Bad Nanny

I had taken leave from the sealed research institute where I'd been confined for six years, just so I could attend my daughter's kindergarten graduation.

The moment I stepped through the gates, I froze. A woman holding a little boy by the hand was shoving my daughter, Amy, straight into the gutter.

She slapped Amy across the face, then sneered for everyone to hear, spitting venom as she called my little girl a filthy wretch.

Drenched in filthy water, Amy dropped to her knees before the woman, trembling in humiliation.

Rage burned through me. I stormed forward and slapped the woman across the face. But instead of shame, she jabbed a finger at my nose and shouted, "Do you even know who I am? To offend me is to offend the entire Grant family!"

Tears welled in Amy's eyes as she tugged at my sleeve, pleading in a choked voice, "Please leave… she's my dad's nanny. My dad will punish you if you hurt her."

The woman planted herself in front of me, her arrogance towering. "The Grant family rules this city. You think you can run from us?"

For a brief moment, I stood stunned, then calmly pulled out my phone and dialed my husband.

"Your nanny says you run Bexley City. Well, I think that's about to change."

I left the sealed research institute to attend my daughter's graduation, only to stumble upon a scene that froze my blood—my husband's nanny humiliating my daughter in front of everyone. She sneered and declared, "Austin Grant rules over Bexley City."

I smiled. "Well, I think that's about to change."

…

What I couldn't understand was how, during all the years I'd been gone, Austin could let something like this happen. How could he allow a mere nanny to bully my precious daughter?

I dialed Austin's number. His voice came through the line, sharp with impatience.

"I'm busy. If you have something to say, tell my assistant."

Before I could speak, the call was cut off.

I stared at my phone, stunned. He hadn't recognized my voice. He hadn't even remembered my number.

Before I could recover, Isla Chambers's mocking face loomed closer, her smirk brimming with triumph.

"I thought you might actually be somebody. Turns out, you're just another pathetic clown putting on a show."

Her eyes swept over my simple clothes, and the disdain in her expression deepened. To her, I wasn't worth a second thought.

I forced down the fury churning inside me.

I had vanished into a closed-off experiment for six long years. I didn't blame Austin for falling out of love—but before I left, he promised me he would protect our daughter. And now? Now my little girl was a skeleton wrapped in skin. Her body was covered in bruises of purple and blue.

My chest tightened as though someone were carving my heart open with a knife.

"Come," I whispered, tears burning in my eyes as I lifted her from the gutter. I pulled out a handkerchief, carefully wiping the filthy water from her face. "I'll take you home."

In that moment, I swore silently, 'I'll make up for every ounce of motherly love Amy has been denied.'

But before I could leave, Isla stepped in front of me, her posture arrogant.

"Did I say you could go? Unless you kneel and apologize, you're not taking a single step out of this kindergarten."

The teachers, unable to stand by any longer, hurried forward to intervene.

"Madam, this is a kindergarten, not a place for your tantrums."

Isla shot the teacher a contemptuous glance. "And who are you to speak to me like that? Careful, or I'll have Mr. Grant shut this pathetic school down."

Faced with such blatant arrogance, the teacher fell silent, helpless.

Around us, the crowd of parents grew larger. Their whispers spread like wildfire.

"She dared to hit Nanny Isla? She'll never survive in Bexley City now."

"Exactly. Who would be stupid enough to offend Austin Grant's favorite? That woman has guts, but not the kind that'll keep her safe."

The more they whispered, the prouder Isla became.

My expression darkened.

For years, I had given everything to my country's research. To make up for my absence, the authorities granted Austin countless privileges, helping him climb to power in Bexley City.

And yet, not only did his family fail to show gratitude, they wielded those privileges like weapons—arrogant, ruthless, merciless.

Then, without warning, my daughter slipped from my grasp. She fell to her knees before Isla, sobbing as she begged.

"Nanny Isla, please, let this lady go. She doesn't know my dad, that's why she offended you. Punish me instead. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."

My blood turned to ice.

My precious daughter was kneeling before two beasts.

A tidal wave of guilt crashed over me. Without me by her side for so many years, she'd endured so much suffering.