Chapter 1

"Nina Campbell? The lactation nanny position. Follow me."

Nina took a deep breath and stood, following the staff member down a corridor lined with plush carpet.

"The position has strict requirements," the woman said as they walked.

"Base salary is a hundred thousand a month. Meet the employer's expectations, and you'll get bonuses on top of that. But the turnover rate is high."

"I understand," Nina said, her throat tight.

This exclusive domestic staffing agency called "Golden Chalice" only catered to the ultra-wealthy. Even their regular nannies needed degrees from top universities, never mind the specialized positions that paid six figures.

She was here for the money, plain and simple. A hundred thousand would cover this month's interest to the loan sharks. If she could just make it through the first month, she could get her mother into a hospital. They wouldn't have to keep running and hiding anymore.

"We're here. Go ahead."

The staff member's voice pulled Nina from her thoughts. She stood before an intricately carved wooden door.

She pushed it open. The room was smaller than expected. An examination table dominated the center, flanked by a sink and medical equipment on one side and a massive mirror on the other.

A female doctor in a white coat sat facing the mirror, reviewing paperwork.

"Nina Campbell?" she asked without looking up.

"Yes," Nina answered softly.

"Center of the room." Erica Knowles' tone was glacial. "Strip."

Nina's head jerked up. "Excuse me?"

Erica finally met her eyes, voice even colder. "Lactation nannies require full physical assessments. Breast health, especially. If that's a problem, the door's behind you."

Nina bit her lip. She couldn't afford to walk away. Her mother was waiting in that cramped rental, and the loan sharks had already threatened to start taking fingers.

"I can do it," she managed, nails biting into her palms as she fumbled with the first button.

The clothes fell away piece by piece. Cold air prickled her bare skin.

The shame was overwhelming. She'd been Hilford City's most celebrated socialite once. Now she stood naked before a stranger, being examined.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, trying to cover her body. That enormous mirror in the distance made her uneasy, as if a pair of eyes were peering at her through the glass.

What Nina didn't know was that it truly was a one-way mirror.

On the other side of the mirror sat a white leather couch. A man in a black suit reclined on it, a cruel smile playing at his lips.

He was strikingly handsome, with silver-framed glasses perched on his face. Behind the lenses, his dark eyes held something cold and dangerous.

A small red mole at the corner of his eye flickered in the dim light, adding an indescribable sensuality. He stared fixedly at Nina on the other side of the mirror, his gaze sweeping inch by inch from her hair to her pale toes, radiating obsession.

It had been two years since then. She'd gotten thin.

Her once-rounded shoulders were now bony, her waist so slender it looked breakable. But her figure was even more alluring. It made him want to pull her into his arms.

His throat worked as he pressed the intercom button.

On the other side of the mirror, Nina stood with her eyes squeezed shut while the doctor's cold hands moved over her skin, examining her breasts. The humiliation nearly broke her.

"Lactation function is normal," Erica said into a recording device, completely detached.

Then a man's voice cut through the room, low and measured. "Are you married, Ms. Campbell? Any children?"

Nina flinched so hard she nearly stumbled. She grabbed at her body, trying to cover herself. That voice was too familiar, so familiar it made her heart skip a beat.

"Stay still." Erica caught her wrist, voice sharp and quiet. "The employer is conducting the interview. You need to answer if you want this job."

Nina trembled all over. She desperately tried to convince herself she was overthinking it. The person speaking couldn't possibly be him. He had no reason to be looking for a lactation nanny.

After finally managing to calm herself down, she answered with difficulty. "I... I'm not married, and I don't have children."

That voice came again, seemingly more pleased than before. "Boyfriend?"

Nina's face paled slightly. Her fingers dug hard into her palms, suppressing the humiliation in her chest as she slowly replied, "No..."

Arthur Watson's mouth curved as his fingers drummed the armrest in a slow rhythm. "And when did you last have sex?"

The blood rushed to Nina's face. Her eyes burned with tears she refused to let fall.

She never imagined she would experience this, standing here naked, answering such degrading, intimate questions. She wanted to turn and leave, but thinking of the exorbitant loan shark debt and her mother lying sick at home, she could only grit her teeth and continue enduring it.

"It's been so long, I... I don't remember..."

She answered through clenched teeth, looking at Erica with hollow eyes. Her voice came out hoarse. "Is the examination over?"

