Ava hesitated. She wasn’t a nanny. She was a woman supporting her ill mother back home. Still, she saw something raw in his eyes—a man drowning. She agreed, but only with respect, boundaries, and a proper contract. Nathaniel accepted without argument.
Ava’s presence transformed the penthouse. The house softened. Lucas flourished, laughing and crawling after her. Nathaniel watched, amazed—not just at her care, but at how little she was impressed by his wealth. She cooked simple meals, read stories with silly voices, and filled the rooms with warmth.
They talked over coffee while Lucas slept. Nathaniel spoke of architecture and pressure. Ava shared her abandoned dream of becoming a teacher and her mother’s saying: “Love feeds where money can’t.”
When Nathaniel had to leave for a business trip to Seattle, anxiety consumed him. That night, he video-called home. Ava appeared on screen with Lucas, freshly bathed and smiling.
“Daddy,” Ava prompted.
Lucas leaned forward. “Da…da.”
Nathaniel’s voice broke. He flew home early.
He found Ava on the balcony that night.
“I missed you,” he confessed. “This house is empty without you.”
She pulled back, frightened. “We’re from different worlds.”