CHAPTER SIX

ELINA'S POV

"I fucking allowed you to stay in this house because of Rose but because you can't keep your skirt close, you want to fuck around with everyone in this house!!! Did you check Rose's temperature??!!! Her skin could burn me but you are out there in the balcony getting cozy with my brother!!! I am heading to the hospital right now and when I get back, I don't want to see your fucking shadow in this house!!" Zevren yelled as he stormed out of the house with Rose.

For the first time in my life, I was genuinely scared for Rose.

I had no idea she was sick because before I put her to bed, everything seemed fine with her.

"What's with the ruckus??” Zevren's Mother asked as she walked out of the kitchen and headed to where I was standing still like a statue.

"It.. it's..Ro.. Rose.” I said stuttering.

Tears had already gathered in my eyes and it was so close to falling out.

“What happened to my granddaughter??" She asked with instant panic in her eyes.

“Sir Zevren took her away.. maybe to a hospital…he said her temperature was elevated.” I said.

"And is that the reason why you are standing there like a statue??? Why didn't you follow him??!!”

"He…he..fired me.” I said.

"What??”

"Sir Zevren told me he doesn't want to see me here when he comes back.”

"That is fucking ridiculous..get me my phone and bag from the bedroom now!!!”

I turned around and raced to her room as I picked up her phone and her bag from the bed.

As soon as I gave her the phone, she dialed a number which I was pretty sure was Zevren's.

“Son, where are you and which hospital did you take my grandchild without my notice??!!"

I couldn't help but watch helplessly as Hugo walked in and joined the show.

“Stop being ridiculous Zevren!!! She might just be teething!!!"

I could sense the frustration coming from Zevren's Mother all because of her stubborn, sir headed son.

“Send me the address of the hospital…I am coming right away.” She said as she hung up the phone.

"What is going on Mother?? Zevren saw me and Elina a while ago and started spilling all sorts of nonsense before he left with Rose…is everything already??” Hugo asked.

“I really don't know Hugo…I think something's wrong with Rose and I am headed to the hospital now.. it's Saint Macia’s hospital…are you coming with??”

"Nah…I am not in the mood for more of Zevren's drama.”

She suddenly turned and looked at me.

“He fired me ma'am and he seemed very serious about it." I whispered softly.

“You know what, y'all should do what is in your minds!!!" She said in annoyance as she walked out of the living room.

I stood frozen in the middle of the living room long after Madam Evelyn left.

The house was silent now as Hugo walked away.

I still couldn't believe he fired me…just like that.

My hands trembled as I walked back to my room.

Every inch of this mansion felt colder than before, like the walls themselves were whispering that I didn’t belong here anymore.

I packed my things with shaky hands.

The little blanket Rose used to hold while sleeping was still on the rocking chair….I picked it up and pressed it to my chest… It still smelled like her.

A sob escaped before I could stop it.

“She’s just a baby.” I whispered, my throat tightening.

“Please, let her be okay.”

With the little time I've spent in the mansion, I grew fond of Rose…she's the most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen.

I didn’t even realize when tears began to blur my vision.

I wiped them away quickly, afraid that if I started crying harder, I wouldn’t stop.

I couldn’t sit still and I couldn’t leave without knowing.

Before my mind could argue, my legs were already moving.

I grabbed my coat and stepped outside.

I hailed a cab and told him to take me to Saint Macia's hospital.

I really needed to see Rose.

Even if Zevren threw me out again… even if he yelled, even if he looked at me like I was nothing, I needed to see that little girl alive.

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and quiet dread.

I spotted Madam Evelyn in the corridor, pacing back and forth with her phone pressed to her ear.

The moment she saw me, she sighed deeply.

“Elina, You shouldn’t have come.” she said with a low voice.

“I just need to see her, ma’am….Please.” I said.

She hesitated with her eyes softening for a moment.

“She’s in the pediatric unit…Room 112. But Zevren…”

“I’ll handle him.” I said, surprising even myself.

When I walked into the room, my heart broke.

Rose lay there, so small with an oxygen mask over her face, her tiny chest rising and falling weakly.

Machines beeped steadily around her, cruel reminders of how fragile life was.

And there he was, Zevren sitting beside her bed with his face buried in his hands.

For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize him.

The arrogance, the sharpness were all gone…he looked like a man who’d been stripped bare, his walls torn down by fear.

“Zevren…I mean..sir.” I whispered.

He looked up sharply as the coldness in his eyes was back in an instant.

“What the hell are you doing here?!!!”

“I came to see Rose.”

“She’s not your concern anymore..You’ve done enough damage.” he snapped, standing up.

“Damage?” I asked as my voice cracked.

“You think I’d ever hurt her? I love that child like she’s mine!”

“Then where were you when she was burning up with fever?”

“I checked her, Zevren! She was fine when I put her to bed. Maybe it started later…”

“Don’t.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

“Don’t give me excuses.”

I was holding his gaze even though my legs were trembling.

“You can hate me all you want, but don’t take it out on me because you’re scared of losing her.”

His eyes widened slightly… just a flicker before his expression hardened again.

“I said leave,” he said quietly.

“Now.”

I looked at Rose one last time.

“I’ll go, but just know I didn't do anything to her…I love her.” I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

The same hand that once made me tremble in pleasure now burned against my skin for a different reason and one I couldn’t name.

“Why do you care so much?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“You’re a nanny…this is just a job.”

“Because she’s the first person who ever looked at me like I wasn’t broken.”

The silence between us was deafening. His grip loosened, and I gently pulled my hand away.

Just then, the doctor entered, holding a clipboard.

“Mr. Voss.” he said calmly,

“The baby’s fever has started to drop…She’s responding well to the fluids and medication… She’ll be okay…she was starting to grow a tooth hence the reason for the instant fever.”

I let out a shaky breath of relief.

Zevren nodded once, his shoulders dropping slightly as if the weight of the world had just lifted off them.

He didn’t look at me again and he didn’t say thank you or apologize for doubting me.

But as I turned to leave the room, I felt his gaze on me.

And for a split second, I saw it… not the cold billionaire, not the angry man who made my legs shake in intense pleasure… but a man who was terrified of feeling anything at all.

“Have a nice life Elina.”