Behind the mirror, Arthur stared at her trembling lashes and clenched fists. A twisted sense of vengeful satisfaction surged through him. The once high and mighty Nina Campbell probably never imagined she would appear before him in such a state.

He said something into the microphone, and Erica nodded.

"That's enough. Get dressed."

Nina felt as if she'd been pardoned. Her fingers trembled as she picked up her clothes from the floor. Just as she'd fastened the last button, the door suddenly swung open.

"You passed the interview. You're hired."

That voice no longer came through the speaker but rang out clearly and truly behind her.

Nina froze as if struck by lightning. After a long moment, she slowly turned around. The instant she saw that tall figure, her pupils constricted sharply.

Arthur Watson. The boy from her past had grown into a man. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with that familiar half-smile.

He wore an impeccably tailored black suit. His face was more handsome than it had been two years ago, but his eyes held something vicious that made her blood run cold.

He walked toward her in measured steps, shoes silent on the carpet. Yet each step felt like it landed on her heart.

He stopped inches away and caught her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze.

"Long time no see, Nina."

His voice was low and gentle, yet it plunged Nina into an icy abyss.

Chapter 2

Nina's legs gave out. She could barely stay upright. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

"What's wrong? Surprised to see me?" Arthur brushed his thumb across her lower lip.

"I thought you would've forgotten all about me by now, Ms. Campbell."

Nina finally found her voice. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I really didn't know it was you."

If she'd known the employer was Arthur, she wouldn't have come for any amount of money.

"You didn't know?" He leaned closer, his warm breath washing over her face. "Well, now you do. Is there anything you want to say to me?"

"I..." She opened her mouth, but every word lodged in her chest. She had no answer.

"I have plenty to say to you, though." His voice dropped lower, slower. The look in his eyes grew more vicious, more unhinged. "Nina, when you threw me away like garbage back then, did you ever think this day would come? For two years, I've waited for this moment.

"Do you remember what you said to me? That you were meant for better than this. That you won't drag yourself down with me."

A sharp pain pierced Nina's chest. Those were the most dishonest words she'd ever spoken. Every single word was a lie, but she'd had to say them with absolute conviction.

She and Arthur had once been Hilford City's golden couple, the envy of everyone.

The Watson family and the Campbell family were perfectly matched. Both sets of parents approved of the relationship. But just before their engagement, Watson Group was hit by a massive scandal.

Arthur's father, Oliver Watson, had been deceived by his business partner. The company went bankrupt, drowning in billions of debt.

Oliver jumped from the top of the corporate building. Arthur's mother, Amelia Lawrence, couldn't bear the shock and took her own life a week later.

Overnight, Arthur's world collapsed.

The Campbell family immediately canceled the engagement. Nina's father, Byron Campbell, ordered her to cut all ties with Arthur.

But on the day of his parents' funeral, she snuck out of the house and found Arthur curled up in a corner of the funeral home.

"Don't be afraid. I'll always be with you." She held him tight, whispering the promise in his ear.

She defied her family and ran away with Arthur. They rented a tiny apartment in the suburbs, barely 300 square feet.

She went from a pampered heiress who'd never lifted a finger to learning how to cook instant noodles, do laundry at the laundromat, and bargain hunt at the grocery store.

Life was hard, but whenever Arthur held her at night, she felt happy.

Later, Arthur finally got a chance to meet with a potential investor. Nina secretly followed him, wanting to surprise him.

She hid behind a potted plant in the restaurant and watched as the pot-bellied investor poured an entire bottle of red wine over Arthur's head.

"Mr. Watson, if you're begging for help, you need the right attitude. Get on your knees and lick my shoes. Then I'll consider investing in you."

She pressed her hand hard over her mouth, watching the man who had once been proud and untouchable slowly bend his knees. In that moment, her heart shattered.

That night, she deliberately criticized the cake Arthur brought home. "You have the nerve to bring me something like this?"

She threw the cake in the trash. "Arthur, I'm sick of this life! I was meant for better than this. I won't drag myself down with you!"

She pulled off her engagement ring and tossed it at him. "I'm done playing this game with you. We're over!"

She turned and walked out, getting into Lincoln Shaw's car that had been waiting downstairs.

