Chapter 7: ¿Where is Ethan?

The darkness seemed to envelop them as they traversed the grounds, desperately calling for Ethan. The flashlight that Alexander held illuminated only a few meters ahead, making the atmosphere feel even more oppressive.

—Where do you think he could be? —Isabella asked, her voice barely a whisper.

—Ethan is smart, but he’s also scared —Alexander replied, clenching his jaw—. If he decided to run away, he probably went somewhere he feels safe.

Isabella stopped abruptly, as if a thought had suddenly struck her.

—The park! —she exclaimed—. A few weeks ago, Ethan told me he liked to hide in a nearby park when he wanted to escape from everything. Maybe he’s there.

Alexander nodded, and they began to run again, the hope that Ethan was safe fueling their steps.

When they arrived at the park, dimly lit by a few street lamps, they searched frantically among the trees, benches, and the small lake. Isabella felt her heart in her throat, fear almost paralyzing her. But suddenly, a soft sound broke the silence.

—Isabella…

It was Ethan’s voice. She quickly turned and saw him. He was sitting on a swing, his eyes filled with tears and his face pale. Upon seeing him, Isabella felt an overwhelming relief.

She ran toward him, crouching down to hug him tightly.

—Ethan! —she exclaimed, her voice cracking—. Are you okay? I was so worried about you.

The boy, still sobbing, clung to her but didn’t say anything. Isabella held him tightly, feeling an inexplicable connection, something she didn’t quite understand, but that made her feel as if Ethan was more than just a child under her care. It was as if she had known him forever, as if there was something deeper that bound them together.

Alexander approached, a mix of relief and concern on his face.

—Ethan, why did you run away? You scared us all.

Ethan looked away, avoiding his father’s gaze, and whispered:

—I didn’t want to be there anymore… Miranda scares me.

Ethan’s words fell like a hammer on them. Isabella felt her skin crawl. She knew that Miranda wasn’t the best person, but for a child to say something like that… there was something much darker in that relationship.

Alexander took a deep breath, clearly affected by what his son had said. He crouched in front of him, pain etched on his face.

—I’m sorry, Ethan —he said softly—. I didn’t know you felt that way. I won’t let Miranda hurt you. I promise.

The boy looked up, searching for sincerity in his father’s eyes, and nodded slightly.

Isabella, however, couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Something didn’t add up. That house was full of secrets, and she felt they had barely scratched the surface. Why did Miranda cause so much fear in Ethan? And what else lay behind that perfect facade that Alexander maintained before the world?

Back at the mansion, Ethan quickly fell asleep, exhausted from fear and emotion. Isabella covered him with a blanket, gently stroking his hair. Something in her heart stirred every time she looked at him, a feeling she couldn’t explain. She felt a deep responsibility toward him, as if something was pushing her to protect him at all costs.

As she left the room, she found Alexander in the hallway. Their gazes met, and at that moment, the barrier between boss and employee seemed to fade away.

—Thank you, Isabella —Alexander said, his voice low and filled with gratitude—. I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.

—I’ll do whatever it takes for Ethan —she replied sincerely.

The silence stretched between them, laden with unspoken emotions. But before they could say anything more, a scream shattered the stillness of the night.

—Ethan! —the voice was Miranda’s, coming from the boy’s room—. Help, Alexander, something’s wrong!

They both rushed toward Ethan’s room, fear gripping them once again. When they arrived, they saw him. Ethan’s small body was shaking violently on the bed, his eyes wide open but completely unfocused, as if trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn’t wake.

—Ethan! —Isabella shouted, kneeling beside him, trying to hold him.

But the boy didn’t respond. He only shook, lost in something they couldn’t see.

Panic filled Alexander’s face as he pulled out his phone to call a doctor, rushing out of the room. Isabella, for her part, could only think of one thing: whatever was happening, Ethan didn’t deserve this suffering. And she had to find out what was causing it before it was too late.

Isabella took a deep breath, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Nerves and rage consumed her from within, but she knew she had to handle the situation carefully, for Ethan’s sake. She couldn’t allow Miranda, a woman who clearly had no affection for the boy, to hurt him in any way.

She looked at Miranda, who stood by the door of Ethan’s room, a sneer plastered on her face. Still haunted by the image of the trembling child under the sheets, Isabella couldn’t hold back the wave of indignation she felt any longer.

—What were you doing in Ethan’s room? —Isabella asked, her voice low but filled with a strength she didn’t believe she had. She stood her ground in front of Miranda, determined not to let her intimidate her.

Miranda raised an eyebrow, clearly unaccustomed to being challenged, and let out a sarcastic laugh.

—I was just… taking care of him —she replied in an exaggeratedly sweet tone that only fueled Isabella’s fury further—. After all, who else would do it? You’ve only been here a few days. You don’t know anything about what he needs.

Isabella stared back at her, not moving an inch. She knew Miranda was lying. Ethan was scared, and this wasn’t the first time she had seen him like that after an encounter with that woman. Isabella’s hands trembled slightly, but she didn’t take her eyes off Miranda.

—Taking care of him? —she repeated, incredulity ringing in her voice—. What I saw was a terrified child. It doesn’t seem to me that you’re taking care of him, Miranda. What did you do to him? Why was he so scared?

Miranda dropped the pretense of false kindness. Her face hardened, and she stepped toward Isabella, invading her personal space with a look full of disdain.

—What do you know? —she hissed—. That child needs discipline, not a useless nanny who spoils him. Alexander leaves everything in my hands when he’s not around. You should remember your place here.

Isabella took a step back, feeling the palpable tension in the air, but she didn’t back down.

—My place here is to take care of Ethan —she replied firmly—, and if I see him scared because of you again, I’ll make sure Alexander knows exactly what’s going on.

Silence fell between them, and Miranda glared at her with eyes filled with contained fury. She said nothing more, but the unspoken threat in the air was clear. After a long moment, she turned on her h

eel and walked out of the room without another word, slamming the door behind her.