Glenca's voice trembled violently, shattering the suffocating tension. “Brother Reon...”
A pool of tears instantly blurred her vision. The ice-cold man standing before her turned his face away. Reon's jaw clenched as he firmly refused to return Glenca's wounded gaze. That blatant rejection became an invisible dagger stabbing straight into her chest.
“Caca is staying in this house. Whatever your reasons are, I don't care one bit about your irrational objections.”
Greynard's baritone cut through the air, which felt increasingly thin in the living room. He stood tall, utterly unshaken. His broad frame formed an absolute shield, hiding Glenca's trembling body behind it. His sharp eyes challenged each of his three cousins in turn.
The atmosphere in the luxurious house was on the verge of exploding. None of them had any intention of backing down or setting aside their egos.
Suddenly, a piercing wail split the tension.
Greynard and Glenca immediately exchanged a glance. Panic took over their common sense in an instant. They turned and half-ran down the marble hallway toward the master bedroom. The three arrogant men in the living room exhaled roughly before reluctantly following with long strides toward the source of the cries.
The master bedroom was even more chaotic. Winda paced back and forth in a panic, her face deathly pale. The new nanny struggled to rock the baby wrapped in a thick, light-blue blanket. Kenzo's shrill cries sounded as if they were tearing his vocal cords apart. His little face had turned bright red as he fought for breath between sobs.
“What happened to my little champ? Why is he crying so hard?”
Greynard closed the distance. His hands gently took his tiny son from the nanny's arms.
“I truly can't figure out what's wrong, sir. He flat-out refused his formula. My rhythmic rocking didn't calm him down at all, either.”
Winda lowered her head and stared at the tips of her own shoes. Fear rang clearly in her trembling voice.
“Daddy's here, sweetheart. Daddy's holding Kenzo now. Daddy's little champ must be really thirsty, huh? Let's have some milk. Daddy's smart little boy, Daddy's pride, don't keep crying.”
Greynard rocked the tiny body with stiff, awkward movements. Cold sweat began beading at his temples. None of his attempts to soothe the baby worked. Kenzo's cries only grew louder, deafening everyone. Confusion swept through the gray-toned room. Kenzo seemed to be mourning a loss that had just struck his tiny universe.
“Let me try, Grey.”
Glenca stepped forward, closing the remaining distance between them. She held out both hands, asking him to pass the burden over.
After a moment of hesitation, Greynard finally handed the noisy bundle into Glenca's warm embrace.
Memories of her time as a volunteer in a remote village began playing through Glenca's mind again. She now put her knowledge of soothing a fussy, crying baby into practice with extraordinary tenderness.
Glenca pressed Kenzo's ear against the spot where her heart was beating. Her rhythmic strokes slowly traveled down his violently trembling back. The harmony of her steady heartbeat and the warmth of her body worked like absolute magic. Kenzo's screams gradually faded. Adorable little whimpers replaced his earlier hysterical cries. His tiny nose sniffed softly, searching for pure comfort in the hollow of Glenca's neck. The child seemed to have found a fragment of the embrace his mother had been forcibly taken from him.
Glenca smiled in relief. Her eyes never left Kenzo's flushed face as he began drifting peacefully to sleep. Her delicate hand continued rocking him from side to side in a steady rhythm without tiring. Tenderness radiated so strongly from Glenca's face that it drowned out the tears still lingering there.
“Did you cast some kind of black spell into that child's ear? He became completely docile the moment he changed hands.”
Reon's baseless accusation shot sharply from the bedroom doorway.
Glenca glared straight into Reon's eyes.
“Shut your mouth, Reon. Your voice is way too loud and grating. If you all came here just to pick a fight with me, save your energy for tomorrow morning. I'm very busy taking care of this little angel.”
Glenca pursed her lips in irritation. Her exhausted emotions were especially quick to flare tonight.
Reon's narrow eyes widened. Her words ignited his anger.
“You dare order me around and yell at me in my own cousin's house? You ill-mannered little brat.”
Reon's harsh insult echoed off the bedroom walls. Glenca paid no attention to him whatsoever. She turned away and focused completely on Kenzo's peaceful face.
“Caca's right, Reon. You'd all better keep your mouths shut tonight. I absolutely refuse to tolerate any kind of commotion that could wake my son and make him cry again.”
Greynard glared at his three cousins one after another. That unequivocal defense silenced the remaining protest on the tip of Reon's tongue.
“Winda, please get his bottle.”
Glenca held out her hand without looking back.
Winda hurried to hand her a glass bottle filled with warm white liquid. Glenca carefully adjusted Kenzo's position, moving him with extreme caution. The rubber nipple touched his reddened lips. Kenzo immediately began sucking greedily. His clear, round eyes stared straight at Glenca's face without blinking once.
“Slow down, sweetheart. Daddy's little champ must be awfully thirsty tonight.”
Greynard closed the last bit of distance and moved in beside them. His powerful body stood very close, almost touching Glenca's shoulder. His long fingers stroked the crown of Kenzo's head with loving tenderness. Then his eyes shifted to Glenca's profile, studying her from up close. The corners of Greynard's lips slowly curved into a meaningful smile.
“Thank you so much, Caca.”
Glenca glanced at him, questioning what he meant.
“What for?”
“Your presence here saved my sanity tonight. My son found incredible comfort in your arms. He stopped crying the instant you took over for me. Thank you again.”
Warmth slowly spread through Glenca's chest. Her eyes returned to Kenzo's innocent face.
“Keyna is my most precious friend. She supported me when my world was almost shattered into pieces. Helping care for her flesh and blood is how I repay all the kindness she showed me in the past. I'll make sure this baby is perfectly cared for until I find a stable job and a new place to live, Grey.”
Silence once again ruled the spacious room. Glenca slowly turned without waking the baby in her arms. Her gaze now fixed on the three tall men still standing motionless and blocking the doorway.
“Reon, Felix, Jarvis...”
Glenca called their names slowly, like a prayer. The violent trembling in her voice could no longer be hidden.
“Whatever conflict took place between our families in the past... I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart. Being treated like an enemy by all of you for years has been incredibly painful, brothers.”