4

VERA: POV

“Oh by the way, Nanny Vera… I want you to come with me to the airport later.”

I blinked and immediately stood up straight.

“S-sir? M-me? W-why?” I asked nervously, my hands fidgeting uncontrollably.

He turned to look at me slowly. His gaze was cold, and his face was serious. He slowly stepped toward where I stood until I could almost feel the heavy weight of his presence.

“Do I really need to explain why to you?” he asked in a low, firm voice.

I swallowed hard.

“I'm your boss, Vera,” he added, locking his eyes onto mine. “And everything I say, you must obey. If you want to stay in this mansion as my personal maid, you need to follow my every command.”

My entire body felt like it went cold.

“Y-yes, Sir…” I answered softly, the words slipping out almost automatically.

Yet my mind refused to settle.

“B-but Sir… what are we going to do at the airport?” I asked cautiously.

He let out a slight sigh before smirking just a little.

“Uhmmmm… I told you, don’t ask me questions.”

I immediately quieted down and lowered my head.

“But since you want to know the reason…” he spoke again while adjusting the cuff of his expensive attire. “You are coming with me to pick up my son and his fiancée.”

“WHAT?!” I almost screamed in complete shock.

I froze on the spot. It felt as though my world had suddenly stopped upon hearing those words.

I couldn't believe it.

In the short time I had been at the mansion working as a maid… I was already about to see Draven—the man I once loved… the father of my child… and my ex-boyfriend whom I thought I would never have to face again.

My knees went weak.

I wasn't ready.

I hadn't saved up enough for my child and me yet… I hadn't gotten our lives in order… but he was already arriving.

“This can't be happening…” I whispered softly, desperately trying to calm myself down. “What am I going to do…?”

My hands began to tremble.

“He must not see me here…” I whispered further to myself, fighting to keep the anxiety from completely consuming me.

Yet he seemed to hear the fear in my voice.

“Don't worry, Vera,” he whispered softly, gazing at me. “My son is a good person.”

My heart rate accelerated even more.

If only he knew… it wasn't Draven's goodness that I was afraid of.

It was the possibility that he might recognize me… and realize that we have a child together.

“But Sir… could Sister Marie go with you to the airport instead?” I said hesitantly, clutching my hands tightly together.

“Ahm… because, my child—”

I couldn't even finish what I was saying.

Mr. Brooklyn’s expression suddenly hardened. He slowly stopped what he was doing and looked at me coldly.

“What I say does not get changed.”

His voice was stern yet controlled—the kind of tone you couldn't bring yourself to disobey even if you wanted to.

“Go outside,” he added, adjusting the watch on his wrist. “And get dressed. We’re leaving in a bit. My son's flight got moved earlier.”

I had no choice left but to bow my head.

“Y-yes, Sir…”

My feet felt heavy as I stepped out of his room. Once the door closed behind me, I held onto my chest.

I found it hard to breathe.

Years had already passed, after all…

Maybe he won't even recognize me anymore.

I didn't intend to end up in his family's home anyway. It just so happened that this was where I got hired… in his very family’s mansion.

I shook my head, trying to untangle my messy thoughts.

“Did it really just happen by chance… or is this truly fate at work?” I whispered to myself before closing my eyes tightly.

“Ugh… so frustrating!”

I held my head in sheer frustration.

Out of all the places where I could have found work… why here of all places?

And out of all the people I could avoid…

Why did Draven have to be the exact person I need to face again?

Minutes turned into hours.

I silently prepared inside my small room. I put on my maid uniform—since that was really the only decent clothing I had.

I took a deep breath before stepping out of the room.

When I opened the door, Mr. Brooklyn immediately came into view, sitting on the long sofa in the living room.

I paused for a moment.

Handsome… tall… and looking intensely cool. He was dressed in a simple dark suit, yet his charisma and authority were unmistakably striking. He looked like a young man who simply didn't age.

“It really is different when you're a billionaire…” I whispered softly to myself, secretly looking at him.

As I approached him, I bowed slightly.

“L-let’s go, Sir,” I said calmly.

However, he didn't speak right away.

He slowly looked me up and down from head to toe. His face was serious, as though he was deep in thought.

“Don't you have any other clothes besides that nanny dress?” he asked coldly.

I lowered my head.

“I-I don't have any decent clothes, Sir…” I answered softly.

He went silent for a moment.

He let out a gentle sigh before standing up and grabbing his car keys.

“Uhmmmm… let’s go.”

That was all he said before walking straight out.

I quickly followed behind.

I remained quiet throughout the entire drive. Only the hum of the luxury car's engine and soft music could be heard inside.

I didn't know why, but I felt myself getting increasingly nervous as we drew closer to the airport… or wherever we were actually heading.

After hours of driving, Mr. Brooklyn’s car slowly pulled up in front of an expensive dress shop.

My eyes widened instantly when I saw that it had a makeover studio right beside it.

I turned to look at him.

“I thought… we were heading to the airport, Sir?” I asked in confusion.

“Yes,” he replied coldly, unbuckling his seatbelt. “But before that…”

He turned his head slightly toward me.

“You need to look presentable before meeting my son.”

“H-Huh?” I uttered, stunned.

He didn't speak right away.

He glanced at me once more—this time, his gaze was gentler, even though his tone remained aloof.

“You're my personal maid, Vera,” he said. “I don't like looking like I neglect the people under me.”

A strange, unfamiliar warmth seemed to pass through my chest at his words.

Yet my anxiety rushed back just as quickly when I remembered who we were about to face.

Draven.