Chapter 13: More Than Just a Nanny

The next morning, the house was buzzing with its usual routine, but something was different.

Lily was sitting beside Elias at the breakfast table, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she listened to him talk about his childhood.

"You really had to walk miles just to get to school?" she asked, eyes wide.

Elias smirked. "Not miles. But it felt like it. The sun was always too hot, and my backpack always felt heavier than it should have."

Lily giggled. "I can't imagine you struggling."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "You think I was born this perfect?"

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh!"

For the first time in a long while, Elias let out a genuine laugh. It was deep and warm, something rare.

Leo, who usually would have joined the conversation, sat quietly, stirring his cereal with a spoon. His mind was elsewhere—he still didn't fully understand why he was staying at Lani's house for a whole month. It wasn't something his mother explained well.

Meanwhile, Luca, who had been silently watching Lily and Elias interact, clenched his fists under the table. He didn't like this. Lily was always laughing with him, not Elias.

Something inside him twisted with frustration.

When Lily reached for her tablet to play her favorite game, Luca suddenly snatched it away.

"Hey!" she yelled, jumping up.

Luca smirked. "Oops."

"Luca, give it back!" Lily's voice rose with anger.

Luca simply crossed his arms. "Why should I?"

Lily looked like she was about to cry, and Elias sighed, shaking his head.

"Luca," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Give it back."

Luca hesitated but then dropped the tablet on the table, pouting.

Lily grabbed it, but as she checked the screen, her excitement faded. "It's dead."

She frowned, clearly disappointed.

Elias reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek, brand-new tablet. He slid it across the table to her.

Lily gasped. "What's this?"

"A gift," Elias said, leaning back in his chair.

Lily carefully picked it up and turned it on. To her shock, the wallpaper was a picture of her and Elias—taken earlier that day. They were hugging, their cheeks pressed together, both smiling brightly.

Her eyes widened. "You put our picture as the wallpaper?"

Elias shrugged. "Thought you'd like it."

Lily's heart swelled. "I love it!" She threw her arms around Elias's waist, squeezing tightly. "Thank you!"

Luca glared at them from across the table, his mood darkening.

Before Elias left for the day, he ruffled Leo's hair, winked at Luca (which only made the boy scowl), and bent down to kiss the top of Lily's head.

Lani had just walked in at that moment and froze in place.

Elias kissed her head?

Lily beamed at him. "Bye, Elias!"

Elias gave her a small smile before heading out the door.

Lani stood in silence, watching the interaction with mixed emotions.

After Dinner

Later that night, after dinner, Lily excitedly showed her mother the new tablet.

"Look, Mommy! Elias gave this to me!" she said, showing off the screen.

Lani frowned. "He gave it to you?"

Lily nodded eagerly. "Yes! And look at the wallpaper!"

Lani glanced at the screen and saw the photo of them together. Something about the warmth in Elias's usually cold eyes caught her off guard.

She hesitated before shaking her head. "Lily, you can't keep this."

Lily's face fell.

"But… why?"

Lani sighed. "It's not appropriate for him to buy you expensive things."

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. "But he gave it to me! It's mine! You always ruin everything!"

With that, she ran to her room, slamming the door shut.

Lani sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

After a moment, she turned the tablet on, her eyes lingering on the picture.

Her heart did something strange.

Why did Elias—who supposedly didn't care about anything—look so gentle with her daughter?

Lani sat on the couch, staring at the tablet screen, her thoughts tangled. The picture of Elias and Lily together was innocent, but something about it unsettled her.

She had hired him as a life assistant, someone to help with the kids and house tasks—not to be forming deep bonds with her daughter.

And yet… Lily had never looked so genuinely happy with anyone outside of her family before.

Lani sighed, rubbing her temples.

Just then, Olivia's name popped up on her phone screen.

Olivia: Hey, how's Elias doing? Holding up well?

Lani scoffed and started typing.

Lani: Holding up well? He's causing chaos. He's spoiling Lily, and she threw a fit when I told her she couldn't keep the tablet he gave her.

A few seconds later, Olivia replied.

Olivia: He got her a tablet?

Lani: Yes! And she ran to her room crying when I said no.

Olivia: Well… maybe just let her have it?

Lani rolled her eyes. Olivia: She's a kid. If Elias makes her happy, why fight it?

Lani sighed, tossing her phone aside.

She didn't like this. She didn't like the idea of someone outside the family being this involved.

And she really didn't like how Elias had gotten so close to Lily in such a short time.

Upstairs

Lily lay in bed, hugging her pillow. Her tablet sat untouched beside her, powered off.

She wasn't really mad at her mom—she just really liked Elias.

He wasn't just fun; he actually listened to her.

She sniffled as her bedroom door creaked open.

She turned around, expecting her mom, but instead, Elias stepped inside.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice low.

Lily wiped her face quickly. "I'm not."

Elias sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. "Lying isn't a good look on you, kid."

Lily frowned, picking at her blanket. "Mom says I can't keep the tablet."

Elias tilted his head. "And?"

"And it's not fair!" she blurted out. "I like it. I love it. And you gave it to me!"

Elias smirked. "You think a little thing like that is gonna stop you from keeping it?"

Lily blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Elias leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing a big secret. "Just keep it here in your room. Your mom won't even notice."

Lily's eyes widened. "But… isn't that sneaky?"

Elias shrugged. "Call it a compromise."

Lily giggled, wiping away the last of her tears. "You're the best, Elias."

Elias ruffled her hair. "I know."

She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Elias tensed for a moment before sighing and patting her back.

Lily looked up. "You're kinda like my dad, you know?"

Elias's smirk faltered for a split second, his expression unreadable.

"Go to sleep, kid," he said, standing up. "You've got school in the morning."

Lily pouted but snuggled under her blankets. "Okay. Goodnight, Elias."

"Night, Lily."

As he stepped out of her room, Lani was standing in the hallway, arms crossed.

Elias stopped, raising an eyebrow. "Something wrong, boss?"

Lani narrowed her eyes. "What were you talking about?"

Elias smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Lani scoffed. "Just stay in your place, Elias. You're not their father."

Elias chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Never said I was."

Then, without another word, he walked past her, leaving Lani fuming.

But the worst part?

She wasn't sure if she was mad at him… or at herself for feeling something whenever he spoke.