The previous nanny ran out of the mansion wearing only one shoe.

At eight o'clock the next morning, a sleek black Mercedes sedan pulled up the circular driveway of the Rinaldi estate.

Serena was already waiting on the front steps, her heart racing as the rear door opened.

Lucia scrambled out, her pink backpack bouncing against her shoulders, her curly brown hair flying in the wind.

“Mommy!” she shrieked, throwing her arms around Serena’s waist.

“Lucia!” Serena squeezed her tight, burying her face in the sweet, familiar smell of her daughter’s strawberry shampoo. “Oh, sweetie, I missed you so much.”

“Is this our new house?” Lucia asked, her eyes wide as she looked up at the massive stone walls of the mansion. “It looks like a castle, Mommy. Are there princesses here?”

“No princesses, baby,” Serena said, smoothing her hair back. “But there are four boys who need someone to keep them out of trouble. And we have our own apartment inside, with a fireplace and a big window that looks at the trees.”

“A fireplace?” Lucia’s eyes sparkled. “Like in the storybooks?”

“Exactly like the storybooks.”

A tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark suit stepped out of the driver's seat, carrying their two worn suitcases. He had a scarred jaw and eyes that didn't stay in one place for more than a second.

“I’m Gianni,” he said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. “Mr. Rinaldi’s personal security. If you need to leave the property, you tell me first. No one enters or leaves without my clearance.”

“I understand,” Serena said, taking Lucia’s hand. “Thank you, Gianni.”

As they entered the grand foyer, the boys were already waiting.

They stood in a neat line near the marble staircase, wearing their private school uniforms—navy blazers, gray trousers, and polished leather shoes. They looked completely different from the wild, chaotic children of the previous night.

But their eyes were still the same.

Nico was watching Lucia with a critical, defensive stare. Marco was holding his roll of silver tape behind his back. Luca was leaning against the banister, his face blank.

And Leo was standing slightly apart, his eyes fixed on Lucia’s pink backpack.

“This is Lucia,” Serena said, leading her daughter forward. “She’s seven. She’s going to be living here with us.”

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension in the foyer was thick enough to feel.

Then Leo stepped forward. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, perfectly polished red marble.

He held it out to Lucia.

“You can have this,” he said, his voice quiet. “It’s the best one. It doesn't roll away when you throw it.”

Lucia looked at the marble, then at Leo’s dark, serious eyes. A bright, beautiful smile broke across her face.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the marble. “I’m Lucia. Do you want to see my coloring book? I have one with dragons.”

Leo’s face softened, a small, genuine smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. “I like dragons. Especially the red ones.”

“Nico,” a cold, authoritative voice boomed from the top of the stairs.

Vittorio Rinaldi stood on the landing, wearing a dark gray suit that made him look like he had just stepped out of a court trial. He was looking down at his sons with a fierce, uncompromising intensity.

“Get to the car,” he commanded. “The driver is waiting.”

The boys scrambled toward the door, their polished shoes clicking against the marble. Nico paused near the door, looking back at Serena with a strange, dark expression.

“We’ll be back at three,” he said. “Don't think because you made carbonara that you’re the boss.”

“I don't need to be the boss, Nico,” Serena said calmly. “I just need to be the one who makes the food.”

Nico huffed and turned, slamming the heavy front door behind him.

Vittorio walked slowly down the stairs, his eyes fixed on Serena. He stopped three feet away, his presence so intense that Serena felt her breath catch in her throat.

“Your contract is in my study,” he said, his voice low. “It has been signed. The funds have been transferred to your account for the first month.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rinaldi,” Serena said.

“Do not thank me yet, Serena,” he said, his eyes dropping to Lucia, who was holding the red marble tightly in her hand. “In my world, nothing is free. The boys are quiet today because you surprised them. But they will find a way to test you again. They always do.”