night went.

He missed his mom and sought her warmth in me, the only person close to him. But he couldn't find a mother's warmth in me. Poor boy, being just two years old and having lost his mother, had no idea that he would never feel her warmth again.

Sometimes, he cried in his sleep, softly calling for his mama. In those moments, I held him closer to my chest, and he stopped crying. I had spent a month in this house taking care of Enzo, but no one in the family visited Enzo's part of the house. It was only him and me.

It was truly heartbreaking to watch how Enzo's siblings ignored him. Sometimes, Enzo would try desperately to get their attention by touching them, hitting them or showing them his toys. He would approach them and talk in his baby language, but his siblings acted as if they couldn't hear or see him. Most of the time, Juana blamed Enzo if he came too close to her, as she didn't like him. Louis ignored Enzo as if he were invisible, making no effort to acknowledge his little brother's presence. Pedro was the only one who gave Enzo a little attention when Gerardo wasn't around.

Taking Enzo to the garden every day was part of my job. Enzo loved going to the garden, and I couldn't blame him. The garden was breathtaking, with its vast expanse of lush green grass, meticulously maintained flowerbeds showcasing a rainbow of colors, and towering trees providing ample shade. The garden's design harmonized nature and architecture, featuring winding pathways, charming benches, and a tranquil fountain. I also really enjoyed spending time there, as it was a peaceful escape from the chaos of the house. Enzo loved running around the entire garden, so I had to chase him everywhere.