To The Estate!

Kelsey's POV

{Private Estate, Country B - 4:47PM}

The man who carried Lila in his arms gently placed her down, his eyes locked on mine. It was as though he wanted to explain, but no words came out. His fingers twitched like he was about to gesture something... then he paused, glancing at my daughter.

Was he thinking of hurting her?

Dropping to my knees, I spread my arms wide.

"Come here, baby. Come"

Lila walked over and hugged me tightly.

"Mommy..."

I lifted my head, shooting the stranger a fierce glare.

"Get rid of him..." I ordered the guards.

But just as I turned to leave with Lila, she wriggled free from my arms and ran to stand in front of him, her tiny hands spread out in defence.

"Don't kill Papa!" She yelled.

Huh?

I blinked in confusion, lips twitching.

"Papa?" I echoed, frowning.

Lila's expression was dead serious. I let out a dry laugh, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Baby, that man isn't your father. He kidnapped you!"

"Mommy, don't hurt Daddy!" She yelled again, even louder this time.

Lila had never acted like this before. She was the kind of kid who barely talked to strangers, let alone get attached. And now she was calling this guy her father?

Papa? Daddy?

What the actual hell?!

I squinted at the man. I was sure he'd done something to her... Brainwash? Hypnosis? Drugs? Something.

"Fine," I said tightly. "I won't hurt him,"

I expected her to come running back into my arms. But, she didn't move. Instead, she tugged on the man's pants, staring up at him.

I sighed and turned to the stranger.

"Carry the child," I ordered. "You're coming with us"

He didn't resist. The guards escorted both him and Lila to the car. We hadn't caught the real kidnappers, but at least my daughter was back.

The drive to the house Father arranged for me took two long hours. Inside the car, the man sat silently beside me. He wore an armless shirt with a gray hoodie tied loosely around his waist, paired with thick black pants. Despite the simplicity of his clothes, it was hard not to notice how ridiculously handsome he was.

He had strikingly jet-black hair that fell naturally over his forehead, deep, mysterious eyes to match, and features that were already absurdly well refined, high cheekbones, a straight, sculptured nose, fairy skin that glowed under the passing streetlights, and lips so pink they looked like they'd been stained by rose petals. His brows were dark and cleanly cut, framing his expressive gaze.

Not bad.

No, not bad at all.

Of course, the guy who gets mistaken for papa by my kid has to be absurdly handsome.

I looked away.

'Focus Kelsey. You have a mission. You're not to third after some... overly handsome man who kidnapped my daughter!'

The car came to a halt, and we all got out. The estate was quiet and upscale, tucked away from the city's chaos. Father had purchased a home here for me... his way of blending me into the environment of the private military company I was supposed to infiltrate.

The house was as grand as it was luxurious, with tall gates and trimmed hedges bordering the walkway. Inside, the living room opened into a high-ceilinged space with a private balcony, polished floors, a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and white marble walls giving it a pristine elegance.

The guards started spreading around, trying to do their job, while the leader walked behind me. They claimed their job was just to keep me safe, but I knew Father sent them to keep an eye on me and report all of my movements.

Lila had already been placed on the couch. The man walked back toward me and made a simple hand motion—I assumed he was about to leave.

I folded my hands, unimpressed. He thought I couldn't understand him, but before he could pull out his phone, I signed back to him.

"Are you mute?"

His eyes widened in surprise. He nodded, looking a little flustered... like a cat caught in the rain.

"Ah! How did I get myself involved with a mute man?" I groaned inwardly. At least, he wasn't deaf.

That's good.

I sat beside Lila, who had dozed off on the couch.

"Sit" I told him, nodding toward the couch.

He hesitated, then turned his head shyly.

"I'm dirty" he signed.

"I know. But I can't make a grown man like you sit on the floor like a dog," I replied dryly. "Sofa. Now,"

He obediently sat at the far edge of a sofa.

For a few seconds, silence fell. I stroked Lila's hair and turned back to him.

"Why did you kidnap my daughter? You looking for ransom?"

"I didn't... I only saved her from the two men who took her" he signed with a small pout.

"Ah! So you're innocent" it finally clicked. If he were the kidnapper, Lila would never have called him Papa.

The embarrassing scene earlier flashed through my mind.

"Thank you for saving her. I'd like to compensate you..."

"No need for that. I just want to take my leave and go back to my work"

"Work?" I asked.

He explained that he worked at a bar as a bartender. He'd stepped out to throw away trash when he saw two men sprinting by with Lila. That's when he stepped in and saved her.

'I almost killed an innocent man. I nearly became a criminal on my first day here,'

I thought, scratching the side of my face nervously.

"Well, I still can't let you go without giving you something in return."

"..."

He raised his hand to sign again, but I cut him off.

"It's getting late. You should return to your work. Come back tomorrow by noon..."

Unable to refuse, he nodded and left quietly.

Soon after, the head of the bodyguard team, Sylus, walked in with a tablet.

"Here's all I could find about that man, Miss,"

I studied the screen.

Name: Landon Warren

Job status: Employed.

Age: 30

Criminal Record: None

Background: Class

He'd started working at the bar three weeks ago. Everything about his background was plain and clean, no criminal records, no ties with the kidnappers.

"And the actual creeps who did take my daughter?"

"They vanished. We're still running footage,"

"Well, they better stay gone. If they ever touch her again, I'll show them exactly how dangerous a single mother can me."

Sylus flashed me a charming smile.

"Duly noted, Miss. I'll do anything to protect you"

Yeah, right.

I didn't believe him. I couldn't trust any of them. Not with my life, and especially not with my daughter's.

Later, I took Lila to her room and then retreated to mine. The master bedroom was spacious and serene, painted in warm neutrals, with thick black curtains that kept the room dim and private. A king-sized bed sat in the centre, and the adjourning walk-in closet was large enough to house ten wardrobes, let alone my modest collection.

After getting settled, I prepared dinner myself. Lila joined me at the dining table, picking up her fork before pausing.

"Where is Papa?"

Not this again.

I had prayed she'd forget that man... but no. My sweet daughter still remembered him.

"Baby, that man isn't your Papa," I said softly.

"Isn't... Papa?" Lila mumbled as her eyes welled up.

Crap!

"Oh no..." I panicked and crouched close to her. "I'm just kidding. Papa will be back tomorrow. He went to work"

"Papa?" She asked again, her little face lighting up.

I nodded, forcing a smile.

"Papa will come tomorrow?"

I nodded weakly. "He sure will,"

She dug into her food, happily humming.

I sighed inwardly, covering my face.

'How do I tell her that he's not her Papa? This is getting out of hand,'