Sebastian Knight studied the two before him, feigning ignorance. "Where did you two go?"

"We were playing over there," Avianna answered first, licking her lips, savoring the last trace of ice cream. He noticed she looked off—like she's trying to hold something back.

His expression hardened in an instant. He turned to Layla. "What did you give her?"

Before Layla could even open her mouth, Avianna shakes her head frantically, tears already spilling. "Daddy, don't be mad at her. It was my idea, I swear."

She clutched her stomach and doubles over in pain. They both reach for her, but Sebastian was faster, scooping her up in one swift motion. He barked toward the kitchen, "Monica! Call the family doctor. Now!"

Without so much as a glance at Layla, Sebastian rushes upstairs with Avianna in his arms. Layla is rooted to the spot, totally confused. What the hell just happened? Could a little ice cream really mess up her stomach that bad?

Layla doesn't race up after them. She waited for Monica to hang up the phone before asking, "Monica, is Avianna not allowed to have ice cream?"

Monica looked at her, shocked. "You gave her ice cream? Seriously?"

"Mrs. Jensen, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. Miss Knight can't tolerate anything cold. Her stomach was super sensitive. Even a tiny bit can cause a severe reaction—sometimes it's just nausea and throwing up, but it can get really bad..."

Monica sighed, hurrying to make warm coffee and grab her meds to bring upstairs.

Layla felt awful. Guilt crashed over her. How was she supposed to know about Avianna's condition? She's only been here a few days. No wonder the kid wanted to keep the ice cream trip a secret from her dad. Guilt gnawing at her, Layla hurries upstairs after them.

Upstairs, she finds Avianna thrashing on the bed, sobbing, "Daddy, it hurts so bad!"

Sebastian stands there, looking helpless. The moment he spots Layla, he snaps, "What were you thinking? Why would you let her eat that?"

Layla drops her head, shame burning her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Knight."

She rushed to Avianna's side, just as Monica arrived with the warm coffee and meds. Layla carefully gave them to the child, but Avianna was still in agony, clinging to Layla, crying, "Mommy, I won't eat ice cream ever again. Please don't leave me."

"Mommy, it hurts so much," she sobbed, thrashing again, and then suddenly she lurched over and starts vomiting.

The sight broke Layla's heart. She whirled on Sebastian, "Shouldn't we take her to the hospital? Now?"

She was thinking they needed an IV, maybe a full check-up. But Sebastian just ignored her. His voice turned icy. "From now on, don't give her anything she hasn't had before. Avianna is delicate. She can't just be exposed to unknown foods."

Avoiding Layla's gaze, he turned to his daughter with sudden gentleness. "Shh, don't cry, sweetheart. Aunt Winifred's on her way. You'll feel better soon."

Avianna was still so distraught she sank her teeth into her father's shoulder. Sebastian doesn't even flinch; he just lets her.

When he finally looked at Layla and sees her tear-filled eyes, his voice softens just a fraction. "I'll let it slide this time, since you didn't know. Just be more careful."

"Understood," Layla said, her voice barely a whisper. She slipped out of the room to call the head nurse for advice. But before she can dial, a young woman with a medical bag shows up. She gives Layla a quick once-over and then brushes past her into the room without a word.

Layla pocketed her phone, lingering by the door, overhearing them.

"Who's the girl out there?" Winifred asked, nodding toward Layla.

Sebastian clarified, "She's the one who saved Avianna from drowning. The kid likes her, so I asked her to stay."

Winifred nodded, finishing up with a gentle pat on Avianna's head. "No more being greedy, little one. You can't eat things you're not supposed to."

Even through the pain, Avianna nodded into her father's chest, tear-streaked cheeks still shiny as she snuggles closer.

Winifred didn't stick around. She mentioned she had a surgery coming up and left, telling them to call if anything. As she left, she shot Layla a few more curious looks but said nothing, bag in hand.

Layla hovered by the door, catching Sebastian's explanation that she was only here to keep Avianna company. That was fine by her.

Once Winifred was gone, Layla went back to find Avianna asleep, finally resting now that the meds had kicked in. Guilt still weighed on her. Softly, she offered, "Mr. Knight, I'd like to stay with her, if that's okay."

