𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

After Raden left, I stood in the middle of my new bedroom, trying to make sense of everything. The room was incredible, more luxurious than any place I'd ever lived in. The bed was massive, dressed in silky white sheets and a thick comforter that looked too perfect to touch. I walked over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains, revealing a stunning view of the estate—lush green gardens stretched as far as I could see, all perfectly manicured. This place was a world away from the tiny apartment I'd been living in.

I turned around, taking in the space. The walls were a soft cream color, and the furniture—dark wood with gold accents—matched the elegance of the mansion. I walked over to the closet and pulled open the doors. It was huge, bigger than my entire bedroom back home, and my clothes, which had been neatly hung by the staff, barely took up a fraction of the space.

Next, I checked the bathroom. The marble floors gleamed under the soft lights, and the bathtub was deep enough to drown in—practically a small pool. Everything smelled faintly of lavender and fresh linen, and it all felt...surreal. Like I had stepped into someone else's life.

I sighed, heading back to the bed where I began unpacking the last few things. As I placed my toiletries on the dresser and organized my books on the shelf, my mind wandered back to Theo. His presence was overwhelming, and the way he ran his life—strict, guarded, and controlled—made it clear he wasn't someone you messed with. But despite his intensity, there was no denying how much he cared about Emily. The way he looked at her... that was love.

Once I finished unpacking, I sat on the edge of the bed, finally letting myself relax. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. The house was intimidating, and Raden... well, he was something else. But Emily seemed sweet, and if taking care of her was my main focus, I could handle that. I'd been a nanny for a long time, after all.

Just as I was starting to settle, I heard a soft knock on the door. I looked up to see Amira standing there, peeking inside, her small hands nervously gripping the edge of the doorframe. She looked even smaller in the vast hallway, her big brown eyes wide with curiosity.

"Hi, sweetie," I said softly, trying not to startle her. "Come in."

She stepped into the room cautiously, looking up at me with a shy smile. "Are you... my new nanny?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled, patting the space next to me on the bed. "Yes, I am. My name's Kurianna. But Kura or Ria."

She hesitated for a moment before walking over and climbing up onto the bed next to me, her little legs dangling over the edge. Up close, I could see how much she resembled her father—the same dark hair and deep brown eyes, but hers were softer, still full of innocence. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, glancing up at me from under her lashes.

"Do you like it here?" she asked after a moment, her voice still quiet.

"I think it's beautiful," I said honestly. "And I'm really happy I get to spend time with you. Do you like it here?"

She nodded slowly, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her expression. "Sometimes. It's really big... and Daddy's always busy."

I could hear the sadness in her voice, and it tugged at my heart. "I'm sure he loves you very much," I said, leaning in a little. "He just has a lot of responsibilities. But I'm here now, so we can hang out whenever you want."

Amira looked up at me with a soft smile, her shyness starting to fade. "Do you like playing games? I have dolls and books in my room."

"I love playing games," I replied, smiling back. "Maybe later, we can play together."

Her eyes lit up a little more, and she seemed to relax as she scooted closer to me on the bed. "What's your favorite game?" she asked, her curiosity growing.

"Hmmm," I thought for a second. "I like board games, but I also love reading stories. What about you?"

"I like stories too!" Amira exclaimed, her voice a little louder now. "Especially ones with princesses and magic."

"Well, then, we're going to have a lot of fun together," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "You can tell me all about your favorite stories, and I'll read them to you before bed if you'd like."

Amira smiled, and the nervousness seemed to melt away completely. She swung her legs a little, the excitement starting to bubble up. "I think I'm going to like having you as my nanny," she said, looking up at me with a sense of newfound confidence.

I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. "I think I'm going to like being your nanny too."

As we sat there on the bed, chatting about her favorite stories and toys, I felt a warmth spread through me. Despite the intimidating mansion and the intensity of Raden, Emily made everything feel lighter and easier. Maybe this new job wouldn't be so bad after all.

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