Chapter 6

~Moretti Mansion

Carolina sat in her room all day. Somehow this place was safe but still felt very much like a cage.

She held her knees to her chest, encircling her hands around her legs

.

Then—

The door knob shifted.

He stepped in,

Still vexed about what happened the last time.

Carolina looked away from him, not ready to listen to whatever he had to say but — he owned the house.

She didn't have a choice

"I gave you three simple rules, Carolina. What in 'don't go into the west wing do you not understand?" He asked.

His voice,

Sturdy and cold

Carolina didn't look at him, she kept her gaze away from where he stood.

"I'm not going to pretend like I didn't see it" she broke the silence

Adrian's brows twitched

Carolina got up.

"Why would you lock a child up in there?" She asked.

Adrian's expression was unreadable

"That's not for you to know." He said, coldly. "If there's something for you to know, then I'll let you know" he said

"But.."

"You broke the rule. I'll let that slide" he said, his hands in his pockets.

"Now listen.." He said, sternly "These are rules for you, Miss Carolina Dawson." he said, closing the distance between them.

Calling her full name was scary enough but his dark gaze didn't move one inch away from her.

"You will not go near the West wing again.

You will not ask questions about what you saw.

You will stay where you're told" he said

"And... you will spend time with Justin" he forced the last rule out of his throat, his fist clenching in his pockets.

"You locked him up, locked me up on this room and suddenly you want me to take care of your son?" She said

"Since you love locking people up, you might as well lock up your expectations." She said, angrily.

She knew she had no right to be angry right now but she was.

"And know this Adrian Moretti, I will not be doing this because of you but because of Justin" she said and walked away.

Out of the door

Out of the building.

Carolina stopped since she didn't have a particular place she was going.

She let out a frustrated groan

"If he thinks he could order me everywhere, he's wrong" she said.

~Dawson mansion.

Mr. Dawson was in his study looking at the headline on the news.

The marriage between Dawson and Moretti.

It was unreal to the media.

A guard knocked at the door

"Mr. Vane is here, sir" he said.

The door opened and a man in his 50s walked in, with a smile of familiarity

"That was an urgent call, this better be good" he said, taking a seat.

~Moretti Mansion

Carolina went back into the mansion, she went into the library he had organized for her.

She picked out a book and sat in the chair to read.

Her face muscles began to hurt,

She was still upset, even the book knew it.

She hadn't turned a page for a while, she stared at the book, angrily.

Shortly after, a knock banged on the door of the library.

She opened up

"Master says it's time to take care of young master" she older maid said.

Carolina rolled her eyes, reluctantly following the maid.

The maid stopped and urged Carolina to go ahead.

Carolina walked ahead and saw the little boy with his train toys again.

His gaze lifted to her standing a distance from him.

He continued playing, his expression a little lighter.

Carolina moved with caution towards him

She knelt next to him

"Justin" she called softly.

He looked at her with a smile.

He didn't give a response

"What are you doing?" She leaned down to him

"Trains" he said, placing one in her hands.

Adrian watched from upstairs with a possesive look.

He was displeased that his enemy's daughter is the one who might actually heal his son.

The look of pain lingered on his face as he watched his son smile at the lady who was never meant to be essential in his life.

Justin sat closer to Carolina and took her hand

"Mummy?" He called with a wide smile, his two little hands wrapping around hers.

Adrian couldn't watch anymore, he left.

Though Carolina's rage was already being replaced by warmth from Justin. It wasn't long after the maid interrupted

"It's time for young master's dinner" she said

"Sure" Carolina said

"Now" a more masculine voice said from behind her.

Adrian stood tall behind her

Justin didn't spare him a glance

"I heard" she said "no need to sound like a command system" she mumbled

His brows creased

"Justin?" Her voice softened "it's time for dinner. Let's go" she said.

He got up without hesitation. He refused her hand and held her skirt instead.

They walked in together, Justin held a small train in his hand.

Adrian watched from the end of the table, his gaze steady, unreadable.

He didn’t eat.

He only watched.

Adrian watched above his lashes, his cutlery still in his hand

"Sir?" The butler called his attention back.

Before Carolina caught him, he had returned his gaze to his plate.

After dinner, Carolina and Justin stood by the corridor of the mansion.

"It's time for young master to go to bed" the maid said.

Carolina looked at the young boy who still looked very much lively to be put to bed

"He doesn't look like he wants to"

"I'm afraid that's what the rules says" the maid replied

The damn rules again.

"Justin, it's time for bed" Adrian spoke, walking towards them, the butler trailing behind.

Justin didn't make a move

"Take him to his room" Adrian said.

The maids took Justin as Carolina watched them leave.

"I didn't ask you to form attachment with him. I didn't ask for a bond between the both of you. Your job is to follow his schedule" he said in a tone that felt like scolding.

"That makes me his nanny" she said

"What's the point of there is no bond between the nanny and the child?"

"There's nothing special between you two.." He said and was cut off when he heard a cry.

Justin ran towards Adrian and Carolina crying.

Though there weren't tears

Adrian couldn't say anything.

It was the first time seeing Justin like this.

His son had never done that

Not once.

Justin ran towards them,

Past Adrian

But to Carolina.

Holding her dress tightly

Adrian looked at Carolina like it was her fault his child chose her over him.

"I'll just take Justin to bed" she said.

Carolina tried,

Very hard, not to smile.

"Come on" she said.

Once again, he held her sleeves instead of her hand and took his little steps beside Carolina.

Carolina placed Justin on the bed and put the sheets over him.

She was about to leave when Justin moved.

He was going to follow her.

She placed him back and took a seat next to him.

Her eyes landed on a book.

Children's book about trains

"He seems to have an obsession with trains" she said to herself.

Carolina read the book slowly and softly to Justin and in no time,

He drifted off to sleep.

She took her steps carefully and got out the door, shutting it quietly.

"We need to talk" Adrian said behind her

"I'm sorry it's late now. Maybe tomorrow"

she said, her expression changing from soft to 'get the hell out of my face.'

"Have this" he said, giving a tab to her.

She took it

"That's his schedule. Don't break it" he said

"So your rules are applicable to children too?" She said "Fine. We won't break your rules" she said and left.

Adrian left to his room, at the end of the corridor. It looked dark and out of bound to anyone, exactly the kind that fit his personality.

For the first time—

His son hadn’t reached for him.

“All this…” he muttered quietly,

“Because of her.”

A pause.

Something darker settling in.

“…or because of what she knows.”