Through the rearview mirror, she saw Arthur chase after her like a madman. He fell in the rain and scrambled back up, screaming her name until his voice broke. She bit down hard on the back of her hand to keep from crying out loud.

That was the last time she ever saw him.

Arthur suddenly let out a low laugh, cutting off Nina's memories. The sound held no warmth.

His slender fingers lifted a strand of her hair, his tone dripping with mockery. "Didn't you claim to want a better life? How did you end up having to sell your body? Where's all that pride from back then?"

Nina's head snapped up, a flash of pain crossing her eyes. "I'm not selling my body! This is a legitimate profession."

"Legitimate profession?" Arthur cut her off with a sneer. "Letting strange men scrutinize your body. That's your idea of a legitimate profession?"

Nina's face went deathly pale, her chest heaving. "I'm leaving right now. I won't disturb you any further, Mr. Watson."

She turned to go.

"Stop." Arthur's voice turned sharp and cold.

Nina froze in place but didn't turn around.

He walked slowly around to face her, looking down at her from his height. "Nina, I have money now. More money than the Watson family had even at its peak."

Nina bit her lip hard and said nothing.

"You came here to sell yourself for money, didn't you?" His hand came up to her cheek, the touch gentle but making her whole body tremble.

"I can give you money. So much money you can't even imagine it."

Nina's heart twisted painfully. Her voice came out bitter. "That's your money. It has nothing to do with me."

"You think I want to buy you?" Arthur suddenly withdrew his hand and gave a cold laugh. "You're flattering yourself."

He looked her up and down. "I'm just looking for a qualified nanny for my son. And you happen to fit the bill perfectly."

Nina's face turned ashen in an instant. So he was married, and he even had a son.

Of course he was. They'd been broken up for over two years. With his status and position now, what woman couldn't he have?

Then why did her heart still hurt so much? It was like someone had carved a piece out of it.

He would never know they'd once had a child too. But perhaps it was heaven's punishment. That tiny life had died the moment it was born.

If he had lived, he'd be over a year old now. To keep from forgetting that child, she'd never stopped lactating.

"Well? Have you decided? One million a month. Ten times what was originally offered."

He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "All you have to do is move into my house and take care of my son around the clock."

She stepped back sharply, forcing down the emotions churning inside her. "I refuse."

"Refuse?" Arthur sounded like he'd heard a joke. "Nina, what gives you the right to refuse? Have you forgotten about your mentally unstable mother?"

With each word, he moved closer. "Or have you forgotten about those loan sharks?"

Nina's eyes went wide. "How… how do you know?"

Arthur's smile widened, though it never reached his eyes. "I know far more than you think."

He grabbed her wrist in one swift motion. "I know your father's company went bankrupt, and he disappeared. I know your mother had a breakdown. I know you sold everything and still owe the loan sharks."

Each word landed like a blow. She struggled to pull her hand back, but he only gripped tighter.

"Think carefully." Arthur's voice grew more dangerous.

"Accept and sign the contract." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Or refuse, and you and your mother can deal with the loan sharks yourselves. I hear they're not very forgiving."

Chapter 3

Nina trembled all over. Her mother Daphne Ford's pale, haggard face flashed before her eyes. Ever since Byron disappeared, Daphne had lost her mind completely. She didn't even recognize her own daughter anymore.

And then there were the loan sharks. The last time they came for payment, they'd threatened to cut off her fingers.

Nina closed her eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks. She didn't know how her life had come to this, falling again and again, each landing more brutal than the last.

"Fine." She opened her eyes, her voice eerily calm. "I'll sign."

Something complicated flickered in Arthur's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He took the contract from his assistant and held it out to her.

Nina took the pen mechanically and wrote her name on the signature line. Her hand shook slightly. Each stroke felt like it was carving into her own heart.

Arthur collected the contract. "Go downstairs in a moment. My car will take you to the Watson residence.

"Remember, once you're through the door, you don't leave without my permission."

Nina frowned. "What about my mother?"

"I'll arrange for someone to look after her." Arthur studied her for a long moment. "As long as you behave, she'll be safe."

Nina heard the threat in his words. Her fists clenched, but she couldn't force out a single word of protest.

"Ms. Campbell, please come with me." A male secretary wearing glasses had appeared at the door.

Nina looked at Arthur one last time. He'd already turned away, showing her nothing but his cold, indifferent back.

