Chapter 2 · He Called Our Daughter the Nanny's Child

5:45 AM. City Hospital.

I step out of the elevator with my lead attorney, Arthur Sterling.

Down the corridor, Julian is playing the exhausted father perfectly. Elena is dramatically holding an ice pack to her bruised face.

"She keeps stealing from Chloe," Elena fake-sobs to the attending doctor. "Aria's mother was just a servant who died... she's a deeply troubled girl."

"I have the transfer order ready for a behavioral facility," Julian adds smoothly, sliding a document across the desk.

"Nobody is transferring my daughter."

Julian snaps his head toward me. "Security! This intruder attacked my fiancé!"

"Actually," Arthur steps forward, his voice cutting through the noise like glass. He drops a thick legal folder onto the administrator's desk. "Mrs. Sera Vance is the sole legal owner of the estate you currently reside in. Furthermore, she just wired five million dollars to this pediatric wing. She has every right to be here."

Julian's jaw tightens. The security guards immediately back away.

I walk right up to Elena, my voice a deadly whisper.

"A servant? You used to fetch my coffee. You live in my house. If you ever call Aria a 'nanny's child' again, you will scrub public toilets with your toothbrush."

I push past them and open the door to Aria's room.

Aria is sitting up, an oxygen mask strapped to her tiny face.

I reach out to stroke her hair, but she panics. She frantically wipes her little hands on her hospital gown, eyes wide with fear.

"Don't touch me, Mommy," she cries, her voice muffled by the mask. "Daddy said I have bad blood."

"Aria, no, you don't..."

She shakes her head furiously, tears spilling over her cheeks. "I have to be good. Daddy said if I just go to sleep, I can save sister Chloe. I won't cry, I promise..."

My breath catches in my throat. Sleep? Save Chloe?

Before her words can sink in, I pull her frail, trembling body into my arms. "You are Sera Vance's daughter. You don't have to save anyone."

Julian steps into the doorway, his face a mask of smug control.

Arthur pulls me aside, lowering his voice. "Sera, the donation bought us a few hours, but he is her legal guardian. A judge won't overturn a death certificate by sunrise. We are blocked."

Julian smiles, overhearing the defeat in Arthur's voice.

"Enjoy the reunion. But my investors are wiring fifty million to my company at 9:00 AM. Once that clears, I have the resources to move her anywhere I want. I am transferring her, Sera."

I wipe Aria's tears and gently kiss her forehead.

"I'll see you at 9:00 AM, Julian."

Chapter 2

5:45 AM. City Hospital.

I step out of the elevator with my lead attorney, Arthur Sterling.

Down the corridor, Julian is playing the exhausted father perfectly. Elena is dramatically holding an ice pack to her bruised face.

"She keeps stealing from Chloe," Elena fake-sobs to the attending doctor. "Aria's mother was just a servant who died... she's a deeply troubled girl."

"I have the transfer order ready for a behavioral facility," Julian adds smoothly, sliding a document across the desk.

"Nobody is transferring my daughter."

Julian snaps his head toward me. "Security! This intruder attacked my fiancé!"

Julian's jaw tightens. The security guards immediately back away.

I walk right up to Elena, my voice a deadly whisper.

"A servant? You used to fetch my coffee. You live in my house. If you ever call Aria a 'nanny's child' again, you will scrub public toilets with your toothbrush."

I push past them and open the door to Aria's room.

Aria is sitting up, an oxygen mask strapped to her tiny face.

I reach out to stroke her hair, but she panics. She frantically wipes her little hands on her hospital gown, eyes wide with fear.

"Don't touch me, Mommy," she cries, her voice muffled by the mask. "Daddy said I have bad blood."

"Aria, no, you don't..."

She shakes her head furiously, tears spilling over her cheeks. "I have to be good. Daddy said if I just go to sleep, I can save sister Chloe. I won't cry, I promise..."

My breath catches in my throat. Sleep? Save Chloe?

Before her words can sink in, I pull her frail, trembling body into my arms. "You are Sera Vance's daughter. You don't have to save anyone."

Julian steps into the doorway, his face a mask of smug control.

Arthur pulls me aside, lowering his voice. "Sera, the donation bought us a few hours, but he is her legal guardian. A judge won't overturn a death certificate by sunrise. We are blocked."

Julian smiles, overhearing the defeat in Arthur's voice.

"Enjoy the reunion. But my investors are wiring fifty million to my company at 9:00 AM. Once that clears, I have the resources to move her anywhere I want. I am transferring her, Sera."

I wipe Aria's tears and gently kiss her forehead.

"I'll see you at 9:00 AM, Julian."