Carmen stood in the center of the living room, her hands trembling, her chest rising and falling unevenly.
Matteo clung to Ella like she was his lifeline, his little hands gripping her dress, his tear-filled eyes glaring at Carmen like she was the enemy.
Carmen’s heart ached so badly she could barely breathe.
“Matteo,” she whispered, reaching for him. “Baby, please—”
“Stay away!” Matteo shrieked, hiding his face in Ella’s shoulder.
Carmen flinched. She felt like the world had tilted beneath her feet.
A sharp voice cut through the room.
“What the hell is going on?”
Carmen turned sharply, her breath caught in her throat. Marco stood in the doorway, his expression dark with frustration, his eyes flicking between Ella, Matteo, and Carmen.
His gaze landed on Ella, who was standing stiffly, eyes wide, holding Matteo close. Then—his eyes snapped to Carmen.
“What did you do?”
Carmen’s chest squeezed painfully.
“Marco, I—”
“She pushed me,” Ella whispered softly, her voice small, trembling. Carmen spun back to her, fury bubbling under her skin.
“Oh, don’t you dare,” she hissed.
Ella let out a soft, broken breath, shaking her head as if she were too hurt to even speak properly. “I don’t know why she hates me so much,” she murmured, stroking Matteo’s hair.
Marco’s jaw tightened. “Carmen,” he said sharply. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Carmen snapped her gaze back to him. “What’s wrong with me?” she repeated, her voice breaking.
Marco took a step forward, his expression stone cold.
“You’re being irrational,” he said flatly. “You’re acting aggressive toward someone who has only ever helped us.”
Carmen felt like her breath had been stolen. “Aggressive?” she whispered. Marco sighed, rubbing his temple. “You shoved her, Carmen.”
“Because she’s manipulating our son!” Carmen shouted, her frustration boiling over. “She’s turning him against me, Marco! Can’t you see it?”
Marco’s face darkened further. “All I see is my wife losing her damn mind over a nanny.”
Carmen staggered back, as if he had physically hit her. Her ears rang, her vision blurred, her entire body numb. He still didn’t believe her.
After everything, after all the signs, all the warnings—he still thought she was the problem.
“You’re blind,” she whispered. “You’re too distracted by everything else to see what’s happening right in front of you.”
Marco’s expression didn’t change.
“And you’re too paranoid to see that Matteo just loves her,” he snapped.
Carmen flinched. No. No, it wasn’t that simple. Matteo wasn’t just attached to Ella. He was different. He was changing.
And it was because of her“I will leave if you want me to,” Ella said suddenly, her voice soft, hesitant.
Marco and Carmen both turned to her. She looked downcast, defeated, her eyes glistening like she was holding back tears.
“If my presence is causing harm, then I will go,” she murmured, stroking Matteo’s back gently.
Carmen felt the slightest flicker of hope.
Ella let out a soft, sad sigh. “But I worry about Matteo.”
Marco’s face tightened.
Carmen stared at her, blood running cold. “Worry?” Marco asked.
Ella nodded slowly. “He needs stability,” she said gently. “He’s already been through so much.”
Marco’s shoulders tensed. Ella looked down at Matteo, brushing his curls aside.
“Do you want me to go, sweetheart?” she whispered.
Matteo shook his head frantically, gripping her even tighter.
“No!” he sobbed, his little body shaking. “I don’t want you to go!”
Carmen felt something inside her shatter. Then, Matteo turned to her, his tear-filled eyes sharp, accusing.
“Nanny says you don’t love me anymore,” he whispered. Carmen’s lungs locked. “What?” she choked out.
Matteo sniffled, rubbing his red, puffy eyes.
“She said sometimes mommies get tired of their little boys,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
Carmen’s heart stopped beating.
“She said maybe you don’t want me anymore,” Matteo continued, his lip trembling.
Carmen felt sick. She whipped around to Ella, pure rage burning in her chest. “You told him that?” she snarled.
Ella gasped softly, shaking her head.
“Of course not!” she whispered. “I would never say such a thing!”
Carmen saw red.
“You lying bit—”
“Enough!” Marco snapped.
Carmen froze. Marco turned to Matteo, kneeling in front of him.
“Buddy,” he said softly, wiping his tears. “Mommy loves you. So much.”
Matteo hesitated. Carmen dropped to her knees beside him, reaching for his little hands.
“Matteo, baby,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I love you more than anything. I would never stop loving you.”
Matteo bit his lip, his tiny hands fidgeting. Then—he looked up at her.
“Then let the nanny stay,” he whispered.
Carmen’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, her vision blurring with pain. “If you love me, Mama,” he mumbled, sniffling, “then let the nanny stay.”