Carmen sat on the edge of her bed, her hands shaking, her breath uneven.
She ran her fingers through her hair, her mind spinning, her chest tight with pain.
“She’s turning him against me,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.
Her worst fear was coming true.
And she was watching it happen right in front of her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force away the image of Matteo clinging to Ella instead of her.
Of him reaching for her hand instead of Carmen’s.
Of the way he looked at Ella—like she was the only person in the world he trusted.
A sharp ache spread through her chest, deep and suffocating. Marco still didn’t see it. He was too distracted, too buried in the chaos of his crumbling empire.
And Ella? Ella knew it. She knew Carmen was alone in this fight.
“Okay, sweetheart, time for bed,” Carmen said softly, forcing a smile as she walked into Matteo’s room.
He was sitting on the floor, lining up his toy cars, his little brows furrowed in deep concentration.
Matteo didn’t look up.
Carmen knelt beside him, reaching for his tiny hand.
“Come on, baby,” she murmured. “Let’s get you tucked in.”
Matteo flinched away. Carmen’s heart dropped. “No!” he cried, scrambling to his feet. Carmen blinked, startled by the reaction.
“Matteo, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with worry.
Matteo’s little face scrunched up, his eyes glossy with frustration.
“I don’t want you!” he yelled. “I want Nanny!”
Carmen froze. The words hit her like a slap. She tried to breathe, tried to rationalize it. He was just tired.
Just fussy.
But then—Matteo ran out of the room, his tiny feet padding against the hardwood floors.
“Nanny!” he called. “I want Nanny!”
Carmen sat there, stunned, her chest tightening painfully.
A moment later, Ella appeared in the doorway, her expression calm, concerned—perfect.
“Oh, Matteo, sweetheart,” she cooed, bending down to scoop him into her arms.
Matteo wrapped himself around her, burying his face into her shoulder.
Carmen’s throat burned. “He won’t let me tuck him in anymore,” she whispered, her voice barely holding together.
Ella glanced at her, her eyes unreadable.
Then—a soft, knowing smile.
“Children go through phases,” she said gently, rocking Matteo slightly. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
Carmen wanted to scream. Wanted to rip Matteo away from her arms and tell him, “No, baby, I’m your mother. I love you. I’m supposed to be the one you run to.”
But instead—
She sat there, completely, utterly powerless. And Ella knew it. “Carmen, I don’t have time for this.”
Marco’s voice was frustrated, impatient, as he stood in his office, his phone still clutched in his hand.
Carmen stared at him, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
“He won’t let me tuck him in,” she whispered.
Marco sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.
“Carmen—”
“He cried when I tried,” she cut him off, her voice shaking. “He begged for Ella instead.”
Marco’s jaw tightened, but his eyes remained blank.
“He’s just comfortable with her,” he said dismissively. “It’s normal. Kids get attached to their nannies.”
“He called her Mama!” Carmen’s voice broke on the last word.
Marco finally looked up. For a split second, his expression flickered. Shock. Maybe even concern.
But then—he shook his head.
“Carmen, you’re exhausted,” he muttered. “You’re reading too much into this.”
Carmen stared at him, disbelief and betrayal ripping through her chest.
“He is our son,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “And he’s slipping away from us. Can’t you see that?”
Marco sighed again, rubbing his face.
“Carmen—”
“No,” she cut him off, stepping closer. “You don’t get to tell me I’m imagining this. You don’t get to brush me off like I’m crazy. Not this time.”
Marco’s eyes darkened, his patience wearing thin.
“What do you want me to do, Carmen?” he snapped. “Fire the nanny? Send her away just because Matteo is attached to her?”
“Yes!” Carmen shouted. Marco exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “We can’t just rip her out of his life,” he muttered. “That would do more damage than good.”
Carmen let out a bitter laugh, stepping back.
“No,” she whispered. “Letting her stay is what’s going to destroy us.”
That night, as Carmen passed Matteo’s room, she heard him giggling softly.
She paused, her chest tight, her hands clenching at her sides.
Peeking inside, she saw him snuggled into Ella’s arms, his little hands curled around her wrist.
Ella was stroking his hair, humming softly. “Goodnight, my sweet boy,” she whispered. Matteo yawned, blinking up at her sleepily.
“Goodnight, Mama,” he mumbled. Carmen’s entire body went rigid.
The world tilted violently beneath her feet. Ella didn’t even react. She just smiled, pressing a soft kiss to Matteo’s forehead.