Chapter 18: The Breaking Point

Lani sat beside Lily's hospital bed, watching her daughter sleep. Her tiny chest rose and fell with each breath, her fever still high but stable.

Luca sat on the couch in the room, his arms crossed, looking at Elias with quiet hostility. Lani could tell he wasn't angry because Elias was here—he was mad because Elias had left in the first place.

And Elias?

He sat on the other side of the bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. His eyes were locked on Lily, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

Lani knew she should say something.

But what?

She wasn't even sure what she felt anymore.

Elias was supposed to be gone. He was supposed to have walked away.

But the moment Lily needed him—he had come back.

That meant something, didn't it?

The silence in the room was thick.

Until Lily stirred, letting out a soft whimper.

Elias immediately sat up. "Lily?"

Her eyes fluttered open. "Eli…as?"

Elias exhaled in relief, reaching for her hand. "Yeah, baby girl. I'm here."

Lily blinked slowly, as if making sure he was real.

Then she smiled weakly. "I knew you'd come."

Lani's throat tightened.

Luca scoffed under his breath and turned away.

Elias squeezed Lily's tiny fingers. "How are you feeling?"

Lily pouted. "My head hurts."

Elias chuckled softly. "That's because you didn't sleep well."

Lily's lips quivered. "Because you weren't home."

Lani saw the guilt flash across Elias's face before he masked it.

"I know," he murmured. "I'm sorry, Lily."

Lily sniffled. "You promise you won't leave again?"

Elias hesitated.

Then, finally, he nodded. "I promise."

Lily smiled again, as if that was all she needed to hear.

Luca, however, wasn't as forgiving.

"You said you were quitting," he muttered.

Elias looked at him.

"You were going to leave us," Luca continued, voice quiet but sharp. "Now you're back like nothing happened?"

Lani tensed, but she didn't stop him.

Elias didn't react at first. Then he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I…made a mistake."

Luca scoffed. "No kidding."

Elias leaned forward. "Luca, I—"

"Just don't lie again," Luca muttered, crossing his arms. "If you're going to leave, don't promise you'll stay."

Lani flinched at the words.

Elias just nodded.

Lily yawned, her little fingers still wrapped around Elias's. "Can we go home now?"

Lani finally spoke. "You need to rest a little more, sweetheart."

"But I don't like it here."

Lani sighed, stroking her hair. "I know, baby."

Lily frowned. "Elias will take me home, right?"

Lani looked at Elias.

He hesitated—then nodded. "Yeah, Lily. I'll take you home."

Lily beamed, squeezing his hand.

Lani knew what had just happened.

Lily had made the decision for him.

Elias wasn't leaving.

And whether Lani liked it or not, she was starting to feel relieved about that.

---

Later That Night

Lani sat in the kitchen, sipping a glass of wine while watching Elias clean up after dinner.

Lily had been attached to him all evening, barely letting him out of her sight.

Luca, while still distant, had at least stopped glaring at him.

Now, the twins were asleep, and it was just the two of them.

Elias finally looked up. "You're staring."

Lani raised a brow. "Maybe because I still don't understand you."

Elias leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "What don't you understand?"

"Why are you really here?"

Elias didn't answer right away.

Then he sighed. "Because I couldn't stay away."

Lani's fingers tightened around her glass.

Elias ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted. "I wanted to leave. I thought I had to. But Lily…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "She needs me."

Lani exhaled. "And what about you? Do you need her?"

Elias blinked, looking slightly caught off guard.

Then, after a moment, he answered.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "I do."

Lani felt something shift in her chest.

Something dangerous.

Something warm.

She put down her glass. "You're not just a nanny, Elias."

He smirked. "I never was."

Lani shook her head, standing up. "No. You're something more."

Elias held her gaze. "And what do you think that is?"

Lani hesitated.

The weight of Lani's words lingered in the air. Family.

Elias swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the dish towel in his hands. He had never considered himself part of something like that. Not since his mother fell into a coma. Not since his father abandoned him emotionally, choosing his new family over him.

But here, in this house—with Lily, with Luca, with Lani—he felt something different.

Something dangerous.

Something warm.

Lani cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably. "I—I should check on the kids."

She turned quickly, almost as if escaping. Elias watched her go, exhaling as he ran a hand down his face. He hadn't meant to stay this long. He hadn't meant to let himself get attached.

But now, it was too late.

He was already in too deep.

---

Upstairs

Lani tiptoed into Lily's room, peeking inside. The little girl was curled up beneath her soft pink blanket, hugging her stuffed bunny. Her tiny chest rose and fell peacefully.

Luca was already asleep in his own room, though she had noticed him tossing and turning earlier. He wasn't as vocal about his emotions as Lily was, but Lani could tell he had been struggling ever since Elias left—and then came back.

She sat on the edge of Lily's bed, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's forehead.

How did they get here?

Seven years ago, she was alone. Pregnant, scared, abandoned by her father, forced to start over.

Now, she had built a life. A company. A home.

But Elias had come in like a storm, turning everything upside down.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure if she wanted things to go back to the way they were.

---

Downstairs

Elias was still standing in the kitchen when Olivia's name flashed across his phone screen.

Olivia: Are you still at Lani's?

He sighed and texted back.

Elias: Yeah.

Her reply was almost instant.

Olivia: Good. You should be there.

He frowned. Why did she care so much?

Before he could type a response, another message came through.

Olivia: Lani needs you. Even if she doesn't know it yet.

Elias's fingers hovered over the keyboard, but he didn't reply.

Because a part of him already knew that was true.

---

The Next Morning

Lani was in the middle of reviewing company reports when Nina, her secretary, knocked on the office door.

"Ma'am, Elias is here."

Lani blinked. "Elias?"

Nina nodded, though her cheeks were a little pink—just like every other woman who interacted with Elias.

Lani rolled her eyes. "Send him in."

A moment later, Elias stepped inside, his usual calm expression in place.

"Hey," he greeted casually.

Lani folded her arms. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the kids?"

Elias smirked. "Relax. Angel's watching them for an hour."

Lani narrowed her eyes. "Why are you really here?"

Elias exhaled. "Because we need to talk."

Lani's stomach flipped. "About?"

He stepped closer, leaning against her desk. "About why you tried to push me away last night."

Lani's breath caught. "I—I didn't—"

Elias arched a brow. "You did."

She turned away, staring at the window. "Elias, this… whatever this is… it's complicated."

Elias nodded slowly. "Yeah. But that doesn't mean we ignore it."

Lani clenched her jaw. "I have responsibilities. To my company. To my kids. I can't—"

"Can't what?" Elias asked softly.

She turned back to him, and for the first time, she saw it—the way he was looking at her. The way he had always looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.

Like she meant something to him.

Like she was more than just his employer.

Like he had already fallen—and she was the last to realize it.

Her heart pounded. "I can't let myself get attached."

Elias searched her face for a long moment.

Then he nodded, stepping back. "Too late."

Lani's breath hitched.

Elias turned to leave.

But before he walked out the door, he glanced over his shoulder.

"You're not the only one who's scared, Lani," he murmured. "But maybe… maybe this time, you don't have to be."

Then, without another word, he was gone.

And Lani?

She had never been so unsure of herself in her entire life.

Then, finally, she said it.

"Family."

For the first time that night, Elias looked truly speechless.

And Lani realized—

She wasn't afraid of that anymore.