CharlotteI didn't want to create a connection between myself and the growing baby inside me because I knew what I would have to do, and at Oliver's insistence, I had even started seeing a psychologist since I received the positive test result. It was better to talk about other things."He didn't back down on the new price, but since you insisted that we should pay the amount he was demanding, I gave in, and we're going to sign the papers tomorrow morning.""It's better this way, Emily," I agreed. "He didn't want to lose out, and we wanted the house, and we had the money. Why not just give in and resolve it quickly?"Mr. Willis is the man who had bought Thomas's house, and when I received the money from the contract with Mr. Brian, we made an offer for the house with the same amount he had paid, but he didn't accept it. Since I received one million dollars in the first part of the agreement, and even after paying what he had asked for, there would still be some money left for me to ta
BrianI looked at her feeling embarrassed because I remembered that a few days ago everyone had mentioned the desire for a quick trip to the Hamptons, and I had emphatically refused."Of course, Eloá. I completely forgot about this trip."I had been so absent-minded in recent days, with my thoughts always betraying me by bringing up inappropriate and untimely feelings, that I didn't even remember the weekend trip."Do you want to come with me, Eloá?" Aunt Melanie invited the girl."Yes, Aunt Melanie," the little girl quickly agreed. "We'll be back soon, Daddy. Don't worry."Eloá went to my aunt and held her hand as they left the room towards the staircase hall that led to the upper floor. Their excitement was visible as they immediately started chatting and laughing. I followed Oliver to the living room, and we each sat in a comfortable armchair, both seeming to be lost in our own thoughts. "It's remarkable how much happier Eloá seems now than before," I couldn't help but comment. "
CharlotteDespite all the joy from my family, as Nicole and Emily with the children were truly happy for that weekend, completely different from anything they had experienced before, I didn't feel as excited as I tried to show.I felt different from the very moment I found out I had a baby growing inside me, and it was becoming unsettling. Mr. Oliver had sent a car with a driver specifically to pick us up that morning, and we arrived comfortably in the Hamptons, something that is a far cry from our reality.Everything was very sophisticated, elegant, and extremely expensive. The people we saw were clearly financially successful and exuded wealth and power in their mannerisms alone. Oliver's enormous mansion was clearly in line with the standards of that region in New York, and I felt completely out of place there, as I wouldn't even know how to behave in front of those people.To my total relief, however, we didn't stay with Mr. Oliver and Aunt Melanie in the mansion. He provided us w
CharlotteI looked at the men who were now talking to each other in a low tone and seemed quite engrossed in their conversation. I saw Nicole walking towards Emily and the children, along with Melanie.I calmly and discreetly walked towards the exit that led to a trail, which I had noticed was heading towards the beach in front of the mansion and was visible to anyone in the pool area.Although I longed for some moments alone, I valued my safety and didn't want to stray too far from people. I just needed to admire up close all that breathtaking beauty, something I had never had the pleasure of doing until that moment in my life.I walked up close to the water and dipped my feet in the gentle waves of that hot summer afternoon. Everything was so beautiful and different.I scanned the shoreline and saw several people walking, some sitting and just chatting, and further away I could see fancy bars and restaurants, displaying the luxury and wealth of their patrons even from the distance w
BrianI watched in awe at her exuberance and how her face transformed in that moment. She became even more beautiful, and that wasn't good for my sanity."How do you know Douglas is here too?" she asked, still smiling."Douglas?""Yes. He arrived just a little while ago. I thought you knew."She didn't understand my reference to my friend's name, and I decided not to insist. Apparently, she was also more at ease with Douglas."He called me to see if I had changed my mind and joined my aunt.""I see," I replied. She began playing with the sand, making circles with her fingers as she spoke. "They're all at the pool. The kids are having a great time.""Kids?""Emily's children," she said, and I still didn't understand. "Emily, Nicole's sister. She's here with us too."I wasn't aware of that fact, and I became even more intrigued by Oliver's strange behavior. Not only did he bring the nannies along, but he also brought Nicole's sister with her children.But as I thought about insisting on
CharlotteI wasn't the least bit surprised by Mr. Taylor's reaction when he found out that Oliver not only brought me and Nicole to the Hamptons but also brought Emily and the kids with us. It was clear that he was an arrogant and self-centered man who considered his friend's gesture pointless and beneath his social class. But I was still upset nonetheless.I worked for Oliver, and even though the two of them were friends, I didn't owe anything to Brian. Nothing! I didn't want to dwell on the fact that I was pregnant with his child. He had no knowledge of that, and that's what mattered. It was a contract in which I had to fulfill my part, something I was already doing as the baby was growing inside me. I didn't owe that man anything more than that.The fact that only his voice stirred something in me shouldn't shake me. Nothing had changed between us. I was still the young nanny, as Melanie had already told me Brian called me, and he was my ex-boss's friend."You haven't gotten ready
CharlotteThe girl soon appeared running down the stairs, and I noticed someone following closely behind her. It was Brian."It's your party, Charlotte... do you like it?" the girl asked cheerfully."Yes, I really like it, Eloá.""I wanted to wait for you, but I forgot your present in the room.""No need to be sad about that. I just arrived.""We haven't even sung 'Happy Birthday' yet, Eloá," Melanie interjected when she saw the girl was sad for not being in the room when I arrived."Aunt Melanie is right, honey. Shall we sing 'Happy Birthday'?"Eloá became excited again at the suggestion made by her father and started clapping enthusiastically."Let's go!"The twins joined Eloá's enthusiasm, and soon everyone was singing the birthday song, and I joined them, feeling both happy to be surrounded by people I cared about and experiencing my first birthday party.But I also felt nervous with the presence of the man I knew to be the father of the child I was carrying, something that was qu
BrianAfter everyone insisted that she should accept the offer, she went back to her house and grabbed a few things that would be necessary for the kids to spend the night at the mansion, and Margareth insisted on helping the young mother. She also went upstairs with my aunt to assist in taking care of the three little ones.“We could go out” Douglas suggested.“Go out?” Nicole seemed excited immediately. “Where to?”“There are many nice places here in the Hamptons where we can have fun.”“Charlotte must have never gone out to do something like this, right?” Nicole asked, enthusiastic.“Neither have you, Nicole” Charlotte pointed out, not sharing her friend's excitement.That information made me reflect once again on how wrong it would be for me to have any kind of involvement with the girl, as it was quite clear, once again, that she had no real experience. She hadn't even had the pleasure of knowing something as basic as going out at night with friends.“It's no problem. We'll do th