The Billionaire’s Nanny

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

Snip.

The last stubborn branch fell to the ground.

Amelia stepped back and tilted her head, admiring yet another hedge she had trimmed all by herself.

Who knew she’d enjoy this so much?

She had spent the past three days helping the gardeners whenever Lily was at school.

It kept her busy.

More importantly…

It kept her away from Derek.

The estate seemed to have hundreds of gardeners tending to different sections of the enormous grounds.

As Amelia was about to begin another hedge, the gardener beside her chuckled.

“Are you sure this isn’t your real job?”

Amelia grinned widely. “Thank you.”

The gardener on her other side chimed in. “No, thank you.”

She looked at him. “For what?”

“You’ve been helping us every day.”

“You really didn’t have to.”

Another gardener added, wiping sweat from his forehead.. “You have no idea how much time you’ve saved us.”

Amelia raised a brow. “Time?”

The first gardener pointed at the endless rows of hedges and flower beds spread all around the estate. “Mrs. Sebastian wants everything finished before tomorrow.”

Amelia stopped.

So Lily really did have a mother.

She tried her best to keep the curiosity from showing. “Who?”

The gardener blinked. “Mrs. Sebastian?”

Another gardener let out a small laugh. “Who else?”

He continued trimming the hedge. “Mrs. Sebastian always gets what she wants.”

Someone cleared their throat a short distance away.

Every pair of pruning shears stopped.

Amelia turned to see Mrs. Potts with her arms folded standing just a few steps behind her.

“Lily’s laundry has been returned.” Her voice still as calm as ever. “Would you please go fold it?”

“Yes, Mrs. Potts,” Amelia replied before turning toward the mansion.

By the time she reached Lily’s room, a large pile of clothes covered half the bed.

School uniforms.

Tiny dresses.

She picked up the first dress and began to fold it when she noticed one of the buttons hanging by a single thread.

Immediately, she opened the bottom drawer of the dresser and took out a small sewing kit resting inside.

She threaded the needle and started sewing the button back on.

She had spent years believing she’d never do something as ordinary as this.

Fold her daughter’s clothes.

She sighed softly as her fingers caressed the plush fabric.

“Most people would’ve thrown it away.”

Amelia’s shoulders stiffened.

She looked up sharply.

Derek stood at the door holding a few shopping bags in one hand, an apologetic smile on his face.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I just came to drop off some things for Lily before heading back to work.”

Amelia said nothing.

She simply gave a small nod before turning her attention back to the dress.

As the silence continued between them, she heard him move to the bed and the rustling sound of the shopping bags as he dropped them.

Don’t say anything.

She kept sewing.

Just keep sewing.

But her lips betrayed her.

“It’s still perfectly good,” she said quietly, immediately regretting it.

For a moment there was no reply.

“Lily refuses to wear anything missing buttons.” Derek then spoke.

The faintest smile appeared on Amelia’s lips before she caught herself.

“Children usually do.”

The words came out naturally.

Almost instinctively.

Amelia’s smile faded and the silence settled between them once more.

“Did you disinfect that?”

Amelia raised her head to find Derek staring at the cut on her finger.

Before she could say anything, he stepped out and returned a few seconds later carrying a first aid kit.

He crouched beside her and gently reached for her hand.

But Amelia jerked it back.

“I can do it myself.”

She looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.

Derek stayed quiet for a moment. “Okay.”

He placed the kit beside her instead.

Amelia waited for him to get up and give her some distance, then she quickly grabbed the kit and wrapped the cut herself.

She picked up the dress again, and resumed sewing, hoping he would finally take the hint and leave.

She finished sewing the button and trimmed the thread.

Lifting the loose end to her lips, she blew on it gently before snipping it clean with a small pair of scissors.

It was an unconscious habit.

One she had done thousands of times.

Behind her, Derek’s voice came again.

“Have we… met before?”

Amelia tightened her grip on the dress.

“No.” She answered far too quickly.

Neither of them spoke.

“All right.”

He turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.

Only then did Amelia finally release the breath she’d been holding inside.

Being around him was a lot harder than she had imagined.

How could he look directly at her…

…and remember nothing?

DEREK’S POV

Derek stared at the document open on his laptop.

He hadn’t typed a single word in the last five minutes.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hand over his temples.

It wasn’t her face.

Or her voice.

Or even their conversation.

His mind kept circling back to one small detail.

The way she blew on that thread before cutting it.

He couldn’t resist the déjà vu he was feeling.

Someone else used to do that.

Someone…

He frowned.

Then laughed.

“Ridiculous.” He berated himself for letting his mind wander so far.

Pulling himself to reality, Derek sat forward again and forced his attention back to the screen.