Chapter 5: Curiosity

Annalyn’s Point Of View

I woke up before the sun had even risen, stirred by the soft rustling of leaves outside the window and the faint ticking of the antique wall clock. It was still dark, but I knew I had to get Nolan ready for school. I tiptoed into his room, the warm scent of baby powder and stuffed animals filling the air. He was curled up like a little kitten, tangled in his blue dinosaur-themed blanket.

“Nolan,” I whispered, brushing a soft hand across his cheek. “Wake up, sweetie.”

He groaned and turned to the other side. “No mummy, Nolan wants to sleep some more…”

My heart caught at the word.

“Mummy, pwease?” he murmured again.

I smiled, though I felt my chest tighten. “Alright, little Mr, get your sleepy self out of bed now!” I said with mock sternness. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With that, I dug my fingers into his sides and tickled him. His giggles burst like little fireworks in the quiet room, and he finally sat up, eyes crinkled in joy.

As I ruffled his hair, he pushed my hand away with a playful frown. “Mummy, stowp! I'm a big boy now.”

There it was again. “Mummy.” Thrice and the day hadn't started.

I gently lifted him onto my lap, I let him rub his eyes for a few seconds before he finally looked at me, I looked into his still sleepy eyes. “Uhhm.. Nolan, you see, my name is Annalyn but my Best friend calls me Anna, would you like to call me Anna too?

He blinked up at me, and his lower lip curled up slightly. “Do you not want to be my mummy anymore? Did Nolan do something bwad?”

Oh, God. My heart twisted.

“Hey baby, no,” I said quickly, hugging him tight. “I’ll always be your mummy. Always! Now, come on. We’ve got a longggg day ahead.”

After giving him a warm bath and dressing him in his school uniform, we walked downstairs together. The scent of eggs, toast, and freshly brewed coffee greeted us, along with a sight that made my heart lurch.

There sat Alex, dressed in another custom suit, crisp and immaculate, his cold demeanor untouched by the morning light yet in my eyes he still looked breathtaking. Beside him, wearing nothing but a silky body wrap nightgown, was the woman from last night.

I didn't even know her name, and somehow I didn't want to.

Nolan ran ahead and into his father's arms. “Daddy!”

Alex’s features softened only for his son. “How are you today, my little champ?”

“Good,” Nolan chirped. I offered a polite smile and greeted both of them, though my eyes lingered warily on the half Naked lady. She didn't greet me back, only side-eyed me like I was dirt on her designer slippers.

I guided Nolan to his high chair and attempted to feed him a spoonful of cereal. Before the spoon reached his mouth, Alex’s voice cut through the air.

“Babying him wouldn't help him learn. Besides He can feed himself.”

I froze, then slowly I withdrew my hand and dropped the spoon. “I… I just thought.. ”

“You need to stop thinking and do your duty properly,” he said bluntly, not even sparing me a glance.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. My eyes darted to his woman, who looked incredibly amused, like she’d been waiting for a show. I mumbled an apology and turned to leave, but Alex’s voice rang out again.

“Where do you think you're going?”

“To have breakfast in the kitchen, Nolan is safe in your care” I said quietly.

“You’ll be eating here henceforth.”

That stopped me cold. “What?”

The lady whipped her head toward Alex. “What? Why would you let a common servant sit at the same table with us?”

That word… servant… It triggered something inside me. My back straightened, and before I could stop myself, I replied, “Nanny! I’m Nolan’s nanny, not a servant. I’m here to care for him, not serve you, Miss.”

She slammed her fork down, eyes narrowed into slits. “How dare you speak to me like that!”

I was about to retort again when Alex’s palm landed loudly on the table.

“Enough,” he said firmly, his voice colder than I’d ever heard. “I was hoping for a peaceful breakfast, but apparently that’s too much to ask.”

His eyes locked on mine, dark and unreadable. My breath caught. Slowly, he stood, buttoned his suit, and turned to Vanessa.

“And Vanessa,” he said in a deadly quiet tone, “Annalyn is Nolan’s nanny. Not a servant. Don’t ever call her that again.”

My heart did a small, traitorous flip. He stood up for me. Not out of affection, surely but it was something.

The lady whom I just learned her name to be Vanessa made an exaggerated sound of disgust before standing and storming off, her heels clicking angrily against the marble floor. I couldn’t help the small laugh that slipped from my lips.

Alex turned to me with a look that could freeze lava.

“Don’t ever do that again,” he said, voice dangerously low.

With that, he walked out, leaving a silence heavy with tension.

I muttered, “Jerk.”

Then a small voice piped up beside me, “Jewk?”

My eyes widened. Nolan had finished eating and was now watching me curiously. I chuckled, slightly embarrassed. “It’s nothing, honey. Just… let’s not say that word again, especially in front of daddy, okay?”

Before he could ask more questions, a voice came from the doorway. “That’s why we don’t say swear words around children.”

Startled, I turned to see an elderly woman walking in with a tray of pancakes. She had a kind face, lined with age and wisdom, her gray hair tied neatly behind her head. She carried herself with a grace that made me instinctively stand straighter.

“You must be Nolan’s new nanny,” she said, placing the tray down. “I’m Nanny Flora. I raised Alex. Now I run the house.”

My mouth opened in surprise. “You were his nanny?”

She gave a small smile. “Yes. And he was a wonderful little boy as I recall. Still is, somewhere in there.”

There was a shadow behind her words, something unspoken. My curiosity flared.

“What happened?” I asked gently.

But Nanny Flora glanced at her watch and said briskly, “It’s almost time. You’d best get Nolan to school before he’s late.”

I wanted to press further, but I knew now wasn’t the time.

I offered her a little smile before turning to Nolan. “Ready for school?”

He nodded, slipping off his chair with my help, his backpack in hand.

As we walked out together, I made a mental note: I needed to speak with Nanny Flora again. She knew more than anyone else in this mansion. And I had a feeling the quiet, cold Mr. Grey had more layers than I’d expected and boy was a anxious to unravel these layers