Later that night, another conflict erupted inside the Zuvel mansion.

Shay refused to sleep anywhere except with Lara.

The little girl clung stubbornly to Lara’s hand, her tiny fingers wrapped tightly around hers as though letting go would make Lara disappear.

"I want Mommy Lara," Shay insisted, her voice trembling with determination. "I want to sleep with Mommy Lara tonight."

Moira’s expression instantly darkened.

"No," she said firmly. "You should sleep with your real mother."

The words caused the atmosphere in the hallway to stiffen.

Shay’s grip on Lara tightened even more.

"I don’t want to!" she cried.

Moira looked toward Ares and Asher, clearly expecting support.

"Ares, say something," she urged impatiently. "You can’t keep tolerating this behavior."

Asher wisely remained silent.

Meanwhile, Ares pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion flashing briefly across his face. Before he could even respond, Shay suddenly burst into tears.

It happened so fast.

One moment she was standing there trembling—

The next, she threw herself dramatically onto the floor.

"Waaaaahhh!"

Her cries echoed violently through the hallway as she kicked her tiny legs and wailed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

Ares’ eyes widened in alarm.

His heart skipped a beat.

He had not seen Shay throw a tantrum like this in a very long time.

"Shay!"

He immediately stepped forward to pick her up, panic flashing across his usually composed face.

But Lara was faster.

Without hesitation, she crouched beside the sobbing child and gently gathered Shay into her arms before anyone else could touch her.

Shay instantly buried her tear-streaked face against Lara’s shoulder, clinging to her desperately.

Moira’s patience finally snapped.

"Give her to me!" she shouted as she stepped forward, reaching for Shay. "I am her mother!"

The moment her hand moved toward the child—

"Enough!"

Ares’ furious voice thundered through the narrow hallway like a violent storm.

"Both of you, get out."

The sheer authority in his tone froze everyone in place.

Even Shay’s hysterical sobbing abruptly paused for a few seconds.

Asher did not need to be told twice.

The moment he heard that dangerous tone, he immediately retreated toward his room like a man escaping disaster. He shut the door behind him and released a long breath of relief.

That voice only meant one thing. Ares was truly angry.

Moira’s face turned pale.

For a moment, she looked like she wanted to argue back. But the instant her eyes met Ares’—

She froze.

The fury burning inside his gaze made her chest tighten painfully.

She almost stopped breathing.

In the end, she swallowed all her protests and turned away stiffly, muttering bitter curses beneath her breath as she disappeared down the hallway.

Without another word, he opened Shay’s bedroom door for Lara.

Lara carried the trembling child inside and gently laid her on the soft bed. Shay’s crying had weakened into soft hiccups, though tears still clung to her lashes.

Lara quietly went into the bathroom and returned with a warm face towel.

Carefully, she wiped Shay’s tear-stained cheeks and cleaned the little girl’s nose with patient tenderness.

"There we go," she whispered softly.

Then she sat beside her and began gently patting Shay’s back while humming a quiet lullaby.

The soft melody slowly filled the room.

Warm, gentle and comforting.

Ares sat silently on the rocking chair beside the bed, his elbows resting against his knees as he closed his eyes and massaged his throbbing temples.

Shay’s outburst deeply unsettled him.

It had been a long time since she behaved like that.

Back then, Shay would often throw tantrums whenever she became emotionally overwhelmed or frightened. But over the years, she had gradually become calmer.

So why now?

Ares slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the sleeping child curled against Lara’s side.

Did Moira trigger her?

His jaw tightened.

Why was it so difficult for Moira to act like a gentle, loving mother toward Shay? Why did every interaction between them end in tension and tears?

If he had not personally been at the hospital the day Shay was born... If he had not held that tiny infant in his own hands moments after delivery...

He might have doubted whether Moira was truly Shay’s biological mother.

But facts were facts.

No matter how much the situation disturbed him, one truth could never be changed.

Moira was Shay’s mother.

...

Lara’s soft humming gradually faded into silence.

Shay had fallen asleep.

The little girl lay curled beneath the blankets, her tiny fingers still clutching a corner of Lara’s sleeve even in sleep, as though afraid Lara might leave the moment she let go. Her lashes were still damp from crying, and every now and then, faint hiccups escaped her lips.

The sight made the heaviness inside Ares’ chest deepen.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Only the quiet creaking of the rocking chair and the distant sound of wind tapping against the mansion windows filled the room.

Then Ares finally broke the silence.

"Do you think I should bring Shay to a psychiatrist?"

His voice was low and strained.

Worried.

Lara slowly turned toward him.

Under the dim bedside lamp, Ares looked exhausted in a way she had never seen before. His usually sharp and commanding features were clouded with helplessness, as though he was facing a problem even power and money could not solve.

Lara glanced back at the sleeping child before answering carefully.

"Maybe you should observe her first," she said softly.

Then she paused.

A thoughtful look crossed her face.

Lara possessed the wisdom of someone who had seen countless human relationships rise and fall. And because of that, she could clearly see what others inside this mansion refused to acknowledge.

She knew exactly what had triggered Shay’s outburst tonight.

"Ares..." she called gently.

He lifted his eyes toward her immediately.

"Moira needs to stop stressing Shay."

Ares’ expression darkened slightly.

Lara continued carefully, not wanting to sound accusatory.

"She’s trying too hard to force Shay to accept her as a mother," Lara explained quietly. "But instead, she’s only pushing her farther away."

Silence fell again.

Ares leaned his head back against the rocking chair and closed his eyes briefly.

"I know," he admitted in a tired voice.

The simple confession carried an unsettling weight. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Because knowing was one thing. Fixing it was another.

Then, after a moment, Ares opened his eyes again and stared directly at Lara.

This time, his gaze was far too serious.

"What I said before," he murmured. "Have you considered it?"

Lara’s heartbeat skipped.

She instantly knew what he meant.

Marriage.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

For a second, she wanted to pretend she had not heard him. Pretend not to notice the intensity burning behind his dark eyes.

But avoiding Ares Zuvel was never easy.

Especially when he looked at her like that.

So instead, Lara forced a light laugh and tried to turn the tension into a joke.

"Is the great CEO of the famous Zuvel Conglomerate seriously proposing to his daughter’s nanny?" she teased lightly.

Ares did not laugh.

His gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering and dangerously sincere.

"Yes," he said quietly.

The air inside the room instantly changed.