…

The black Rolls-Royce pulled slowly into the Watson residence. Nina stared out the window at the familiar grounds that now felt like foreign territory.

She and Arthur had shared their first kiss by the fountain in the back garden. They'd watched the sunrise together from the master bedroom balcony.

"Ms. Campbell, this way please." The assistant, Daniel Reed, opened the car door politely, interrupting her memories.

"Is Arthur back yet?" A sweet, cloying voice drifted out from the living room.

Nina went rigid. She knew that voice.

Daniel answered respectfully, "Ms. Hutton, Mr. Watson still has some business to handle. He'll be back later. He asked me to bring the new nanny over first."

"He found a new lactation nanny already?" The click of high heels grew closer.

"Let me see her."

The voice cut off abruptly. Nina looked up and met a pair of wide, staring eyes.

The woman stood a few feet away in a tailored Chanel suit, her chestnut curls perfectly styled. Her red lips parted in shock as she stared.

Nina's expression was complicated. She never expected to see her old friend under these circumstances.

Winnie Hutton, second daughter of the Hutton family. She'd been Nina's shadow back in college, constantly following her and Arthur around.

Now she stood in the center of the Watson living room like she owned the place.

"Nina? Is that really you? Oh, my God! I thought I was seeing things!"

Winnie's shock quickly morphed into exaggerated delight. She rushed forward and grabbed Nina's hand.

"I heard about what happened to your family. I was devastated for so long. Are you doing okay now?"

She looked Nina up and down, her lips curving slightly as she feigned surprise. "Wait, are you married already? Why would you want to work as a lactation nanny?"

Nina pulled her hand back, eyes lowered. "It's a long story."

She didn't want to expose her situation to this former friend.

"Oh, look at me! I forgot to invite you in properly." Winnie took Nina's arm like she owned the place and led her toward the living room.

"Nina's my friend. You can go." She waved Daniel off. "I'll take care of her."

Daniel bowed and left, leaving the two women alone. Winnie steered Nina to the couch, then seated herself elegantly in the main chair.

"What would you like to drink? Coffee? Tea?"

She seemed to think of something and smiled apologetically. "Oh, wait. You're breastfeeding now. You probably can't have much of either, can you?"

Nina pretended not to catch the pointed remark. "Water is fine."

Winnie gestured for a housekeeper to bring water, then asked casually, "Have you seen Arthur yet?"

Nina's grip on the glass tightened slightly. She kept her voice level. "Yes."

Winnie's smile dimmed. She suddenly changed the subject. "Oh, since you're here to be the lactation nanny, you should meet our little one."

"Our." The word pierced Nina's heart like a needle. The glass trembled imperceptibly in her hand.

A moment later, a nanny came downstairs carrying a baby. The infant whimpered and cried, his little face turning red.

"Oh no, why is my precious crying?" Winnie immediately went to them and took the baby with practiced ease.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Mommy's here."

The word "Mommy" crushed any hope Nina had left. So the woman who'd married Arthur and had his child was Winnie.

She'd suspected it, but seeing the proof still cut deep. The pain was sharp and relentless.

The baby cried harder in Winnie's arms, his tiny hands and feet flailing. Nina's heart clenched involuntarily. Some strange pull drew her toward the child, as if guided by an invisible thread.

"Can I hold him?" she asked softly, an unconscious longing in her voice.

Something flickered in Winnie's eyes. Then she smiled. "Of course. You'll be taking care of him from now on anyway. Though I should warn you, he's very particular. He cries with everyone except Arthur and me."

Nina barely heard her. She carefully took the baby, and the instant he settled into her arms, the crying stopped.

The infant's wet, wide eyes stared up at her curiously. His little nose twitched, taking in her scent.

Winnie's expression shifted. A flash of jealous resentment crossed her face.

Nina looked down at the tiny life in her arms. An inexplicable sense of connection washed over her.

He was beautiful. His features held traces of Arthur, but the delicate curve of his chin resembled hers.

She couldn't help pressing her forehead gently against the baby's soft cheek. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and giggled.

Her heart melted completely. Her eyes stung with unexpected tears. If her own child had lived, he would have been this adorable too.

"Looks like the baby really likes you." Winnie's voice cut through her thoughts, noticeably colder now.

"He probably smells the milk on you."

