𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔

After I texted my ex, the tension that had already been simmering inside me started to rise. Dealing with her was always a headache, but the message I received just added another layer of stress to my already-packed day.

**Lillian:** "Raden, I think we need to talk. It's been too long, and we both know there's unresolved business."

I clenched my jaw, already knowing where this conversation was headed. She never contacted me unless she wanted something—usually money or an excuse to dig back into my life, and by extension, Emily's.

**Raden:** "There's nothing to talk about. Stay away from Emily."

Her response was almost instant.

**Lillian:** "You know that's not how this works. I'll be in town next week. Maybe we can grab a drink? Catch up."

I shut off the phone, not even bothering to respond. The last thing I needed was to engage with her, especially now that things were starting to settle. I leaned back in my office chair, rubbing my temples, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. I needed a break, a distraction, something to clear my mind.

A sudden thought hit me—Amira. I hadn't checked on her since I left Kurianna to unpack. Guilt tugged at me for not being there as often as I should be. I stood up, deciding to check in on her before I got pulled back into more work. Walking through the quiet hallways of the mansion, I let my mind drift back to Kurianna. She seemed like she genuinely cared for Emily, and that was a good start. But there was something about her I couldn't shake—a pull I didn't quite understand yet.

As I neared Amir's room, I slowed my steps. Soft voices floated from behind the door—Amira's tiny voice mixed with Anna's gentle tone. I approached quietly, and before I even knew what I was doing, I found myself peeking through the crack of the slightly ajar door.

What I saw stopped me in my tracks.

Amira was lying on top of Kurianna, her head resting on her chest, while Anna read aloud from a princess book. The soft glow from the bedside lamp bathed them both in a warm light. Anna's long, loose curls framed her face, cascading down her shoulders as she held the book in one hand, her other arm wrapped protectively around Emily.

Amira's small fingers toyed with a strand of Kurianna's hair, something she hadn't done since her mother left. My chest tightened at the sight. This was the first time I had seen Amira bond with one of her nannies. Usually, she was hesitant, keeping her distance, but here she was, completely at ease.

For a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in. Relief washed over me, knowing that Emily had finally found someone she was comfortable with. But there was something else—something unfamiliar and unsettling stirring in me as I watched Anna.

Her soft features, the way her dark brown eyes lit up as she read to Amira, the gentle smile tugging at her lips... She was beautiful, but it wasn't just her looks. There was a quiet strength to her, a warmth that drew people in, especially Amira. I found myself caught in that pull, my eyes tracing the lines of her face, the way her brown skin glowed under the soft light.

This was dangerous.

I snapped out of my thoughts, pulling myself back from the door. I couldn't let myself get distracted like this. I wasn't here to get attached to anyone—especially not a nanny. But as I turned to walk back to my office, I couldn't help but think about Amira. The way she handled Emily, the way she handled everything since the moment she found her... it wasn't something I could ignore.

I tried to push it aside, trying to focus on the work waiting for me, but the image of Anna with Kurianna lingered in my mind. That unfamiliar feeling stirred again, something I couldn't quite put a name to, but it gnawed at me, refusing to be ignored.

I couldn't shake the thoughts of Kurianna, no matter how hard I tried. Sitting back in my office, staring at papers I wasn't even reading, the sight of her with Emily kept coming back. Something had cracked open inside me, something I wasn't prepared to deal with.

I needed to clear my head. Work wouldn't help, and staying in this mansion only distracted me. I needed to get out, feel the wind on my face, and let the adrenaline drown out everything else.

I stood up abruptly, grabbed my helmet and keys, and headed for the garage. My motorcycle, a sleek black beast of a machine, was waiting for me like an old friend. The moment I swung my leg over it, the familiar weight of the leather seat under me, I felt a sense of control again. This was something I could handle.

I put on my helmet and started the engine, and the powerful roar echoed through the garage. A part of me hoped it wouldn't wake anyone, but right now, I didn't care. I needed the escape.

The mansion gates opened as I approached, and I sped out onto the empty road. The cool night air hit me as I accelerated, the wind rushing past as I weaved through the streets. The world blurred around me, and for the first time in hours, my mind was quiet. No thoughts of work, no ex dragging me into old drama, no confusion over a nanny I barely knew.

I wasn't sure how long I rode, but it was enough. After an hour or so, I turned back, the mansion looming ahead in the distance as I approached the gates. The tension that had been knotted in my chest was gone, replaced by the quiet calm that only a good ride could bring.

Once I parked the bike back in the garage, I grabbed my helmet and keys, ready to head upstairs. The mansion was silent, the kind of peaceful you only got in the dead of night. I climbed the stairs, my thoughts starting to shift back to work again, thinking I'd just head to my room and call it a night.

But as I walked past Kurianna's room, I stopped.

The door was cracked open, just enough for me to see inside. And what I saw made me pause.

Kurianna was asleep, lying on her side, with Amira curled up against her, clutching her like a teddy bear. The soft rise and fall of their breathing filled the room, the gentle glow of the nightlight casting a warm hue over them. Emily's little hand was resting on Anna's arm, her small body nestled so close it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

I stood there for a moment, watching them. The sight was... unexpected. Amria had never been this comfortable with anyone before, not even with me lately. And seeing them like this—peaceful, safe—it did something to me. For the first time in a long time, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

I found myself smiling, just for a second, before I snapped back to reality. This wasn't something I could allow myself to get too wrapped up in. I couldn't afford to let emotions cloud my judgment, not in my line of work. But still... seeing Amira like that, happy and content, it gave me something I hadn't felt in a while: relief.

I watched for a few more seconds, the quiet hum of the room settling in around me. Then, slowly, I reached for the door and gently pushed it closed. The soft click of the latch was the only sound as I turned and walked to my room.

Inside my own space, the familiar darkness welcomed me, but my thoughts weren't as quiet as before. The image of Amria sleeping beside Kurianna wouldn't leave my mind, and neither would the feeling that had settled in my chest.

This nanny—Kurianna—was already starting to change things. And I wasn't sure what that meant for any of us.

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