Chapter 5

Graziel didn't know why, but it felt like Junie had become more attached to her with each passing day.She had only been staying at the Torres Mansion for three days, yet it already felt as though she and the little girl had known each other for years.

From morning until night, Junie rarely left her side. When Graziel arranged fresh flowers in the living room, Junie was there.

When she folded freshly washed clothes in the laundry room, Junie sat quietly beside her.

Even when she simply went to the kitchen for a glass of water, the little girl followed behind her like a tiny shadow that refused to disappear.

"Junie," Graziel said with a soft laugh as she neatly folded a stack of clean towels. "Don't you ever get tired of following me around?"

The little girl shook her head without hesitation.

"No."

Graziel smiled and shook her own head. She wasn't joking.

Junie continued following her everywhere, hugging the stuffed rabbit that was almost as big as she was. The child didn't have to say or do anything. Somehow, her simple presence was enough to brighten Graziel's mood.

Honestly, she had never expected to grow this close to her employer's daughter in such a short time but there was something different about Junie.

There was sadness hidden behind her cheerful smile and there was longing beneath her endless chatter.

And the more time Graziel spent with her, the more she understood what Kevin had said the other night.

"Junie gets attached easily."

It wasn't because the little girl was simply friendly. It felt as though she had been searching for someone to stay with for a very long time.

And somehow, Junie had chosen her.

~

The day passed by quickly. By evening, the mansion had become quiet once again. Dinner was over, and most of the household staff had already returned to their rooms. Even the wide hallways seemed to have fallen asleep.

As Graziel walked toward her bedroom, she couldn't help glancing through the tall windows overlooking the garden.

Outside, darkness had already settled over the estate. Only the lights surrounding the fountain illuminated the peaceful night, casting soft reflections across the water.

The view was breathtaking. Yet no matter how beautiful the mansion was, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

A quiet sadness lingered in every corner of the house. She let out a silent sigh.

Perhaps it was because of Kevin's late wife and perhaps this family was still struggling to move on.

Especially Junie and Kevin.

Leaning against the wall, she reached for her doorknob. She was exhausted. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep. But before she could even open the door—

"Ahhhh!"

A frightened scream echoed through the mansion, followed by the loud cries of a child.

Graziel gasped. Her eyes widened immediately. It was Junie.

She recognized the little girl's voice instantly.

Without another thought, she let go of the doorknob and ran into the hallway. Several maids rushed out of their rooms at the same time, their faces filled with panic.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes!"

"It came from Miss Junie's room!"

Graziel barely remembered to breathe as she hurried upstairs. The moment she reached Junie's bedroom, she pushed the door open. There sat the little girl in the middle of her large bed. She was tightly hugging her stuffed rabbit.

Her eyes were red and swollen. Tears soaked her cheeks.

Her tiny body trembled uncontrollably. It felt as though someone had squeezed Graziel's heart.

"Junie!"

She rushed over. The moment Junie saw her, she burst into even louder sobs.

"Graziel!"

The little girl immediately threw her arms around her, clinging tightly as though she was afraid Graziel would disappear too.

Graziel sat on the edge of the bed and gently rubbed her back.

"Shh... It's okay. I'm here now."

Junie continued trembling in her arms.

"What happened?"

"I had a nightmare."

Graziel frowned with concern. "A nightmare?"

Junie nodded before burying her face against Graziel's shoulder again, clearly unwilling to talk about it. Before Graziel could ask another question, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

She looked up and Kevin appeared at the doorway.

For the first time, he didn't look like the perfect billionaire everyone admired. He simply looked like a father rushing to his frightened daughter. His neatly styled hair was slightly messy. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up. It looked like he had just come home from work.

"Junie."

He walked straight to the bed and sat beside his daughter.

Graziel watched his expression soften the moment he looked at the little girl. It was a side of Kevin she had rarely seen.

"What happened?"

Junie lowered her head. "I had a nightmare, Daddy."

Kevin gently brushed the strands of hair away from her tear-stained face.

"What nightmare?"

The room fell silent for several seconds before Junie finally answered.

"I couldn't find you."

Something flickered across Kevin's face. It was only for a brief moment but Graziel saw it. And for some reason, seeing that expression made her chest ache.

Kevin didn't answer right away. Instead, he quietly held his daughter's tiny hand.

"I'm here."

Junie looked at him with watery eyes. "What if you disappear?"

"I won't."

"But what if?"

Silence filled the room once more. For the first time, Graziel couldn't find an answer in Kevin's expression.

~~

Almost twenty minutes later, Junie's crying had finally stopped. Her breathing became steady. Graziel thought the little girl had finally fallen asleep but she was wrong.

"I don't want to sleep alone."

Both adults looked at her.

Kevin sighed. "Junie."

"No."

"You'll be fine."

"No."

Junie crossed her arms stubbornly. The determined look on her little face made it obvious she had no intention of backing down.

"I want both of you to stay."

Graziel's eyes widened. "Me?"

"Yes."

She instinctively looked at Kevin. He looked just as surprised as she was.

"Junie, it's late."

"I know."

"Then go to sleep."

"No."

Graziel couldn't help smiling to herself. She never imagined there would be someone capable of arguing with Kevin Torres so effortlessly. And that person was only seven years old.

In the end, Kevin lost. Now the three of them were sitting on the bed.

Kevin on one side and Graziel on the other. And Junie comfortably lying between them.

Graziel felt like the pounding of her own heart was louder than the humming of the air conditioner. She kept telling herself not to look at Kevin.

Yet for some reason, the more she resisted, the more tempted she became to steal a glance at him. Maybe it was because this was the longest time they had ever spent together in complete silence.

Finally, Kevin was the first to speak.

"She likes you."

Graziel turned to him.

He had said those words again. "I think you're right."

Kevin lowered his gaze to the little girl lying peacefully between them.

"She hasn't smiled this much in years."

The smile slowly disappeared from Graziel's face. She didn't know why, but something inside her chest tightened.

"After her mother died..." Kevin paused, carefully choosing his words. "Everything changed." His voice grew quieter. "I tried giving her everything." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "But apparently... everything isn't enough."

Graziel's heart ached. She couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for Junie to grow up without a mother. Or how painful it must have been for Kevin to raise his daughter while trying to fill the roles of both parents.

After a long moment, she finally spoke.

"I think..." she said softly. Kevin looked at her. "...what children need most isn't money. It's time."

She smiled gently at the sleeping little girl.

"No matter how many toys you buy for her... nothing can replace having you by her side."

Kevin didn't respond immediately. For several quiet seconds, they simply looked at each other. And for the first time, Graziel no longer saw the cold, untouchable billionaire everyone feared. She saw a wounded man.

A father who was trying his best. Neither of them noticed the tiny smile hiding beneath the blanket.

Junie wasn't asleep at all. She looked completely satisfied with the outcome of her little plan.

Mission accomplished.