Chapter 16: Don't go near Ethan

The tension in the room was palpable, and everyone knew that the challenge had only just begun. Isabella’s gaze hardened as she took a step forward, keeping her eyes on Alexander.

— If that’s the deal — she said firmly —, then I wonder why Miranda went to Ethan’s room this morning while we were in classes. Isn’t she supposed to stay away from him during this month?

Alexander, surprised by the accusation, slowly turned his head toward Miranda, whose face had paled. It was evident she hadn’t expected to be confronted that way, especially not in front of Alexander.

— Is it true, Miranda? — Alexander asked, his tone now much more severe —. Did you break the agreement?

Miranda opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She knew that if she justified herself, she would only dig herself deeper.

— It was nothing — she hurried to say, raising her hands in a dismissive gesture —. I just wanted to see if the boy was okay; after all, he has issues and...

— No. Don’t come at me with excuses — Alexander interrupted her, now visibly annoyed —. I made it clear that you couldn’t get close to Ethan during this time. If you can’t follow this simple rule, then you can’t stay in the mansion for this month.

Miranda looked at him in disbelief, her expression quickly shifting from surprise to anger.

— Are you choosing that babysitter over me? — she spat, her voice loaded with rage —. I’m your fiancée, Alexander! You can’t treat me this way.

Alexander didn’t waver.

— This is a deal you agreed to, Miranda. If you can’t respect my decisions about my son, then there’s nothing more to discuss. Understood?

Miranda’s face twisted in a mixture of frustration and fury, but she knew she had no option. With one last scornful glance at Isabella, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the living room, leaving Alexander and Isabella alone.

Isabella looked at him in silence, waiting for his reaction. She had hoped Alexander would make a decision, and while it seemed he had, she still felt a tension in the air.

—Thank you —Isabella finally murmured, breaking the silence—. For defending what’s best for Ethan.

Alexander nodded, still thoughtful.

—I don’t want this month to be in vain, Isabella. I have high expectations for how you will help Ethan. If this doesn’t work, I will have to consider other options, even if I don’t like them.

Isabella nodded, accepting the weight of responsibility. She knew this was her opportunity to prove she could help Ethan improve, and she wasn’t willing to fail.

Hours later...

Classes with Ethan were much more than just lessons. Isabella had found a way to make learning fun while also creating a deeper bond with the boy. She knew the traditional method wouldn’t work with him, so she decided to change her approach.

—Alright, Ethan, ready for a new challenge? —she asked with a smile as she took out several brightly colored cards.

Ethan looked at her with curiosity.

—What are we going to do today? —he asked, leaning forward excitedly.

—Today we’re going to play "magical word finder" —Isabella announced—. I’m going to place these cards with letters all around the room, and you’ll have to find the ones that form a secret word. If you do it right, you’ll earn a star in your challenge notebook!

Ethan’s eyes lit up. The concept of learning through play had been something he enjoyed much more than traditional lessons.

—I’m ready! —he shouted, jumping out of his chair with enthusiasm.

Isabella laughed, feeling that they were making great progress little by little. The game began, and Ethan ran around the room, searching for the correct letters while she gave him hints. Not only was he improving his vocabulary, but he was also building his confidence. Each time he got it right, Isabella applauded and encouraged him, making Ethan feel more capable and motivated.

After finding the last card, the boy ran up to Isabella with a beaming smile.

—I did it! —he shouted, showing the cards that formed the word "brave."

Isabella smiled and hugged him.

—That’s right, Ethan. You’re brave —she said softly, watching as the boy glowed with pride.

—Thank you for doing this with me —Ethan murmured—. I like it when we play together.

Isabella felt a lump in her throat. Each time she spent more time with him, that strange feeling of familiarity flooded back. But she knew she had to focus on the present and on helping Ethan grow.

—And I love spending time with you —she replied, not letting go of him.

The first week of the challenge had started with tensions, but also with small moments of hope. She knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but with each passing day, Isabella was more determined to fight for Ethan’s well-being.

As they picked up the cards and prepared for the next lesson, Ethan turned to her.

—Isabella... what happens if I don’t get good grades? Will they take me away?

The question resonated in her head like an echo of concern. She couldn’t lie to him, but she also didn’t want him to live with that constant fear.

—Don’t worry about that, Ethan —she responded tenderly—. What matters is that you’re doing your best, and that’s what counts. As long as you keep trying, there’s nothing to worry about.

Ethan nodded, although concern still reflected in his eyes. Isabella knew that Alexander and Miranda had instilled many doubts in the boy, but she was willing to do everything possible to make him feel safe and loved.

And with that promise in mind, Isabella prepared for what was left of the month, knowing she would have to face not only Ethan’s challenges but also Miranda’s hidden intentions and Alexander’s possible coldness. But for now, the most important thing was to gain Ethan’s trust, one day at a time.

As Isabella and Ethan continued playing, a figure silently watched from the ajar door. Alexander had been observing the scene in secret for the last few minutes, intrigued by how Isabella interacted with his son. It was clear that Ethan felt safe with her, something he hadn’t seen with any other nanny.

But what really troubled Alexander wasn’t the success Isabella seemed to be achieving with Ethan, but the mystery surrounding her past. He had sent for an investigation, as he did with all the staff in the house, but something didn’t add up. There was no information about her from six years ago. It was as if she hadn’t existed during that time, as if she had vanished off the map.

Alexander crossed his arms, frowning as he watched Isabella. Who was she really? Why was that part of her life blank? What was she hiding? The more time he spent with her, the more his suspicions grew. He knew he had to stay alert, but the way Isabella interacted with Ethan complicated things. On one hand, it was evident that she was helping the boy, but on the other, the veil of mystery surrounding her prevented him from fully trusting her.

"What happened six years ago?" Alexander wondered, leaning against the door frame, watching as Isabella hugged Ethan. He hadn’t found a single relevant piece of data from that time. It was as if she had intentionally erased that part of her life.

As Alexander contemplated in silence, Isabella played carefree with Ethan, unaware that she was being watched. The intensity of her emotions kept her focused on making Ethan feel increasingly safe and confident. At that moment, Alexander couldn’t help but wonder if, perhaps, there was something deeper connecting them, something he still couldn’t comprehend.

And as the questions continued to hammer in

his head, one thing was clear: he wasn’t going to stop investigating until he got answers.