Episode 5

Bip! Bip! Bip!

The shrill sound from the baby monitor next to Amara's bed broke the silence of the night. Amara jolted awake, her eyes, still heavy with sleep, widening instantly. Her heart rate immediately quickened as she heard Kenzo's piercing cry through the small speaker.

Although her body was exhausted after the long journey from the village, her instincts as a caregiver—and the urging from her chest, which felt tight again—made her move quickly. She grabbed a shawl and hurried out of the room, climbing the marble stairs to the second floor with steps that were as silent as possible.

"Kenzo... I'm here, dear," she whispered as she opened the nursery door.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she found the room occupied only by the baby. There was no Master Arlan. It seemed the man was already asleep in his room in another wing of the mansion.

Amara immediately went to the crib. Kenzo was already moving restlessly, his face flushed red from crying. "Ssttt... hush, hush. Don't cry anymore, or Papa will wake up," Amara said as she lifted the small body into her arms.

Kenzo didn't quiet down immediately. Instead, he cried even harder, his head moving wildly on Amara's shoulder, searching for a scent he recognized so well. Amara felt her chest throb painfully. The milk was already pressing to come out, but remembering Lasmi's warning about the camera, Amara became cautious.

She began to look around, carefully examining every corner of the high ceiling. In the corner of the room, near the chandelier, she saw a small black object with a very faint red light blinking.

That's it, she thought.

Amara immediately turned, looking for a blind spot. She saw a large rocking chair with a high back facing the large window covered by thick curtains. The position was completely out of view of the camera. Hurriedly, she sat down, positioning herself so that her back shielded her from the CCTV's view.

"We'll stay here, Kenzo. So no one will see," Amara whispered, trembling.

With slightly clumsy hands, she unbuttoned her uniform. As soon as Kenzo's skin touched her chest, the baby immediately fell silent. His cries turned into a greedy and regular sucking sound.

Amara exhaled a long breath, her head resting on the back of the chair. Tremendous relief flowed through her body. She looked down, staring at Kenzo's face, which now looked very peaceful in her arms. The baby's eyes, which had been wet with tears, were now slightly open, staring straight at Amara's face with a deep and innocent gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that, dear?" Amara whispered softly, stroking the baby's cheek with her fingertip. "Were you very hungry? I'm sorry, I woke up late."

Kenzo stopped sucking for a moment, making a small murmuring sound as if responding to Amara's words, then resumed nursing quietly.

"You're a smart boy, Kenzo. You have to grow up to be a strong boy, okay? Don't be sad even though Mama isn't here. Now Amara is here. I will take care of you, I will give you what you need," Amara continued, tears almost falling as she saw how unfortunate this beautiful baby was to lose his mother's love at such a young age.

"When you grow up, Kenzo, don't become a cold person like Papa, okay? Kenzo must be a warm person, who likes to smile. So that Papa smiles too," Amara chuckled softly between her whispers, unaware of how intimate the moment was.

Amara continued to talk to the baby, telling him about the beauty of the rice fields in her village, about her two naughty but cute younger siblings, and about her hopes. She felt Kenzo was her only most sincere conversation partner in this cold, large house.

However, what Amara didn't know was that behind the glowing screen of a cell phone in the darkness of the master bedroom, Arlan Aditama was sitting leaning against his bed. He couldn't see what was in front of Amara's chest because it was blocked by the back of the chair, but he could see the movement of his son's head pressed tightly against it.

He could hear Amara's whispers through the sensitive mic in the camera. Amara's voice, soft, sincere, and full of affection, entered Arlan's ears, shaking something that had long been frozen in his chest.

"You're too bold, Amara..." Arlan muttered in a hoarse voice. His eyes did not leave the screen, watching the rhythmic movements of Amara's body. The curiosity had now turned into a burning obsession.

Dawn had just broken, but Amara was fully awake. Like a ritual that had now become a secret between herself and Kenzo, she breastfed the baby again in the corner of the rocking chair, safe from the reach of the CCTV before the sun fully rose. After Kenzo was calm and full, Amara deftly began to bathe him.

She prepared lukewarm water. With tenderness, Amara rubbed Kenzo's small body, ensuring that every fold of the baby's skin was clean. The soft scent of baby soap mixed with baby powder filled the room as Amara dressed Kenzo in an adorable cotton pajama set with a bear motif.

"There, handsome boy is fragrant. Now we wait for Papa, okay?" Amara whispered, kissing Kenzo's forehead, which now looked fresh and cheerful.

Click.

The door opened. Amara startled and immediately stood up straight, her head reflexively bowing deeply. Arlan Aditama strode in with incredible authority. The man was neatly dressed in a dark gray suit that clung perfectly to his sturdy body, spreading a masculine perfume scent that instantly dominated the room.

Kenzo, who was lying on the changing table, suddenly began to move his small arms and legs very nimbly. The baby made small noises as if greeting the man in front of him.

Arlan, who usually had a cold face, couldn't help but smile faintly when he saw his son's reaction. There was a gleam of endearment in his sharp eyes. "Oh my... you want Papa to hold you, hm?" Arlan said in a tone of voice that was much softer than usual.

Arlan bent down, lifting Kenzo into his arms carefully. "Hmm... Papa's boy smells so good this morning," he murmured, inhaling deeply the scent of Kenzo's body. However, as he brought his face closer to the baby's neck, he again smelled the same sweet scent as last night—a scent that he thought did not come from any soap.

Arlan's gaze shifted from Kenzo to Amara. The man stared at Amara from head to toe. The girl stood frozen, her head still bowed as if the marble floor beneath her was much more interesting to look at.

"Has Kenzo been given milk?" Arlan asked in a flat but inquisitive tone.

"Yes, Sir," Amara replied briefly, her voice almost a whisper.

Arlan looked around the room. His eyes fell on a bottle of milk on the bedside table containing a small amount of formula that Amara had deliberately made and partially discarded to make it look like it had been used. Arlan nodded in satisfaction at seeing the physical evidence, even though his heart still held great doubts.

Arlan took a step forward, making the distance between them even narrower. Amara could feel Arlan's presence very close, even the man's breath could be felt on the top of her head.

"Raise your head, Amara," Arlan ordered in a cold tone.

Amara remained unmoving, her fingers squeezing each other. She felt very intimidated.

"Amara, I don't like talking to people who don't look at their opponents. In this house, you must have both politeness and courage," Arlan emphasized each word. "Raise your head when I talk to you. Is that too difficult for you?"

Amara slowly raised her face. Her clear and innocent eyes met directly with Arlan's dark and intimidating eyes. There was a strange tremor that spread through Amara's body as she saw her reflection in the man's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I... I just don't want to be impolite," Amara whispered.

Arlan was silent for a moment, observing every inch of Amara's face, which still looked very fresh, although there seemed to be lines of fatigue. His eyes briefly lowered to Amara's chest, which was covered in a caregiver's uniform, then returned to the girl's eyes.

"Make sure Kenzo stays calm like this throughout the day. I'm going to the office, and I'll be checking the camera periodically. Don't let me see anything suspicious," Arlan said in a tone that felt like a hidden warning.

Arlan then handed Kenzo back to Amara. As their hands touched accidentally, an electric shock seemed to strike them both. Amara immediately withdrew her hand after Kenzo had moved into her arms, while Arlan remained standing still for a moment, feeling the remaining warmth of Amara's skin on his hand.

"I understand, Sir," Amara replied softly.

Without saying anything more, Arlan turned and strode out of the room. Amara exhaled a long breath that she had been holding since just now, while Kenzo only stared at his father's departure with his fingers in his mouth, again seeking comfort in Amara.

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