The medicine had done its job; Avianna was already asleep. Sebastian gently tucked her into bed, then gestures for Layla to follow him out.

In his office, Sebastian sat behind his desk, those piercing dark eyes locked on her. The authority radiating off him made Layla feel two inches tall. She twisted her fingers together, breathing unevenly in the heavy silence. Finally, Sebastian's voice cut through, firm and unyielding:

"I entrusted my daughter to you, hoping she'd be happy and carefree."

"Take good care of her, and you'll be rewarded. But if anything like today happens again, I won't be so lenient."

Layla knew she messed up. She nodded quickly, her apologied tumbling out. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. It won't happen again. I'll take better care of her, I promise."

She needed this money—this place away from her parents—even if it meant being a nanny here.

Sebastian knew it was an honest mistake, given Layla's just moved in. But this was a warning: his daughter was his world, and she deserved the best care. Otherwise, Layla's position as Mrs. Knight could be yanked away in a heartbeat.

"You can go back to Avianna now," he said, dismissing her.

Layla nodded and slipped out, her demure, respectful demeanor making her blend right in with the rest of the household staff in his eyes. To Sebastian, she was just playing a part for the money. He won't let himself feel anything for her, no matter what Mathias says about how she looks. He swore he'll never get attached to someone who only came into his life for cash.

That night, Layla Jensen spent the night right by Avianna's bedside. Thankfully, Avianna's stomach trouble didn’t return, and she slept soundly till morning. After helping her get dressed and ready, Layla walked Avianna downstairs to find Sebastian Knight already at the dining table.

Layla ushered Avianna over and greeted him politely, "Good morning, Mr. Knight."

"Morning."

Sebastian didn't even glance at Layla. His gaze was locked on his little girl. "Avianna, are you feeling better?"

The little girl shook her head, her bright eyes darting to Layla. "With Mommy right next to me, I feel awesome all over." She pointed to the chair beside her. "Mommy, sit next to me!"

Layla kept her eyes on Sebastian, taking a seat only after he gave a tiny nod. Throughout breakfast, she couldn't bring herself to look up. The man across from her, immaculate in his suit with the aura of a movie star, made her heart pound and her hands quiver.

Sebastian observed Layla's every little move, his thoughts cold and skeptical. She was really selling this innocent, naïve young woman act. As if he'd actually believe she was that pure and clueless. Yeah, right. This was the same woman who, right after saving his daughter, had straight-up proposed marriage and asked for a dowry the very first time they met. Innocent? Hardly. Sebastian was curious just how long she could keep this shy-girl act up.

"You should make time to get a driver's license. You'll need it to take Avianna to school and pick her up," he instructed, getting up from the table. "I'll pay for the lessons."

Layla was stunned. By the time she looked up, Sebastian had already left. She checked her phone and saw he'd already transferred $1,500 into her account. She was the one who needed the license—why should somebody else foot the bill? She was already in debt to him for $28,800. Adding more to that was the last thing she wanted.

Just as Layla was about to send the money back, her phone rang. It was her younger sister, Abby Davis. "Hey, Abby, what's up?" Layla asked patiently.

Abby hesitated, her voice apologetic. "Big sis, I really want to buy a computer, but I don't have the cash."

Layla sighed on the inside. A computer for a high school student? That could be a huge distraction, especially during crucial exam prep.

"But I need it to write and post my articles online. Please, sis, I swear it won't mess with my studies."

Layla knew Abby had a real gift for writing—she was always acing her English class. If Abby was serious about this, Layla didn't want to kill her creative spark. She remembered the money Sebastian had sent and decided to hold onto it. "How much do you need?"

"A good one runs around $1,200, but if that's too much, I can make do with a pre-owned one for about five hundred," Abby said softly.

"I'll send you the $1,200, but you have to promise it won't throw off your studies. Otherwise, I'll be really disappointed," Layla warned.

Abby's voice flooded with relief and happiness. "Thank you, big sis! I won't let you down."

Her sisters were always so responsible—Layla was sure they wouldn't waste the money. After hanging up, she transferred the $1,200 to Abby, then sent another $150 to Chloe, knowing her other sister needed money for daily expenses too.

