Chapter 6

At six in the morning, I got up and got dressed. I was organizing some drawers when someone knocked on the bedroom door. I opened it right away. It was the man who had unloaded the car yesterday when I arrived from the capital with the baby and Oliver.

"Good morning, Miss Aurora. My name's Joel. I'm Mr. Oliver's driver, and I'm here to let you know the car's ready whenever you want to head to the capital. I'll be taking you to the hospital for the baby's checkups."

"Ah, Mr. Oliver's not coming?" I asked, curious.

"No, he left very early today."

"Alright, I'll get the baby ready and be down in a moment."

I closed the door and went to bathe the baby, who looked super comfy in the tub.

"You look so cozy now, little one… If you were mine, I'd call you Noah."

After getting the tiny little guy ready, I packed his bag, went downstairs, had some coffee while he relaxed in his stroller, then picked him up and headed to the car. I placed him in the car seat.

Joel came over and said, "The boss asked me to give you this."

He handed me a folder. I took it and noticed it contained the baby's documents. I got in the car, and while Joel drove, I opened the folder in my lap. Inside, I found the baby's birth certificate—and I couldn't help myself. I had to know the name of the child I was taking care of.

Noah Ashford Hart. Oh my God—I should play the lottery!

The certificate only listed the father: Oliver Ashford Hart. That worried me. Had the mother died in childbirth? Even so, why wouldn't he include her name? My head was already spinning with theories. Oliver had bought the best of everything for the baby, but hadn't visited him once yesterday.

We arrived in the city and went straight to Whitmore Kingston Hospital—a massive private clinic. At the reception desk, a nurse asked for my ID since I was accompanying the patient. I handed it over.

"Sorry, we don't accept minors as guardians," the receptionist said.

Joel looked at me, totally confused.

I stepped away from the desk and pulled him aside.

"Please, Joel, can you register yourself as the baby's guardian?"

"But you're underage? What's going on? The boss doesn't hire minors."

"It's a long story. Please, just listen. I turn eighteen in two months, and since I really needed this job… I said I was already of age."

"But he's going to ask for your documents to finalize your contract."

"I know. I'll find a way to manage that before my birthday. But please don't tell him. I really need this job," I begged.

"Look, girl… I'll sign in here because the baby needs care, and I don't want this trip to go to waste. But Mr. Oliver hates lies. If I were you, I'd tell him the truth when we get back to the estate. He'll understand—especially since you're almost eighteen and he needs someone to care for the kid."

"Thank you, Joel."

"I mean it. If he finds out you lied from the start, he'll throw you out."

Joel went back to the counter and handled the registration. We did all the necessary tests for Noah, including a visit with the pediatrician, who asked me some questions I didn't know how to answer—but we arranged for monthly follow-ups.

The drive back was silent. Noah, who had cried a lot during the reflex tests, was now sleeping like an angel. Even though he was still so tiny, he already had his father's features.

Joel drove quietly, until I finally asked something that had been weighing on me.

"Where's the baby's mother?"

He looked surprised by the question but kept his eyes on the road and said nothing. His silence made me even more curious. I had this innocent little angel beside me, just three days old—and no mother in sight. And honestly, not much of a father either.

When we got home, I changed Noah's clothes while he slept like a rock, then took a shower. I went downstairs and washed my new clothes by hand. I didn't have much, so I needed to make it last. I only had two nicer outfits in case I had to go out with Mr. Oliver.

Later, when I went to prepare Noah's bottle, I noticed the thermos was empty. So I put him in his stroller and went to the kitchen. Just before stepping in, I heard Oliver talking to another man. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop—but I couldn't help hearing a bit.

"Dude, when I read that message, I couldn't even think straight. I just grabbed the keys. Can you imagine how desperate I was? I kept calling you, and your phone was off," the man said. "I drove a thousand kilometers, only stopping for gas. The whole drive, I couldn't stop cursing that woman in my head."

"That's nothing… you won't believe who the—"

Oliver stopped short.

Noah started crying in the stroller, and both men turned to look at me.

'Damn it, right when things were getting interesting.'