She laughed lightly. "Since the baby's hungry anyway, why don't you feed him now, Nina?"

Nina froze. Her face went white.

There were at least six maids in the living room. Two male staff members stood near the fireplace, arranging firewood. Everyone stopped what they were doing at Winnie's words and looked over curiously.

"What's wrong, Nina? Aren't you willing? You're a professional lactation nanny. Feeding is your job." Winnie raised an eyebrow, her tone aggressive.

Nina's lips trembled. She knew Winnie was deliberately humiliating her, forcing her to expose herself in front of everyone.

"I can go to the nursery," she managed.

"Why bother? The little one can't wait!" Winnie stood and moved beside her, pressing.

Nina took a deep breath. She told herself this was nothing—not compared to her mother's medical bills or the loan sharks' threats.

Her fingers trembled as they reached for the first button on her collar. She couldn't seem to make them work.

She finally managed to undo two buttons. Just then, a voice as cold as ice came from the doorway.

"What's going on here?"

Chapter 4

Something flickered in Winnie's eyes, but she quickly walked over and naturally took Arthur's suit jacket from his arm, her tone slightly helpless. "Kenny was hungry and crying."

Arthur removed his watch and handed it to her as well. The gesture was smooth and familiar, as if they'd done it a thousand times before.

Nina kept telling herself they were husband and wife, but the scene still stung. Her face paled.

She lowered her eyes, trying to control her unsteady breathing as she dropped her hand from the buttons.

Then that cold voice spoke. "Well? Feed him."

Nina's movements faltered. She met those cold, indifferent eyes. Her fingertips trembled involuntarily, going numb.

What had she been hoping for? Compared to Winnie, Arthur was the one who hated her most. He wanted to repay every humiliation she'd given him. Why would he ever help her?

The stares around her felt like knives carving into her heart. Even her breathing felt stiff and numb. But she could only lift her heavy hand and reach for that third button again.

Time crawled by impossibly slowly. Her pale chest was about to be completely exposed when a light scoff sounded in her ear.

"You've been home half the day and can't even find the nursery?"

Arthur turned and headed upstairs. After two steps, he looked back. "Well? Come on."

The crushing pressure lifted instantly. Nina followed him upstairs without hesitation.

Even now, that bitch Nina could still wrap Arthur around her finger! Winnie's breathing quickened. When she lifted her eyes, the hatred in them was almost tangible.

Oblivious, Nina carried Kenny Watson into the nursery. Kenny's dark eyes looked up at her. His little face scrunched up as he took short, gasping breaths, like he was about to cry again.

For some reason, looking at him made Nina's heart melt completely. Her voice softened instinctively as she cooed, "Kenny, be good. You'll have milk in just a moment."

But just as she was about to undo her buttons, she saw Arthur settle into a chair. He'd closed the door behind them. His legs crossed, his posture elegant and cold as he watched her.

Nina's movements froze. She looked up at him, flustered.

"You..."

Arthur didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Get started. Or do you want to starve my son?"

He clearly had no intention of leaving. Nina bit her lip. Humiliation surged through her like a flood, making it hard to breathe.

But before she could speak, the baby in her arms suddenly wailed. His little face turned red instantly, his mouth opening wide as if he'd suffered some terrible injustice.

The crying broke Nina's heart. She couldn't think about anything else. She undid her buttons and drew Kenny closer.

The crying stopped immediately. Kenny began to nurse.

Nina's tight nerves finally relaxed. She gently touched Kenny's flushed cheek, a tender smile unconsciously curving her lips.

"You seem very experienced."

Arthur's voice was cold. His fingers tapped lightly, radiating danger.

"A lot of men must find you attractive."

His gaze was too direct, too invasive. How could Nina not understand his meaning?

Did he hate her this much? Did he need to humiliate her like this?

Nina's face went deathly white. She instinctively shifted away, hunching her back. The words came out through gritted teeth.

"Mr. Watson, I refuse to discuss such matters."

At her response, something vicious flashed in Arthur's eyes. His voice turned ice-cold. "So there have been others?

"Why don't you tell me, Ms. Campbell? Who else has seen you?"

The mockery in his words made Nina's head snap up. Her face flushed. Her heart rate spiked. Unable to bear it any longer, she glared at him. "Arthur, we're just employer and employee! My private life is none of your business!"

