THE BILLIONAIRE'S NANNY

SOFIA SPEAKS

EPISODE 6: SOFIA SPEAKS

Day 9.

The lawyers came at 8 AM.

Three of them. In suits that cost more than my rent.

"Ms. Collins," the woman said. "I’m Ms. Reid. Mr. Bello’s attorney. We need to prep you for court."

Court. In 2 days.

Adrian was pacing. "They can’t do this. She abandoned us."

"She can still file," Ms. Reid said. "And with the media coverage, the judge will want to see the home environment."

That meant me.

Sofia was in the playroom. She hadn’t seen the news. But Lily had. "Mama, why are people saying mean things about us on TV?"

"Because some adults are stupid, baby."

---

Day 10.

Prep all day.

"Don’t say too much. Don’t say too little. Be honest. Be calm."

Adrian barely ate. He kept looking at Sofia like she might disappear.

That night, he knocked on my door at 1 AM.

"Can’t sleep," he said.

"Me neither."

We ended up on the floor of Sofia’s room. Both of us in chairs. Watching her sleep.

"I’m scared," he admitted. "If Vanessa wins..."

"She won’t," I said. "Not if Sofia has a choice."

"She’s 4. The judge might not—"

"Then we make the judge see her. Not the money. Not the mansion. Her."

Adrian looked at me. "You’re braver than me."

"No. I’m just too broke to be scared anymore."

He laughed. Quiet. "Thank you. For saying that."

---

Day 11. COURT DAY.

We all wore black. Even Lily.

The courthouse was cold. Cameras outside.

Vanessa was already there. Red dress. Crying already. Her lawyer had tissues ready.

"Mr. Bello," Vanessa said when she saw Adrian. "I just want what’s best for Sofia."

"You left," Adrian said. Flat. "That’s not best."

The judge was an older woman. Glasses. No smile.

"Let’s begin," she said.

2 hours of hell.

Vanessa’s lawyer: "Mr. Bello is unstable. Working 16 hour days. Bringing strangers into the home."

Adrian’s lawyer: "Ms. Vanessa abandoned the child 6 months ago. No calls. No visits. No support."

Then it was my turn.

"Ms. Collins. You’re the nanny?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"How long have you known Sofia?"

"8 days."

The courtroom murmured.

"And in 8 days, what has changed?"

I looked at Sofia. She was sitting between Adrian and me. Holding both our hands.

"She ate," I said. "She drew. She said two words. ‘More’ and ‘up’. She stopped having nightmares every night. She smiled."

"And why do you think that is?"

"Because she feels safe," I said. "With us. With Lily. With Mr. Bello. This isn’t about money. It’s about who shows up."

Vanessa’s lawyer stood up. "Ms. Collins, isn’t it true you were evicted before taking this job?"

"Yes."

"So you needed the money?"

"I needed a home for my daughter. And Sofia needed someone who wouldn’t leave her."

"Objection!"

"Sustained." The judge looked at me. "Thank you, Ms. Collins."

I sat down. My legs were shaking.

Then the judge said: "I would like to speak to the child."

The room went silent.

"Sofia Bello. Would you like to talk to me? In my chambers? With your parents?"

Everyone looked at Sofia.

She didn’t move.

Adrian knelt down. "Baby. It’s okay. You don’t have to."

Sofia looked at him. Then at me. Then at the judge.

And she stood up.

She walked to the judge. Small steps. Holding Adrian’s hand.

In chambers, it was just the 4 of us. Plus the judge and a court recorder.

"Sofia," the judge said gently. "Can you tell me who you live with?"

Sofia looked at the floor.

60 seconds passed.

The judge was about to say something else.

Then Sofia whispered.

"Daddy. And Amara. And Lily."

The recorder typed.

The judge leaned forward. "And who takes care of you, sweetie?"

Another long pause.

Sofia squeezed Adrian’s hand. Then mine.

"Daddy cooks. Amara makes pancakes. Lily plays with me."

Vanessa gasped. "She’s never—"

The judge held up a hand. "Ms. Vanessa. One more question, Sofia. Where do you want to live?"

Sofia looked up. Directly at the judge.

"Home," she said. Clear. "With Daddy."

Then she buried her face in Adrian’s leg.

The judge nodded. Wrote something down.

---

Back in the courtroom, 10 minutes later.

"I have made my decision," the judge said. "Based on the testimony of the child, and the evidence presented, primary custody will remain with Mr. Adrian Bello. Ms. Vanessa will have supervised visitation, once a month."

Vanessa started crying. Loud.

Adrian didn’t smile. He just picked Sofia up.

And held her. Tight.

Outside, reporters were screaming.

"Mr. Bello! How do you feel!"

"Ms. Collins! Is it true you’re dating him!"

Adrian put his hand on my back. "No comment. Let’s go home."

---

At home, it was quiet.

Sofia was in the playroom. Building a tower.

This time, she didn’t knock it down.

Adrian found me in the kitchen. Making tea.

"You did good today," he said.

"We did good."

He leaned against the counter. "She said my name. In court. ‘Daddy’."

"I heard."

"I haven’t heard that in 6 months."

I poured two cups. Handed him one.

"Thank you," he said. "For not leaving. For testifying. For... being here."

"You’re welcome."

We stood there. Drinking tea.

Then he set his cup down.

"Amara. Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you... have dinner with me? Not a meeting. Not about Sofia. Just... dinner. As two people."

My heart jumped. "Like a date?"

"Like dinner," he said quickly. "If you’re not comfortable—"

"I am," I said. "I am comfortable."

He smiled. That real one again. "Friday. 8 PM. Here. Chef will cook. No kids."

"No kids?"

"Mrs. Hayes will watch them. Just for 2 hours."

"Okay."

He looked relieved. "Okay."

---

Friday came fast.

I wore the black dress from the gala. Hair down.

Adrian opened the door in a black shirt. No tie.

"You look beautiful," he said.

"You look... not stressed."

"Today was the first day in 6 months I wasn’t stressed."

Dinner was pasta. Wine. Candles.

We talked. About Lily. About his job. About my mom.

He laughed twice. I hadn’t heard him laugh before.

After dinner, we were on the balcony. City lights below.

"It’s quiet," he said.

"Yeah."

He turned to me. "Amara, I—"

The door slid open.

Sofia. In pajamas. Holding her rabbit.

"Daddy?" she said.

Adrian knelt immediately. "What’s wrong baby?"

Sofia looked at me. Then at him.

"Can Amara sleep with us?"

My mouth dropped.

Adrian looked at me. Shocked. Then soft.

"Yeah," he said. "Amara can sleep with us."

Sofia took my hand. And Adrian’s.

And the three of us walked to her room.

Rule 1: Don’t get attached.

I burned that rule a long time ago.

[END OF EPISODE 6]

Did Sofia just ask Amara to be part of the family?? COMMENT NOW 👇

# Stary Writing Marathon #Contemporary #Billionaire #SingleMom #Nanny #Healing #Kids #FoundFamily #CourtDrama #SlowBurn