Reading a Fairy Tale Together

"Before I convey my decision, may I ask a few questions, Sir?" Lyyana asked timidly.

Petra fell silent for a moment, then nodded briefly. "How long do I have to fulfill this agreement, Sir?" Lyyana asked, lowering her head.

Petra turned to face Lyyana. "Three months!"

"T-t-three months, Sir?"

"Why? Too long? Well then—"

"No, Sir, not like that. What I mean is, what if..." Lyyana hesitated, daring to look at Garret, partially covered by Petra. "If I fail to complete this agreement within three months, what should I do?"

"I don't accept the word 'failure'!" Petra replied bluntly.

Lyyana sighed heavily, reluctantly accepting the agreement Petra offered. Instead of languishing in jail, it was better for Lyyana to complete the agreement and try her best so that she didn't have to stay longer with Petra.

After agreeing to Petra's terms, he took Lyyana to meet the babysitter who had previously taken care of Garret. "Starting tonight and onwards, She will be responsible for Garret."

The middle-aged woman in front of Petra looked up, showing a surprised expression, but she quickly changed it in a matter of seconds. "Alright, Sir."

"Tell her what she needs to pay attention to." The woman just nodded and invited Lyyana to follow her to the other side of the luxurious house in the real estate area.

After receiving an explanation about her ward, Lyyana locked herself in her room. She lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She rolled from side to side, with Petra's words constantly echoing in her mind. She repeatedly tried to close her eyes, but her dark, intense gaze was too heavy to shut out. Lyyana spent her time imagining what would happen the next morning.

While lost in thought, Lyyana heard Garret crying. She rushed out of her room, hastily tying her hair. She didn't know why, but she couldn't bear hearing the cries of the slightly sentimental toddler. Lyyana arrived in front of Garret's room, slowly pushing the tall wooden door. She entered and saw a toddler crying by the open window.

"Hey handsome, why are you there?" Lyyana asked as gently as possible, walking slowly towards the boy in blue pajamas with a car pattern.

The toddler who felt called turned with teary eyes. "Mama?" he said with a hoarse voice.

For some reason, Lyyana always felt a tremor in her heart every time Garret called her that. Trying to remain as calm as possible, she smiled and walked towards Garret.

"Why are you there?" Lyyana repeated as she welcomed Garret with her embrace.

The little one just cried softly, continuing to say, "Mama, don't leave again, please?"

Lyyana didn't know how to respond. She nodded and carried the toddler. With her free hand, Lyyana closed the bedroom window and raised the room temperature to prevent Garret from getting too cold. "Mama..." Garret called, slightly squirming in Lyyana's embrace.

Lyyana struggled to carry Garret until the tiny body was released from his grip. Luckily, Petra came and caught Garret. Lyyana, shocked by what had happened, was frozen in place, trembling. "Sorry, forgive me..." Lyyana whispered with a shaky tone.

Petra carried Garret to the bed. In less than five seconds of being there, Garret got out of bed and ran towards Lyyana, who was still stunned. "Mama, it's okay. Garret is okay," he said softly and shyly.

Lyyana smiled awkwardly, lowering her body to be level with Garret's. "I'm sorry, Garret."

Garret shook his head, and his tiny fingers wiped away the teardrops from Lyyana's eyes. "Read a fairy tale for Garret?" he requested.

Before Lyyana could respond, Garret pulled her towards the bed. "Dad, come?" Garret asked timidly.

Lyyana furrowed her brow, observing a different dynamic between father and son. Lyyana scrutinized Petra's face, surprised to hear Garret's question, but the next moment, he returned to his neutral expression.

"Dad, I..." Petra paused, looking at Garret with hope. "Dad can't." Lyyana widened her eyes in surprise at Petra's response to Garret.

Garret's shoulders slumped, and he lay down on the bed, covering his entire body with a thick blanket. What made Lyyana even more confused was Petra's indifferent attitude toward Garret's condition. Instead of consoling Garret, Petra walked out of the room.

Lyyana was on the edge of confusion, wondering if she should persuade Garret or chase Petra to ask why he refused his son's request. After contemplating for quite some time, Lyyana decided to follow Petra and satisfy her curiosity.

"Sir, I—"

"What is it?" Petra stood next to Garret's room.

Lyyana bowed politely. "I'm sorry, Sir, I don't mean to interfere, but I just want to know why, Sir—"

"Your task is to take care of and heal Garret's trauma, not to interfere in my affairs." Final, Lyyana refrained from speaking. In truth, there was nothing wrong with Garret's words. She should know her place and complete her task quickly so that she could free herself from the clutches of the wealthy man.

Lyyana bowed her head, and Petra left her without saying anything. Lyyana sighed again, not knowing what really happened between father and son. However, she felt really awkward about their relationship. Not wanting to dwell on it, Lyyana tried to ignore the recent events and hurriedly entered Garret's room. In various ways, Lyyana tried to get Garret to lower his blanket because she didn't want him to feel suffocated by covering his entire body with a thick blanket.

Time continued to pass, and Lyyana began to enjoy her role as Garret's babysitter. She was no longer awkward when Garret called her mother. Lyyana also ignored Petra's indifferent attitude toward Garret, but he still monitored Garret's health.

"Today, take Garret to the hospital for a check-up and a medical examination." Lyyana looked at the tall man in a complete suit.

After saying that, Petra left without a word. He didn't even greet Garret, who looked at him with a sad expression. 'Has Mr. Petra never bid farewell or greeted his son all this time?' Lyyana wondered.

At exactly 10 a.m., Lyyana prepared to go to the hospital with Garret, who was unwilling to get out of her arms. The toddler was very clingy and obedient to Lyyana's words, making anyone who didn't know the truth think that Lyyana was Garret's mother.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lyyana hurriedly headed to the private doctor's room who usually handled Petra's family. During the therapy process, Lyyana's attention never left the adorable figure of Garret.

After thirty minutes of therapy, Lyyana was allowed to go home with Garret. While waiting for her pick-up car, Lyyana was surprised by a familiar voice calling her name.

"Lyyana!" Lyyana looked towards the source of the voice, half shocked to see a figure standing a few meters away with a flushed face.

In a panic, Lyyana tried to avoid the person. She forgot about Garret, who was still in her arms. Her mind raced as fast as possible to avoid being caught by that person. Too busy running, Lyyana didn't pay attention to her steps, and she and Garret fell onto the hard asphalt.

Tinn! Tinn!

Lyyana's heart raced so fast, and she tried to get up, but before she could run again, a car stopped next to her. Lyyana became even more panicked as she tried to walk with a limping foot and Garret in her arms. Several times, she tried to avoid the chasing car and the person behind who kept calling her name.

"Get in!"