The babysitter

Unexpected visitor

Lucy's heart raced as she hurriedly led Emma to her bedroom, her hand trembling as it held the little girl's smaller one. Emma seemed to sense the tension and followed without a word, her usual bubbly energy replaced with quiet compliance.

Once inside, Lucy gently closed the door and locked it, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She crouched down to Emma's level, placing a finger to her lips.

"Emma, we have to stay quiet, okay?" Lucy whispered.

Emma nodded, her wide eyes filled with confusion and concern. "Is Daddy okay?"

"He's fine," Lucy lied, her voice soft but steady. "He's just talking to someone. We're going to stay here and wait until he comes to get us."

Emma nodded again, though she didn't look entirely convinced. Lucy pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly as if she could shield her from the world outside this room.

As she sat on the edge of Emma's bed, Lucy strained to hear what was happening in the living room. The muffled sound of Tim's voice reached her first, low and measured, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Then came another voice—a voice Lucy recognized immediately. Louis.

Her body tensed, every muscle coiling as if bracing for a fight. She tightened her grip on Emma, willing herself to stay calm.

In the living room, Tim stood face-to-face with Louis, his jaw clenched and his posture rigid. Louis exuded the kind of arrogance Tim hated—his expensive suit, polished shoes, and smirk were all designed to intimidate. But Tim wasn't easily rattled.

"Why are you here?" Tim demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

"I'm here for my wife," Louis said smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"She's not your wife anymore," Tim shot back.

Louis's smirk widened. "Oh, Tim, isn't it? You think you can play hero? Hide her away like some damsel in distress?"

Tim's hands curled into fists at his sides, but he kept his voice steady. "Lucy's done with you. She doesn't want anything to do with you, and if you think I'm going to let you near her, you're delusional."

Louis chuckled darkly, taking a step closer. "You're awfully protective for someone who barely knows her."

Tim didn't flinch. "I know enough. I know what you did to her."

The smirk on Louis's face faltered for just a moment before returning, more menacing this time. "That's between Lucy and me. It's none of your business."

"It became my business the second you laid a hand on her."

Louis's eyes narrowed, and the tension in the room grew thick. "You think you're some kind of knight in shining armor? Let me tell you something, Tim. Lucy is mine. Always has been, always will be."

Tim took a step forward, his towering presence making Louis hesitate. "She's not yours. She's not anyone's. And you'd better leave before this gets ugly."

Louis sneered but didn't move. "You're making a mistake, Bradford. I'm not someone you want to cross."

"And I'm not someone who takes kindly to threats," Tim shot back, his voice like steel.

The two men stood in a silent standoff, the air crackling with unspoken animosity.

In the bedroom, Lucy's heart pounded as the voices grew louder. She couldn't make out the words, but the tone was unmistakably heated. She glanced at Emma, who was curled up beside her on the bed, clutching a stuffed animal to her chest.

"Lucie?" Emma whispered. "Is it the bad man?"

Lucy's throat tightened, and she forced herself to smile reassuringly. "No, sweetie. It's just someone Daddy needs to talk to. Everything's going to be okay."

But even as she said the words, she wasn't sure if she believed them.

The doorbell. Louis's voice. Tim's protective stance. It all felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

She thought about running—grabbing Emma and slipping out the back door—but where would they go? And how could she leave Tim to face Louis alone?

A sudden loud noise from the living room startled her, and Emma jumped, her eyes filling with fear.

"It's okay," Lucy whispered, pulling her close. "It's okay, Em. Just stay with me."

Back in the living room, Louis had shoved a chair out of his way, the loud scrape of wood against the floor breaking the tense silence.

"You don't understand who you're dealing with," Louis said, his voice low and menacing.

"I understand perfectly," Tim replied, his tone ice-cold. "You're a coward who thinks he can control people through fear. But that doesn't work here."

Louis's lips curled into a snarl. "You have no idea what Lucy and I have been through. She belongs with me."

"She doesn't belong with anyone," Tim snapped. "And if you think I'm going to let you near her after what you've done, you're out of your mind."

Louis stepped closer, his posture aggressive. "You don't get to decide that."

"And you don't get to hurt her anymore," Tim growled, his fists tightening. "You should leave. Now."

For a moment, Louis looked like he might lash out, but then he stepped back, his smirk returning.

"This isn't over," Louis said, his tone dripping with malice. "You can play house all you want, but Lucy will come back to me. She always does."

Tim's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond. He stood his ground as Louis turned and walked toward the door, pausing only to glance over his shoulder.

"You've been warned, Bradford," Louis said before stepping outside and slamming the door behind him.

Tim exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging as the adrenaline began to fade. He locked the door, double-checking it before heading down the hall to Emma's room.

Knocking softly, he called out, "Lucy? It's me."

The door creaked open a moment later, and Lucy peeked out, her eyes scanning him anxiously. "Is he gone?"

Tim nodded. "He's gone. For now."

She stepped aside to let him in, holding Emma tightly against her side. Tim crouched down to Emma's level, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Hey, Em, everything's okay now," he said gently.

Emma looked at him with wide eyes. "The bad man won't come back?"

"Not if I can help it," Tim promised.

Emma nodded solemnly, then hugged him tightly. "Okay, Daddy."

Lucy watched the exchange, her heart aching with gratitude and something deeper she couldn't quite name. When Tim stood, she met his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank you."

He gave her a small nod, his expression serious. "We'll talk about this later. But right now, you need to rest."

Lucy hesitated, then nodded. As Tim led Emma back to bed, Lucy couldn't help but wonder what the next move would be.

Because Louis wouldn't stop. And she knew it.