Jane looked around the huge mansion again as she walked through the hallway. Everything still felt like a dream. The shining floors, golden lamps, white curtains, and the big paintings on the wall looked like something out of a movie. It was her first week working here, and she still couldn't believe she had been hired.
She was just a normal girl. Quiet. Calm. She had no rich family or fancy clothes. Just one suitcase, one dream, and a mother who needed money for her medicine. Jane knew she had to be careful. One mistake, and she could lose this job.
"Jane, please help Danny get ready for school," Mrs. Steele called kindly from the stairs.
"Yes, ma'am," Jane answered quickly.
Mrs. Steele was the only one in the house who truly smiled at her. She was Carlo Steele's mother, the owner of the mansion and grandmother to the little boy Jane was hired to care for. Jane respected her deeply.
She walked into the boy's room and found Danny jumping on the bed with his shirt half-worn.
"Danny!" Jane said with a soft laugh. "Come here, let me help you."
"Jane, do you think my dad will come down today?" Danny asked as she buttoned his shirt.
Jane paused. "Maybe," she said quietly.
Danny's eyes sparkled. "I hope he does! I want him to see my drawing from yesterday."
Jane nodded but said nothing more. She hadn't seen Mr. Carlo Steele since she started working here. He was always busy. Always away. The other staff said he only stayed in the mansion for short moments, then disappeared again.
Rumors said he was cold, rude, and heartless. Some said he never smiled. Others said he was too handsome for his own good. But Jane didn't care about the rumors. She just wanted to do her job and stay out of trouble.
Once Danny was dressed, she held his hand and they both walked downstairs. The dining room was already set. The table was long, shining, and filled with fruits, eggs, toast, and tea. Mrs. Steele sat at one end with a newspaper in her hand.
Jane guided Danny to his chair and helped him sit.
Then she felt it.
A presence behind her.
Strong. Heavy. Cold.
She turned slowly.
A tall man in a dark suit had just walked in. His black hair was neatly brushed back, and his face was sharp and serious. His eyes were cold, deep, and unreadable. He didn't smile. He didn't blink. He just stood there, looking at them.
Jane froze.
That had to be him.
Carlo Steele.
"Daddy!" Danny shouted happily.
The man's eyes moved to his son. His expression softened—just a little. He gave a small nod, like he was trying to smile but didn't know how.
"Who's this?" Carlo asked suddenly, his eyes now locked on Jane.
Jane felt her hands shake a little, but she stood still.
"This is Jane," Mrs. Steele answered calmly. "Danny's new nanny. She's been very good with him."
Carlo didn't speak right away. He just kept staring at Jane. She felt small under his gaze. Like he was studying her. Judging her. Wondering what she was hiding—even though she wasn't hiding anything.
Well… not yet.
"Keep your distance," Carlo said suddenly. "I don't trust strangers around my son."
Jane's heart sank.
She bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, sir."
Carlo walked past her and sat down without another word.
The silence in the room was heavy.
Jane stood quietly, watching Danny eat. She didn't dare look at Carlo again, but she could still feel his eyes on her.
After breakfast, she took Danny to the garden. He loved running between the flowers and pretending to be a superhero. Jane sat on the bench, watching him with a soft smile.
Then she heard footsteps.
She turned and saw Carlo walking down the garden path, talking on his phone in a low voice.
She quickly looked away.
But it was too late. He had seen her.
He ended the call and walked toward her.
Jane stood up quickly.
"Relax," Carlo said. "I'm not here to fire you."
Jane bit her lip. "I'm sorry if I did anything wrong, sir."
Carlo looked at her quietly for a moment.
"You look… familiar," he said slowly.
Jane's heart skipped.
"No, sir," she replied quickly. "We've never met."
He narrowed his eyes. "Hmm. Maybe it's just your face."
He turned and walked away without another word.
Jane sat down again, her hands trembling slightly.
He couldn't know.
He mustn't know.
The truth about who she really was… had to stay hidden.
Not yet.
Not now.
Later that evening, Jane was in the staff kitchen when one of the maids, Clara, leaned close to her.
"You should be careful," Clara whispered. "Mr. Steele doesn't like women who ask too many questions."
"I don't ask questions," Jane said honestly.
Clara smiled. "Good. Then you'll last here."
Jane looked down at her hands. She didn't want to cause trouble. She didn't want to fall for the billionaire with the icy eyes and broken smile.
But deep down, she already knew.
This job would change everything.
Later that night, Jane stood by her small bedroom window. The moonlight poured in gently. She thought of her sick mother back home. She thought of the promise she made—to earn money, to save her, to never let anything or anyone distract her.
But her heart was already unsure.
Because that morning… when Carlo looked at her for the first time, something inside her had shifted.
And worse…
When he looked at her, he didn't see it yet.
But soon, he would.
Because the truth always comes out.
And Jane's truth… was a flame waiting to burn.