After dropping Avianna at preschool, Layla rode the subway toward the hospital. She stared at her almost-empty bank balance, her chest squeezing with worry. She'd given her sisters the money and now had nothing left for driving lessons. If she didn't get her license, Mr. Knight would probably think she'd blown the cash.

But there was one way to earn some extra money at the hospital. Layla rushed to her shift, pulled on her white coat, and went to change Mathias Knight's bandages and hook up his IV. As she finished, she asked hesitantly, "Have you eaten breakfast yet? Do you want me to grab you something?"

Mathias pulled out his phone and sent her $75. "Sure, go ahead and get me something. Keep what's left as a tip," he said, adding more. "I've sent you money for lunch and dinner too," he went on, transferring another $300.

Watching the money flow in, Layla couldn't believe how clueless he was about money. $150 for a meal? It made her uneasy, so she protested, "Don't you think $300 for one day's meals is way too much?"

Mathias laughed. "Is it? I used to drop $1,500 a day. Just get whatever you want."

Layla was speechless. $1,500 a day to live on? What, do they eat gold? The gap between their lives was mind-blowing. Feeling a little better about it, she kept the money. Just as she turned to leave, a thought hit her, making her stop at his bedside. "That man who came to see you yesterday… was he your brother?"

If they were really related, taking money from both of them might look shady, even deceitful. What if they thought she was some kind of con artist?

Mathias grinned, looking totally relaxed. "Him? Oh, that's my uncle. He's a tough cookie. You should steer clear if you run into him."

"Okay," Layla said, and walked out.

She couldn't wrap her head around it—Sebastian, her husband, was Mathias's uncle. Which made her his aunt-in-law. The realization knocked the breath right out of her. She couldn't bring herself to take another cent from Mathias. If Sebastian ever found out, he'd for sure assume she was up to something.

Determined to find another way to make extra cash, Layla got back to her duties.

That evening, Layla Jensen was scheduled for a night shift at the hospital. That meant she couldn't pick Avianna up from school or help with her homework later. When the housekeeper brought Avianna home, her little heart sank the moment she realized Layla wasn't there.

When Sebastian Knight got back from work and found his daughter crying, he didn't waste a second. He tossed his suit jacket aside, scooped her into his arms, and gently wiped her tears away.

"What's wrong, my little star? Are you feeling okay?" he asked, his voice as soft as ever.

Avianna looked up at her father, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Daddy, did you make Mommy go away because she gave me ice cream and my tummy hurt? Why isn't she back yet?"

The little girl had never really had a mother. That empty space had always been there, a quiet ache. But ever since Layla came into her life and stayed by her side, Avianna had clung to her like a lifeline. Layla made her feel safe, seen, truly happy deep in her bones. Not being able to find her now, Avianna's first thought was that her daddy had sent Layla away—and the thought shattered her.

Sebastian checked his watch. It was already late. Where the hell was Layla? He turned to the housekeeper, his tone sharp. "Call her. Find out what's going on."

The housekeeper quickly made the call and returned moments later with the phone. "Sir, Mrs. Jensen says she's working a night shift at the hospital. She'll be back in the morning."

Sebastian faced his daughter again, keeping his voice calm. "She's working tonight, sweetheart. She'll be home in the morning."

Avianna's face crumbled even more. "Mommy works so hard, Daddy. I don't want her to be so tired."

Sebastian pulled his daughter close, soothing her gently. He'd married Layla for one reason only—to give Avianna companionship. If Layla's job kept her from being there for his little girl, then what was the point of this marriage? To ease Avianna's fears, he made a promise right then and there. "Okay, tomorrow I'll make sure she doesn't have to work like that anymore. She'll be with you every day. How does that sound?"

Avianna finally brightened, a tiny smile breaking through as she nodded eagerly. That night, Sebastian didn't bother Layla at all. The next morning, instead of heading straight to the office, he waited for her to come home.

