As Nolan left the kitchen, Sam noticed Vanya's gaze following him. He smiled knowingly and leaned in closer to her.
"Don't mind him, Vanya," Sam said softly. "Nolan's just struggling with some demons from his past."
Vanya's eyes widened with curiosity, and she leaned in closer to Sam.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sam took a deep breath before launching into the story.
"Well, our mom died giving birth to me," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Dad was devastated, and he just couldn't handle the stress. He threw himself into his work, leaving us with nannies to raise us."
Vanya's eyes filled with sympathy, and she reached out to put a hand on Sam's arm.
"That must have been so hard for you all," she said, her voice full of compassion.
Sam nodded, his eyes clouding over with memories.
"Yeah, it was tough. Chris was really sick after Mom died, and Nolan was only three years old. He had to take care of me, change my diapers, and practically teach me how to walk."
Vanya's eyes widened in shock. "That's incredible," she said. "Nolan must have been so strong and brave."
Sam nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah, he was. But then, a year later, Dad suddenly married Catherine. Nolan couldn't understand why Dad would do that, and he felt like it was an insult to Mom's memory."
Vanya's heart went out to Nolan, and she could understand why he would feel that way.
"What happened then?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Sam leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Well, Catherine was living away from us, in another state, but when she finally got pregnant with Hans, she moved in with us. Nolan took care of Chris, who was still really sick, and he taught me everything I know. He was like a father to me, and I idolized him."
Vanya's eyes shone with tears, and she felt a deep sense of admiration for Nolan.
"He sounds like an amazing person," she said, her voice full of emotion.
Sam nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah, he is.when Catherine moved in, Nolan moved out. He just couldn't handle being around her, and he felt like she was trying to replace Mom."
"..he's also really brilliant. He graduated with honors and joined Dad's company after Chris's pleas."
Vanya's heart went out to Nolan, and she could understand why he would feel that way. She felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Sam for sharing Nolan's story with her, and she felt like she was starting to understand Nolan's behavior with Catherine.
Vanya decided to explore the mansion, moving from room to room, taking in the opulent decorations and furnishings. She wandered through the halls, feeling a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer scale and grandeur of the estate.
As she made her way outside, she was greeted by the warm sunshine and the sweet scent of blooming flowers. She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility wash over her.
She noticed a gardener struggling to water the plants, and she quickly stepped in to help. "Let me help you with that," she said, taking the watering can from the gardener.
The gardener smiled, grateful for the assistance. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm just a bit short-staffed today."
Vanya smiled and began to water the plants, enjoying the feeling of the cool water on her hands. As she worked, she couldn't help but notice Nolan sitting on a nearby bench, watching her with an intense gaze.
He was talking to his assistant, a tall, thin man with a serious expression, about business. Vanya couldn't help but listen in, fascinated by the way Nolan's eyes lit up when he talked about his company.
"...and I'm telling you, Jenkins, this is the perfect opportunity for us to expand our operations," Nolan said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Jenkins nodded, his expression serious. "I agree, sir. But we need to be careful. There are risks involved with any expansion."
Nolan waved his hand dismissively. "I'm aware of the risks, Jenkins. But I'm willing to take them. This is a chance for us to take our company to the next level."
As Vanya listened, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Nolan. He was clearly a driven and ambitious person, and she found herself drawn to his passion and energy.
But when she caught his eye, she quickly turned around, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. She didn't want to get caught staring at him, didn't want to give him the wrong idea.
As she continued to water the plants, Vanya couldn't help but feel a sense of awareness, a sense that Nolan was still watching her, even though she couldn't see him.
After a few minutes, Jenkins stood up, his expression serious. "I'll get the papers drawn up, sir. And I'll schedule a meeting with the investors for next week."
Nolan nodded, his eyes still fixed on Vanya. "Good. I want to move forward with this as quickly as possible."
As Jenkins walked away, Nolan turned his attention back to Vanya. He watched her for a few moments, his expression unreadable.
Then, without saying a word, he turned and rolled away, leaving Vanya feeling confused and uncertain.