𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗

The backyard was breathtaking. I stood there for a moment, taking it all in. The sprawling green lawn seemed to stretch on forever, dotted with flowers and shaded by towering trees. A large, sparkling pool glistened in the sunlight, and beyond that, a beautifully manicured garden stood as if it belonged in a fairytale. Amira's giggles pulled me back to reality.

"Catch me if you can!" Amira called, running across the lawn, her voice filled with pure joy. I smiled and chased after her, the two of us weaving through the yard, playing hide-and-seek behind the trees, laughing together. This moment felt peaceful—almost too peaceful compared to the whirlwind of change I'd been thrown into. I wasn't just watching over a child; I was starting to feel like I was becoming part of Amira's life, her routine.

After an hour or so, we went back inside. Amira excitedly pulled me toward her playroom, which was just as adorable as the rest of the mansion—colorful, and filled with toys, books, and art supplies. We decided to paint. Amira loved art, and I found it relaxing too. We sat on the floor, painting flowers, animals, and whatever else popped into our minds. Amira's eyes lit up as she added a bright pink sun to her paper, and I couldn't help but smile at her creativity.

Soon enough, it was time for her tutor to arrive. I walked with Amira to her study room, a more formal space with bookshelves lining the walls and a large desk perfect for focusing. She worked on math, English, and history, and I watched quietly, impressed by how studious and focused she could be when needed.

After tutoring, Amira had her piano lesson in the music room. Her tiny fingers glided over the keys as she practiced with impressive diligence. I stayed for a moment, listening to the soft notes echoing through the mansion before slipping away to my room.

My room was cozy and elegantly decorated—not over the top, but luxurious. I sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath as I tried to process everything. This job was more than I'd expected. The mansion, Raden, the lifestyle—it was all so different from my world. But Amira was quickly becoming someone I cared about, and that made everything worth it.

Stretching a bit, I decided to step out for a moment—and promptly walked straight into a solid chest. I stumbled, nearly falling, but before I could hit the ground, strong hands grabbed my waist, pulling me back up.

It was Raden.

My heart raced as I looked up at him, his hand still on my waist, steadying me. For a moment, neither of us said anything. His eyes, sharp and focused, lingered on me a little longer than I expected. He was on the phone, likely dealing with some business call, but his irritation wasn't directed at me. Still, he looked at me like he was seeing something he hadn't noticed before.

"Sorry," I managed to say, my voice a bit soft.

He didn't say anything, just nodded, his gaze still lingering. After a moment, he finally let go of my waist, and I felt his absence immediately. He walked away, still talking on the phone, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest.