---
Chapter 3
Sofia followed Lily up the grand staircase, the little girl practically bouncing with excitement as she talked nonstop about her favorite games and toys. "We can play hide and seek! Or tea party! Oh, and I can show you my dollhouse—it's bigger than my bed!"
Sofia laughed softly, her earlier nerves fading with each step. "I think we'll have plenty of fun together."
When they reached the second floor, Lily swung open a door to reveal a large, brightly lit room. It was every child's dream: shelves lined with books and toys, a dollhouse that truly looked big enough to live in, and a bed draped with a pink canopy.
"This is my room!" Lily announced proudly, spinning in a circle. "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful," Sofia said, taking in the cheerful space. "I can see why you love it so much."
Lily grinned. "I'll show you everything later, but first, I have to tell you something." She grabbed Sofia's hand and pulled her closer, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. "Daddy works a lot. He doesn't smile much anymore. But maybe you can help him. You seem nice."
The innocent remark made Sofia pause. She glanced toward the door, half expecting Ryan to appear, but the hallway was empty. "I'll do my best to take care of both of you," Sofia promised gently.
Lily beamed, satisfied with the answer.
---
Later that evening, after helping Lily settle into bed, Sofia found herself in the kitchen, organizing her thoughts. The housekeeper, a woman named Mrs. Carter, greeted her with a kind smile. "First day going well, dear?"
"Yes, thank you," Sofia replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Lily is wonderful, but… Mr. Blackwood seems hard to read."
Mrs. Carter chuckled knowingly. "Ryan has been through a lot. He doesn't let many people in, but don't take it personally. If you're good to Lily, that's what matters most to him."
Sofia nodded, though her curiosity about Ryan only deepened.
Just as she turned to leave, Ryan himself appeared in the doorway, his presence commanding even in the quiet kitchen. He held a book in one hand and glanced at Sofia. "Miss Paterson, may I have a word?"
"Yes, of course," Sofia said quickly, straightening.
Ryan gestured for her to follow him into his study. The room was dimly lit, with tall bookshelves lining the walls and a fire crackling softly in the hearth. He motioned for her to sit, but he remained standing, his expression unreadable.
"I wanted to thank you for handling Lily today," he began, his voice steady but distant. "She seems to like you already, which is no small thing."
"She's a wonderful child," Sofia said honestly. "It's easy to see how much she means to you."
Ryan's gaze softened slightly. "She's my world. After her mother passed, it's been... difficult. I've done my best, but I know it hasn't been enough. That's why I need someone like you. Someone who can bring back the light she's been missing."
The raw vulnerability in his words surprised Sofia. For a moment, she glimpsed the man behind the guarded exterior. "I'll do everything I can," she promised.
Ryan gave a small nod, his composure returning. "Good. That's all I ask."
As Sofia left the study, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Ryan Blackwood than the rumors suggested. He wasn't just a reclusive man with a cold demeanor. He was someone carrying the weight of loss and love, struggling to keep his world from falling apart.
And somehow, Sofia realized, she was now a part of that world.
---