Arthur stood. At six foot three, his shadow fell long and unforgiving as it bore down on her.

"Private life? Your milk is going to feed my son. As your employer, I need to know whether you're clean."

She tried desperately to adjust her mindset, telling herself it didn't matter. These were just words. She'd take the money, solve her immediate problems, and leave this place. This was just a nightmare.

But the mockery and sarcasm in his words cut deep. She felt exposed, raw. Every nerve in her body felt like it was on fire.

She could barely hear her own voice. "Didn't they test me before hiring? Mr. Watson, the data doesn't lie. I assure you, I'm clean."

His cold laugh cut through the air. "No other men have seen you?"

Nina almost gave up struggling. She answered mechanically, "No."

The dangerous pressure finally receded like a tide. Arthur's cold eyes held a hint of satisfaction. He looked her up and down, then moved half a step closer.

"What are you doing?"

Nina was already exhausted from anger. She hadn't expected him to close the distance so suddenly. She had to summon her energy to deal with him again.

Arthur gripped her shoulder with one hand, pinning her between himself and the couch. His cold eyes looked down at her. "Inspecting the merchandise, naturally."

Nina still held Kenny in her arms. He'd just finished nursing and had dozed off, his little mouth moving occasionally.

He wasn't sleeping soundly yet. Nina didn't dare let go, and now she couldn't struggle properly. She could only watch helplessly as he moved.

The instant his rough hand touched her skin, they both trembled.

Back when they were younger, when teenage hormones ran hot, Arthur's hands would sometimes wander under her clothes in moments of passion.

Nina would always shyly grab his hand, but in the end, she'd surrender to desire too. But all that tenderness belonged to the past. They'd lost all of that.

Nina caught his hand. Her lashes trembled as she lifted them. Her dark eyes held unshed tears.

"Arthur, if you hate me, I can leave. Why do you need to humiliate me over and over?"

Arthur looked down, meeting her gaze. The atmosphere grew charged.

But his voice was unreadable. "Hate you? Nina, you're flattering yourself. I have no interest in you. I'm just making sure Kenny won't be uncomfortable. I need to check myself."

That expression, combined with everything he'd said before, made Nina pause.

He was just worried about Kenny. Worried the baby might consume something harmful. What she'd mistaken for deliberate humiliation was simply a father's concern. That was why he'd interrogated her so thoroughly.

Did he treasure his son with Winnie this much?

Nina's fingertips trembled. The flush of color on her pale face quickly faded.

If their child had lived, if things weren't the way they were now, would Arthur have treasured him like this too?

Chapter 5

When Nina left the nursery, her blouse was completely wrinkled. She had no choice but to clutch at her chest awkwardly.

"Mr. Watson, I came in such a rush today. I didn't bring anything with me. I need to go back and get some clothes."

Arthur's gaze swept over her chest, dark and unreadable. He sneered. "That eager to seduce someone?"

Nina's face went white again. She was so exhausted that her voice came out weak and thready. "I'm not."

Arthur's voice was cold. "Don't worry. Everything's been arranged for you.

"You'll stay on the second floor next to the nursery. Makes it convenient for feeding. When Kenny needs you, you're on call."

Nina nodded.

"Arthur, is the baby asleep?" Winnie came up from downstairs. She'd changed into a silk camisole loungewear set that showed off her shapely legs. She moved close to Arthur with easy intimacy.

Nina lowered her eyes, suppressing the numbness in her palms, and turned into the room that had been prepared for her. The room was fully equipped. After washing up, Nina changed into pajamas and lay down on the bed.

The Watson residence had excellent soundproofing, but perhaps because the night was so eerily quiet, Nina still heard muffled sounds.

A child was crying.

Besides Kenny, what other child could there be at the Watson residence? Why would he be crying?

She must have heard wrong. Winnie was Kenny's mother. With her there to comfort him, he'd be fine soon.

And there was Arthur too. He cared so much about that boy.

But Nina lay flat on the bed, her eyelids twitching. She tossed and turned. Finally, the overwhelming sense of unease made her open her eyes and sit up.

At the same time, in the nursery, Winnie sounded almost frantic as she tried to cover Kenny's mouth. She glanced hastily at the door with dark resentment in her eyes.

"Stop crying! Just stop crying!"

Why? What made that bitch Nina so special?

