Chapter 3

If there was one thing Graziel learned after meeting Junie Torres, it was this:

Once Junie liked someone, she never stayed away from that person.

And somehow, Graziel had become her new favorite. It was as if the little girl had found herself a brand-new toy and refused to let anyone take it away.

At first, Graziel thought it would be a good thing if she became close to her employer's daughter. Now she wasn't so sure. Maybe this had been a terrible idea.

From morning until late afternoon, Junie never left her alone. Wherever Graziel went, Junie followed. When Graziel finished cleaning the hallway, Junie was right behind her. When she went to the kitchen, Junie came too. When she cleaned one of the guest rooms, Junie quietly followed her again.

It was like having a tiny shadow. No, it was more like having a tail attached to her. And honestly, it wasn't as cute as it sounded.

At this point, Graziel felt like Junie would even follow her into the bathroom if she had the chance.

Good Lord, she thought helplessly. This child is going to be the reason I lose my mind.

"Junie," she said with a laugh while fixing the bedsheets, "don't you ever get tired?"

She tried to laugh it off, but having someone follow her everywhere made it difficult to work properly.

"No."

Junie's answer came immediately, followed by an energetic shake of her head.

Graziel sighed. Maybe now she finally understood why the previous nanny had resigned. She had absolutely no privacy. Junie even followed her to her room whenever she had a break, making it impossible for her to rest.

"Are you serious?" Graziel asked. "You really never get tired?"

"Yes."

Graziel could only shake her head. This little girl seemed to have endless energy. She looked determined to spend the entire day following her around.

At this point, Graziel had only one wish.

Please let her forget about me tomorrow.

But the moment she looked at Junie's bright smile… She immediately gave up on that hope.

Yeah... that's impossible.

Junie sat quietly on the edge of the bed while watching her work. Sometimes she asked random questions. Sometimes she told funny little stories. And sometimes, she simply stared at Graziel as if she were carefully studying her.

It was sweet but it was also a little unsettling. Not even in her wildest dreams had Graziel imagined that the daughter of a billionaire would behave like this.

"Is something wrong, Junie?" she asked.

The little girl quickly shook her head.

"Nothing."

That was all she said. Yet she continued staring at Graziel without blinking. A strange feeling settled inside Graziel's chest. She had a feeling the little girl was planning something.

And she was right. She simply didn't know yet how mischievous Kevin Torres' daughter could be.

~~

By lunchtime, Graziel went to the kitchen to eat. She wasn't surprised to find Junie already waiting there but she was surprised by what the little girl did next.

Junie immediately pulled out the chair beside her.

"I'm eating here."

Graziel blinked. "Beside me?"

"Yes."

"Where's your daddy?"

"In the dining room."

Graziel glanced toward the family's dining room, which was located on the other side of the mansion. She was certain the household staff wasn't supposed to eat there.

"Junie, your daddy might be looking for you."

Junie simply shook her head. "He knows where I am."

And just like that, the discussion was over. No matter what Graziel said, the little girl had already made up her mind. Graziel couldn't help laughing. In her entire life, she had never met such a stubborn child.

While they ate, Junie talked nonstop. She told stories about school, about her favorite cartoons, about classmates who annoyed her and about all the things she wanted to do during vacation. She never seemed to run out of things to say.

To Graziel's surprise, she genuinely enjoyed listening.

After lunch, Graziel went to the laundry room. There was a large pile of freshly washed clothes waiting to be folded. She quietly started working.

A few moments later, a tiny hand suddenly appeared beside her. She turned around.

Junie was there again. The little girl proudly held up a towel.

"I'm helping."

Graziel laughed. "Really?"

Junie nodded confidently before she began folding the towel. Only then did Graziel discover something.

Junie had absolutely no idea how to fold clothes. Instead of looking like a neatly folded towel, it looked more like a crumpled ball.

Graziel burst into laughter.

Junie immediately puffed out her cheeks.

"What's funny?"

"Is that your version of folding?"

"It is folded."

"I think we have very different definitions of the word 'folded.'"

They looked at each other. Then both of them started laughing. For the first time in a long while, Graziel felt like she was living a normal day. Even if only for a little while, she forgot about her problems because of this cheerful little girl.

~~

That afternoon, Junie proudly gave Graziel a tour of the mansion as if she owned the entire place. Well, technically, one day she probably would. After all, she was Kevin Torres' daughter.

"That's Daddy's office," Junie said while pointing at a large wooden door.

Graziel immediately remembered Mrs. Santos' warning.

Never enter Mr. Torres' office without permission.

"That's my room."

Graziel nodded.

Junie's bedroom was enormous. It was even bigger than the house Graziel and her mother used to rent. Then Junie pointed toward a large balcony.

"And that's where Daddy drinks coffee when he's pretending he's not sad."

Graziel stopped walking. "What?"

Junie shrugged casually. "Sometimes he just sits there and looks outside."

Graziel fell silent. She didn't know what to say. Even though Junie was still young, she noticed everything. Even the sadness her father tried so hard to hide.

~~

That evening, Graziel finally returned to her room. She was exhausted but it had been a surprisingly happy day. She had never expected her first full day inside the mansion to feel so light. She had just changed out of her maid's uniform when someone knocked on her door.

She opened it.

Junie stood outside with a huge smile stretching across her face. She was holding a piece of paper.

"I made something."

Graziel smiled. "What is it?"

"Look."

Junie handed her the paper. The moment Graziel looked at it, she froze.

It was a drawing. There were three people holding hands. A tall man, a little girl, and a woman. A small smile appeared on Graziel's face.

The drawing was adorable. Then she noticed the words written across the top.

MY FAMILY

Her mind suddenly went blank. She blinked and then looked at the drawing again. Then at Junie. Then back at the drawing.

"Junie..." The little girl smiled proudly. "Do you like it?"

"Uh..."

Graziel honestly didn't know what to say. It was obvious that the woman in the drawing was her. The maid's uniform made that impossible to deny.

"Junie..."

"Why am I in this picture?"

Junie looked confused by the question.

"Because you're part of it."

Graziel stared at her in silence. She honestly didn't know whether she should laugh or start worrying. This little girl's imagination was becoming more and more dangerous.

~~

About an hour later, Junie happily ran downstairs to show the drawing to her father. Kevin was sitting in the living room with a tablet in his hands, quietly reading several business reports.

"Daddy."

Without looking up, Kevin answered,

"Yes, baby?"

"Look."

Junie held out the drawing. Kevin accepted the paper absentmindedly but the moment he saw what was drawn on it, his expression immediately changed. His eyes narrowed and then he slowly looked at his daughter.

"Junie."

The little girl smiled proudly.

"Nice, right?"

Kevin let out a long sigh. "Stop making assumptions."

Junie's smile immediately disappeared.

"But—"

"No." Kevin stood up. "She's an employee."

The little girl's shoulders dropped. For a few seconds, she looked disappointed. Then, as if a brilliant idea had suddenly appeared in her mind, her face lit up again. Without thinking twice, she said exactly what was on her mind.

"Then marry her."

Kevin froze completely. Even one of the maids walking past them nearly tripped after hearing those words.

Kevin swallowed hard. For the first time in a long while, he honestly didn't know whether he should be annoyed, laugh or start worrying.

Because judging by the determined look on Junie's face, his daughter wasn't joking. She tugged gently on his sleeve and looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Marry her, Daddy... please."