The morning sun peeked through the silk curtains, casting soft shadows across the neatly arranged room Monica had been allowed to sleep in. Her eyes hadn't rested well, and now her feet wouldn't either. She paced back and forth, hands wrung tightly in front of her, her thoughts louder than the ticking clock on the wall.
Logan Smith was returning today.
Monica's job as a live-in nanny wasn't official yet. She had only been allowed to stay the night at Theo's request something she hadn't expected. The boy had clung to her presence with a quiet but unmistakable attachment that unnerved her in the most unexpected way. And while she had promised herself she wouldn't get emotionally entangled, that resolve was already showing cracks.
Her heart beat faster. Today could be the beginning of everything… or the end.
She couldn't afford to involve anyone. Not Liana. Not Talia. No one else needed to get dragged into the tunnel she had willingly stepped into. The less anyone knew, the safer they were.
Today, she would meet the man the world called a hero.
And she would find out who he truly was.
Her mind drifted back to that moment two weeks ago alone in her house, sitting with a half-eaten plate of rice and her phone screen lighting up with the words LOGAN SMITH in the search bar—for the fourth time that week.
She remembered the frustration, the helplessness. The world praised him: *"The Honorable General." "Defender of the Republic." "A man of integrity."
Monica felt indignant, It made her stomach churn.
She had texted Talia, not with suspicion, but curiosity—just another casual request. "Can you help me dig up something about a certain General Logan Smith?"
She didn't explain why, and Talia didn't ask just promising to get it done. Talia, efficient and brilliant, returned with more than she'd asked for. News articles, awards, past interviews. But what caught Monica's attention wasn't the news, it was a short listing from a private agency. "Position: Nanny. Confidential employer. Location:..."
The dots connected fast in her mind. Too fast.
It was reckless. It was dangerous. It was all she had.
She stared at her hands as they trembled slightly. This was the path she had chosen. There was no going back now.
She sat on the edge of the bed, clasping her hands tightly together, whispering into the quiet air, "Whatever it takes… I'll find the truth."