Layla dragged herself home after her shift, completely worn out. All she wanted was to go upstairs and crash for a quick nap. As she stepped inside, she noticed Sebastian in the living room, sitting on the sofa in his crisp suit, laptop open on his lap, totally immersed in work. Even though exhaustion tugged at every muscle, she made herself go over to greet him. "Good morning, Mr. Knight."

Sebastian closed his laptop and looked up. He took in the tiredness written all over her face but didn't let any irritation show. He just motioned to the seat beside him. "Sit down. I need to talk to you about something."

Layla did as he said, sinking into the seat. Sebastian always looked so put together—impeccable three-piece suit, not a hair out of place. Early thirties and not a single sign of aging, no dad bod, no receding hairline. The guy was basically a walking distraction. She couldn't help stealing glances at him now and then. But Sebastian was all business, not even looking at her as he spoke. "I think you should quit your job. From now on, you'll take my daughter to school, pick her up, help with her homework, and play with her. If the three thousand I'm offering isn't enough, I'll bump it up to four. I seriously doubt you make four grand a month at that hospital."

Most employees at his company, working regular hours, barely pulled in one or two thousand a month. Four thousand was way more than generous, in his mind.

Layla would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted. Four thousand a month just to take care of a kid at home? That was a dream gig. But she wasn't stupid. If she wasn't married to Mr. Knight—if taking care of Avianna was just a straight-up job—she'd have jumped at it without a second thought. But as his wife, everything was different. Mr. Knight could toss money her way when he was in a good mood and cut her off the second he wasn't. Then what? Where would she be?

In a marriage, when a woman is always relying on a man for cash, she ends up with zero dignity, zero standing. Layla knew exactly where she stood in this household, and that's why she held onto her job like a lifeline. It was hers. Only hers. Something that gave her the guts to walk away if everything ever went sideways.

Looking straight at Sebastian, she said, "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Knight. I promise I'll spend more time with Avianna. But I don't want to quit my job."

Sebastian hadn't expected her to push back. His brows pulled together. "You think I'm not offering enough?"

Layla shook her head quickly. "No, you're offering like ten times my salary. It's more than tempting. But I don't want to be a housewife who's always depending on a man."

Once her position was made permanent, she'd be pulling in over a grand a month. Work hard enough, and retirement benefits would kick in later. Depending on some guy's money meant being at the mercy of his mood swings every single day. She'd already sacrificed her marriage for financial security once. She wasn't about to sign up for a life without dignity or control.

Sebastian studied her for a long moment, a silent scoff running through his mind. If she didn't want to rely on a man, why the hell had she married in the first place? She was a damn good actress, he'd give her that.

Running out of patience, he said flatly, "Suit yourself. Let's hope you can actually stick to that."

He wasn't about to waste his breath trying to convince someone who wouldn't listen. As for his daughter—well, as long as Avianna saw Layla every day, things should be manageable.

Sebastian stood and walked out, leaving Layla sitting there in the heated room, suddenly feeling a chill she couldn't shake. Had she somehow pissed him off? Were older guys really this touchy? Shrugging it off, she realized just how wrecked she was. She headed upstairs to take a bath and get some rest. She still had another shift at the hospital that afternoon.

Later, Sebastian paid a visit to his nephew Mathias at the hospital. Once he'd made sure the kid was doing okay, he also swung by the hospital director's office. By that afternoon, just as Layla was getting ready for her shift, the head nurse called.

"Layla, your shifts have been rearranged. You'll now work nine to four every day. No more night shifts."

Layla was stunned. "What? Why?"

Their nursing station always ran on a rotation. She'd been scheduled for at least two straight weeks of nights. How were her shifts suddenly flipped upside down? Did the hospital actually have policies this good?

Totally confused, she listened as the nurse spelled it out. "That's the call from higher up. Just follow the new schedule. No need to come in tonight. Report tomorrow morning."

Hanging up, Layla still felt a little lost. She had zero connections, no one pulling strings for her. Why would management suddenly hand her a schedule this sweet? Then it hit her—did Mr. Knight set this up? So she'd have more time for Avianna? Did he seriously have that kind of pull?

Who exactly had she married? Looking at the time, she hurried downstairs just as Monica was about to head out to pick up Avianna. Layla quickly went with her.