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I came to make Noah's bottle," I said.

The other man stood and walked over to peek into the stroller.

"So this is your son?" he smiled. "Good thing he looks like you!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Babies all look the same," Oliver replied flatly.

Noah started crying again. I picked him up and began preparing his bottle, feeling the weight of both men's stares on my back.

"How were the tests this morning, Aurora?" Oliver asked.

"All good, sir. Some results will be ready next week, but the doctor said he's a very healthy baby."

"What's your son's name, Oliver?" the man asked.

"Noah," he replied.

"Where'd you get that name?"

"From a brochure at the civil registry office."

They both laughed, while I tried to process everything they were saying.

"Go easy on him, alright? That baby's the only innocent one in all this."

"I know. That's why I've taken care of everything for him—including hiring this nanny."

The man looked at me for a few seconds.

"How old are you, young lady?"

Before I could respond, Oliver answered for me.

"Her name's Aurora, she's eighteen, and she has experience as a nanny."

I froze as the man kept staring.

"You look younger."

I felt super uncomfortable and afraid of being found out, so I grabbed the bottle and the thermos in one hand, placed Noah back in the stroller with the other, and left.

"Excuse me—Noah needs to be fed," I said and rushed out of the kitchen back to the bedroom.

These rich people were something else. No greetings, but already asking personal questions like they owned the place. I fed the baby and burped him, then laid him on the bed and started assembling the crib. If it were up to me, I'd let him sleep with me—but I didn't know Oliver's preferences and didn't want to risk it.

While I worked on the crib, I kept thinking about that comment the man made—asking Oliver to "go easy on Noah, because he's innocent."

'What did he mean by that?' The thought looped in my mind until the door opened and Oliver walked in, standing silently in front of me. I jumped up.

"I need your ID and tax number to complete your contract," he said.

I remembered Joel's warning about Oliver hating lies—but I was too scared of being fired to confess the truth. I had to think fast.

"Well..." I began. "Actually, I need to talk to you, sir. There was an accident with my documents."

"Accident?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah... my dog."

"Dog?"

"Yes, a pinscher. You know how they are—small but possessed. He got into my bag and shredded everything." I gave a nervous laugh.

"Make sure you fix that soon," he said sternly.

"Yes, sir."

"And don't forget to take the baby with you."

"Of course!"

"You're full-time staff now. Know that Joel is in charge of driving you anywhere, even for personal errands."

"Thank you, sir."

I smiled my most grateful smile—even though I'd just told one of the worst lies ever. Or maybe not. He seemed to believe me. I could've said they got soaked in the rain, but then he'd find out I walked through a storm at night to get here, and that would definitely be a problem.

Before turning to leave, Oliver glanced briefly at the baby. He looked like he wanted to get closer—but just walked out instead.

What a cold man. No sense of humor, and he didn't even get near his own child.

I finished setting up the crib, placed the mattress and sheets, and laid Noah down. That's all he needed—no bumpers or pillows, to avoid suffocation risks.

Noah, as always, was already asleep. He'd wake up during the night for milk and go right back to sleep. He was such a calm baby—poor thing. He deserved to be held, kissed, and cuddled by his parents… but he had no one. So after bathing, I'd hold him, even while he slept, so he'd feel safe and cared for in this strange new world.

I was in my pajamas, ready for bed, and had eaten a quick dinner. Every time I left the room without him, I carried the baby monitor—though I still didn't trust leaving him alone. I pulled the crib close to the bed and lay down.

Soon, someone knocked on the door. I got up and opened it—it was Lucy.

"Aurora!"

"Yes?"

"The boss wants to see you in his office. Right now."

"Where's the office?"

"Last door in the second hallway."

"Okay, I'll change first and go."

"He said right now, miss. Better go as you are. He hates waiting."

She turned and left. I looked over at Noah, sleeping peacefully, grabbed the monitor, and went to the office. Before I even knocked, Oliver's voice called out, "Come in, Aurora."

"You asked for me, sir?"

"Aurora, pack your things immediately," he said, irritated.

"Why?" I asked, stunned.

"You're fired!"