Ford wasn’t new. He had been beside Dylan long before loyalty beca a choice.
The things that no one knew, he knew them all.
His gaze dipped toward the little girl in his boss’s arms.
"Rejections are always cruel. And Little Miss is too young to face it."
"Life has never been kind to anyone."
"It hasn’t," Ford said carefully, "but she is too small for the harsh lessons of life. Her heart is fragile. She might not —"
Dylan’s gaze stopped Ford mid-sentence.
He imdiately lowered his eyes from the mirror, guilt seeping in.
Dylan didn’t say a word —not even after a long mont of silence.
And Ford didn’t dare to look up again.
After a long mont, he finally mustered the courage. But still didn’t dare lift his gaze.
"Since the past has long been forgotten," he ventured, "can it not start over again?"
Dylan didn’t respond. The silence stretched —heavy, suffocating.
When Ford finally dared to look into the mirror, he t Dylan’s eyes, staring straight at him — still carrying the sa dark abyss within them.
"The past has long been forgotten," Dylan said, his voice low, yet nothing about it was subtle.
"But I still rember it all. Her. And everything that ended between us."
His fingers tightened slightly around Eira —just enough to betray restraint.
"I won’t go back on the word I gave her," he continued. "Even if keeping it costs more than breaking it ever would."
Before Ford could speak further, Little Eira stirred a little.
Her hand lifted to rub the corner of her eyes as she slowly woke up
"Daddy?" she called softly, turning to look at Dylan with a sleepy gaze. "Did we reach ho?"
Dylan glanced down at his daughter and nodded.
Eira shifted in his arms, turning to wrap her arms around his neck before resting her head against his shoulders.
She didn’t say another word, but her intent was clear.
Dylan lifted his gaze toward Ford.
And Ford imdiately understood.
Undoing his seatbelt, he stepped out of the car and moved to open the door.
Dylan’s arm tightened around Eira’s small fra, securing her in his embrace with practiced precision.
He stepped down swiftly, yet carefully, shielding her head as he did.
"You can retire for the day."
Ford nodded, giving a small bow.
After that, Dylan didn’t linger. With long strides, he walked into the house.
Ford remained where he was, watching until both figures disappeared completely from sight.
Only then did he exhale slowly.
Dylan Warren was a man who never broke his word. Especially the word he gave to the woman who had once been his undoing.
And that was precisely why Ford feared what would happen when the past refused to stay silent ... stay buried like it was supposed to be.
"So temptations," he murmured under his breath, "are too irresistible to be avoided for long."
"What temptation is this old soul after now?"
An arm suddenly flung around Ford’s shoulder, snapping him out of the reverie.
He turned quickly to look, only to see Karl quirking his brows at him.
"Don’t tell , you finally found a woman you are willing to share your old life with?"
Ford imdiately blushed. "Fourth Master, what are you saying? I have never been interested in finding anyone."
Karl pulled away his arm casually and stared at him. "Don’t tell you got it for the Old Demon?"
Ford looked at him, and Karl imdiately coughed.
"Ahem! I an —personalities like my brother carry a strong influence. What if you got infected by him?"
"There is nothing such —"
"Nothing such?" Karl cut in, suddenly excited. "Then does that an Old Demon is not incompetent at all?"
Ford was slightly dumbfounded. His eyes squinted a little as though he was trying to read what Karl was after.
When Karl noticed his expression, he quickly corrected himself.
"I an —Older Brother. Of course, he is THE Dylan Warren. The most competent man alive. I was just ... haha."
"Fourth Master," Ford said calmly, "are you here to see Boss?"
Karl almost nodded —until Ford added,
"Boss just took Little Miss inside. He is not in the right mood."
He paused.
"But if there’s anything urgent, you may go in."
"Urgent?" Karl repeated before laughing awkwardly. "Of course not! What could possibly be urgent at this hour? I am here for the ... view. Yes."
He turned, hand on his hips, scanning the surroundings.
"The view of Sanctuary Heights from my brother’s place is the best. I simply can’t sleep peacefully without coming here at least once every night."
Ford wasn’t unaware of Karl’s antics at all. So, when he heard him say that, he rely nodded.
"Then have you seen enough?" he asked.
Karl paused, studying Ford’s face, then nodded.
Stretching his lips in a big smile, he said, "Absolutely. Got the full view for tonight. I will head back to my place now and sleep ... very well."
He stepped back and waved at Ford.
"Bye-bye, Ford. Have a nice sleep ... I an, a good sleep." And then he turned and left quickly.
Ford watched as Karl sprinted off as if his life depended on it.
—————
anwhile, inside the house —
The old housekeeper stepped out of Eira’s room and paused when she saw Dylan.
"Master," she greeted politely before glancing back at the door she had just closed. "I have changed Young Miss into comfortable clothes. She is sleeping now."
Dylan nodded and then walked past her, heading straight towards the room.
Pushing the door open, he stepped inside.
Eira lay on her bed, under the blanket, sleeping peacefully
Dylan stood there for a long ti, unmoving —as though he were trying to make sure of sothing.
But what ...
That was hard to tell.
After a long stretch of ti, when he finally turned to leave, a small hand caught his sleeve, tugging gently as though scared.
"Daddy," Eira’s voice was soft, hesitant.
"Has Eira been a very bad baby?"
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