Elissa, always attentive, rustled up some fruits and a small plate of beef stew for Brantley, who devoured them with the voracious appetite of a growing lad.

With a playful grin, the maid quipped, “Boys this age can eat a horse and still ask for dessert.”

Brantley’s face flushed with embarrassment as he shot back, “No way!”

Elissa chimed in gently, “She’s just teasing, kiddo.”

Brantley felt a lump form in his throat, torn between tears and gratitude.

Though he felt embarrassed, a flicker of joy spurred him on, and he attacked his homework with newfound energy.

Elissa reviewed his work with a critical eye, her standards firmer than Raphael’s.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of her phone shattered the quietude of the moment.

Brantley breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze fixed on Elissa as she conversed with Raphael, his ears straining to catch every word…

A persistent feeling of doubt gnawed at Brantley’s confidence.

Elissa glanced at him before saying softly into the phone,

And he’s eaten plenty.”

chuckle echoed from the other end of the

Brantley’s presence, Elissa carefully navigated the conversation, steering clear of any hint of

her tone turned stern

know better than

pen, stealing a glance at Elissa before bowing his head to the

additional attention… But the underlying reason was

children harbored a

the quiet of the night, the maid roused

Brantley’s having a

keeps calling out for

eyes, Elissa hastily donned a robe and hurried

the dim light, Brantley tossed and turned, caught in the

sweat dotted his forehead

suspicions: Brantley

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