Winnie's lips curved in a cold smile. She held the baby and cooed. "Be good, sweetie. Just help Mommy this once, and Mommy will never do this again."

"Winnie, what's wrong with Kenny? I can hear him crying."

Nina's concerned voice came from outside.

Then came Arthur's heavy footsteps and his deep voice. "What's going on?"

A cold smile played at Winnie's lips, but her face showed worry as she opened the door. She gave Arthur a strained smile.

"Kenny doesn't seem comfortable. He woke up not long after falling asleep and has been crying ever since."

She paused, then added lightly, "Maybe it's because we just changed lactation nanny today. Kenny's not used to it. He might have an upset stomach."

An upset stomach?

Arthur frowned but said nothing. He walked over to Kenny and scooped the little one into his arms.

The tiny child looked like a small toy in his embrace. His little face was flushed red, his mouth trembling with gasping sobs, crying so hard he could barely breathe.

Arthur's movements were practiced and incredibly gentle, as if the baby might melt in his mouth or shatter in his hands. He rocked him gently, his voice softening. "Kenny, be good. Don't cry."

His voice was like aged wine, deep and profoundly reassuring. Nina stared for a moment, her gaze drawn to him involuntarily.

So this man who seemed so cold to the outside world could hold a child gently in his arms, coaxing him over and over with endless tenderness and patience.

Nina's heart ached sharply. Her eyes reddened despite herself, a wave of desolation washing over her.

If their child had lived, he would be about this age. His father would be holding him like this, soothing him like this.

But she'd failed. She hadn't been able to protect their baby. He'd died too soon.

Watching the scene before her, Nina's nose stung with tears. She could only lower her head quickly, hurrying to collect herself.

"Sweetie, it's okay. Mommy was wrong. Tomorrow Mommy will find you a different nanny, okay?"

Winnie waved Kenny's pacifier in front of him, her gaze worried and tender.

Nina couldn't dwell on her sadness. She lifted her head abruptly.

"Winnie, maybe the baby is crying for another reason. I went through full health screenings before being hired. My milk is perfectly healthy."

Winnie's eyes reddened. She bit her lip. "Nina, I'm not trying to blame you. I'm just so worried about Kenny. He hasn't cried like this the past few days. Please understand a mother's concern."

Nina's heart stabbed with pain again. She could only force herself to look at Arthur desperately. She knew only Arthur could decide whether she stayed or left.

Kenny shifted in Arthur's arms and soon stopped crying, left with only occasional hiccups. His chubby little hand gripped Arthur's sleeve. His dark eyes were wet and shining.

Arthur held him in a football carry, still rocking him patiently. But his dark eyes were utterly cold. "Then we'll let Kenny choose."

With that, he slowly stopped moving. After all, children couldn't lie. If Nina made him uncomfortable, he'd immediately cry in protest.

But her fate was in a child's hands now. Her mother was still sick. Their situation at home was desperate. Despite the humiliation, she had nowhere else to turn.

Nina's heart lurched.

Kenny's mouth trembled. He drew shuddering breaths, looking like he was about to cry again.

Nina panicked. In that instant of racing heartbeat, she forgot all sense of crisis and alarm. Instinctively, she took Kenny into her arms and continued soothing him gently.

"Kenny, be good..."

Strangely enough, once Kenny was in her arms, his little hand immediately grabbed her sleeve instead. His tear-stained little face nuzzled against her and his sobbing ceased, his expression turning peaceful. His large, tear-filled eyes blinked curiously; he really had stopped crying.

For a moment, Nina's first reaction was relief. The next moment, she couldn't help but smile. Her gaze on Kenny grew even softer.

Maybe children understood more than people thought. Maybe he sensed her desperation and didn't want to add to it.

Winnie was so angry she could barely contain it. She smiled without warmth. "Nina really is popular with children."

Displeased, she moved forward to take the baby. But Arthur took him first, his voice cold. "Since Kenny made his choice, I'll give you one more chance."

Winnie barely suppressed the curses rising in her throat, forcing herself to maintain composure. "Since Arthur says so, you should go rest."

The crisis averted, Nina nodded and turned to leave. Winnie looked at Arthur, telling herself to stay calm. At least Arthur was here now.

Winnie's lips curved. "Arthur, tonight we..."

Arthur cut her off without mercy. "You should rest too. I've got this."