Chapter 5

Three days before Felix's baptism party, Josie was like a woman on a mission. She barely stopped to catch her breath.

She had to approve every single thing herself about the guest list, the menu, the decorations, and the gifts for the guests.

She left Felix to me completely.

The night before the party, I was in the nursery, finishing up Felix's bath and getting him dressed, when Josie walked in, carrying a beautifully wrapped box.

"Mia, this is Felix's new outfit for tomorrow's party," Josie said. "It's handmade in Biverland and was flown in especially for him. The material is top-notch. Can you see if it fits?"

I opened the box and found an off-white baby gown inside. The fabric was so soft that it felt like holding a cloud in my hands.

But my eyes were immediately drawn to the label fastened at the collar.

It was another metal tag.

It wasn't the same brand as last time, but the craftsmanship was as exquisite, pure gold, the same shield-shaped logo, and the same sharp edges.

Felix was almost drifting off, but the moment he caught sight of that outfit, his thoughts went haywire.

He protested: [No! Not this again. It's the pokey thing from last time. I won't wear it. No way.

[My neck just healed up. I refuse. I protest. As the Barton family heir, I'm using my veto.]

His lips quivered, and he looked like he was about to burst into tears.

I quickly hid the box behind my back and gently patted Felix on the back.

"Mrs. Barton," I said carefully, "there's a metal tag on the collar. Last time, Felix got poked by one of these, and it upset him. Would it be alright if I cut it off?"

Josie hesitated. "But that's the brand's logo. Wouldn't it be a shame to cut it off? This outfit cost over a hundred thousand dollars..."

"Felix's skin is worth more than any label," I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. I'd been too blunt.

But Josie paused for a second and then smiled.

"You're right. Go ahead and cut it off," she said.

I grabbed the scissors, snipped off the metal tag, trimmed away any loose threads inside the collar, and lined the inside of the neckline with a soft strip of pure cotton.

Felix sounded satisfied. [She's a lifesaver. From now on, she's my personal nanny. No, my royal godmother.]

I laid him down in his crib. He let out a tiny yawn, smacked his lips, and drifted off to sleep, looking content.

On the day of the baptism party, the place was packed.

I had no idea how many people showed up, since I was mostly stuck in the nursery or the lounge behind the banquet hall.

As a nanny, I knew my place. I wasn't supposed to be seen in the main hall.

Felix, dressed in the outfit I'd fixed up for him, was carried out by Josie to show him off to everyone.

He looked so soft and sweet, sleeping soundly with a little bubble at the corner of his mouth, and everyone was gushing over him.

From the lounge, I watched the banquet hall on the monitor, crystal chandeliers, flower arches, and guests all dressed to the nines.

None of it had anything to do with me.

I was about to close my eyes for a quick nap when the butler rushed in.

"Mia, Mrs. Josie Barton wants you in the banquet hall," he said.

"Me?" I glanced down at my work uniform. "What for?"

"Mr. Anthony Barton's orders. He wants to thank you in front of everyone."

Still confused, I was led to the side entrance of the banquet hall.

As I waited for a couple of minutes, I heard Anthony speaking on stage, his voice booming through the speakers

He announced proudly, "This is my grandson, Felix Barton, the sole heir of the Barton family for three generations. Today is his baptism, and I'd like everyone to join us for a toast.

"His birth was anything but easy, but thanks to the dedication of those around him, he's here now, healthy and strong."

Applause filled the room.

Then Anthony changed his tone. "There's one person I especially want to thank, a young woman who, within three hours of arriving, discovered the problem when everyone, including the experts, was stumped."

The butler nudged me forward, and I awkwardly stepped into the banquet hall.

Hundreds of eyes turned to look at me.

I was wearing my blue maternity nanny uniform, my hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, a faint pink mark from a scald on my left cheek, and a pair of plastic sandals.

Surrounded by silk, designer gowns, and sparkling diamonds, I felt like the ugly duckling crashing a swan party.

But Anthony didn't care about any of that. He waved me over.

"This is Mia, Felix's nanny. From now on, whenever you see her, treat her as family, like you would any member of the Barton family," Anthony said.

Those words carried real weight.

Hundreds of people clapped, but I could see the complicated looks on most of their faces. They obviously didn't think much of me, a nanny.

Kenna was sitting in the third row, holding a glass of wine, her smile perfectly composed.