Hayley sucked the last drop of the clumpy formula down. She pulled off the nipple and let out a loud, satisfying burp. The heavy weight of the milk in her stomach immediately triggered a wave of intense exhaustion. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she fell asleep almost instantly.

Edward stared at the empty bottle in his hand. He tossed it into the stainless steel sink with a loud clatter. It felt like he had just negotiated a hostile takeover.

He turned back to the bar. Hayley was fast asleep, wrapped tight in the ruined cashmere.

But the smell was still there. The faint, sharp odor of urine lingered in the air, scratching at his germaphobia.

There was absolutely no way he was changing a diaper.

He pulled his phone from his robe pocket and dialed his executive assistant, Corinne.

It was 2:00 AM. She answered on the second ring, her voice crisp and wide awake. "Mr. McClure. What do you need?"

"Fire the entire domestic staff," Edward ordered, his voice flat. "All of them."

"Understood," Corinne replied without missing a beat. "Severance will be wired by morning. Reason for termination?"

"Gross negligence," Edward snapped. "I need a new team. Specifically, a head nanny with a pediatric nursing degree and a Level One background check."

"I'll have a premium childcare team at the penthouse in thirty minutes." Corinne promised.

Edward hung up. He didn't look at Hayley again. He walked straight up the stairs, locked himself in his master bathroom, and turned the shower on scalding hot.

Hayley slept through the noise. The exhaustion of the infant body kept her under until a soft, warm sensation woke her up.

She opened her eyes. The cold marble counter was gone. She was lying in a brand-new, pristine crib. The wet, uncomfortable diaper had been replaced, and she was wearing a soft, dry cotton sleep sack.

A middle-aged woman in a crisp, gray uniform stood over her, holding a digital thermometer.

The woman smiled warmly. "Good morning, little angel. I'm Martha, your new nanny."

Hayley looked around. The nursery had been completely reorganized. Everything was spotless, and the air smelled faintly of lavender.

System update, the voice chimed in her head. Edward utilized his wealth to replace the entire staff at 3:00 AM.

Martha logged the temperature on an iPad. Hayley's stomach gave a small rumble. The terrible formula from last night hadn't lasted long.

Martha immediately walked over to the prep station to mix a fresh, perfectly measured bottle.

The nursery door opened.

Edward walked in. He was dressed in a flawless navy-blue bespoke suit, his tie perfectly knotted, his hair slicked back. He looked like a man ready to conquer the world.

He adjusted his cufflinks, his cold eyes sweeping over the clean room before landing on Martha.

Martha bowed her head respectfully. "Mr. McClure. The young miss's vitals are normal. I am preparing her morning feed."

Edward gave a short, dismissive nod. He turned on his heel, ready to leave for the office.

Warning! the system blared. Mandatory bonding task initiated. Do not let him leave without interaction!

Hayley panicked. She kicked her legs hard, throwing off the light blanket. She took a deep breath and let out a sharp, loud, "Ah!"

The sound cracked through the quiet room.

Edward's foot hovered over the threshold. He froze, his back stiffening.

Edward's foot slowly lowered to the floor. He turned around, his brow furrowed in deep irritation.

He stared at the small, pink bundle in the crib, waving her arms frantically. He assumed she had soiled herself again.

He looked at Martha, his voice dripping with impatience. "What is wrong with her now?"

Martha, completely unphased by his tone, smiled gently. "Mr. McClure, I believe she is asking for a morning hug before you leave."

The words "morning hug" hit Edward like a physical blow. His face went completely blank, his body stiffening as if Martha had suggested he jump out the window.

Hayley knew she had to sell it. She pushed herself up slightly, extending both her chubby arms directly toward Edward. She opened her mouth and gave him the widest, most toothless smile she could muster.

Edward stared at her. His mind instantly flashed back to the warm, spreading stain of urine on his suit the night before. He took a distinct step backward, his body physically rejecting the idea.

Task failing, the system warned. Target is retreating.

Hayley cursed internally. She dropped the smile. She squeezed her eyes tight, forcing a massive pool of tears to form. Her lower lip jutted out, trembling violently.

The instantaneous shift from a bright smile to utter heartbreak caught Edward off guard. The cold, mechanical rhythm of his heart stuttered.

Martha stepped in, her tone perfectly professional. "Infants who lack physical contact from their primary caregiver often develop severe separation anxiety. It can lead to deep-seated behavioral issues later in life."

The clinical terminology worked. Edward's brain processed "behavioral issues" as "future liabilities."

He let out a harsh breath, treating the situation like a necessary, unpleasant business transaction.

He walked slowly toward the crib. He reached down, his large, manicured hands hesitating before slipping under her armpits.

The moment his skin brushed against her cotton sleep sack, a shocking amount of heat transferred to his palms.

Edward tensed, but he didn't pull away. He lifted her up, holding her stiffly in front of him.

Hayley didn't waste a second. As soon as she was high enough, she threw her arms around his neck, locking her hands together.

She dropped her head forward, pressing her soft, warm cheek directly against his expensive silk tie. She nuzzled into his chest, letting out a soft, contented sigh.

The absolute trust in the gesture sent a jolt of electricity straight through Edward's chest.

His rigid spine relaxed for a fraction of a second. A strange, tight sensation bloomed in his throat. It was an emotion he couldn't name, and it terrified him.

His right hand twitched. He almost brought it up to cup the back of her small head.

Then, logic slammed back into him.

He was losing control.

Edward's eyes widened in panic. He grabbed Hayley by the waist and practically peeled her off his chest. He shoved her into Martha's waiting arms with frantic speed.

Hayley grunted at the sudden loss of gravity, but as she looked up, she saw a faint, undeniable flush creeping up the back of Edward's neck.

Edward aggressively smoothed down his tie, coughing to clear the tightness in his throat. His voice was harder and colder than usual. "Watch her. I likely won't be back tonight."

He turned and practically sprinted out of the nursery, desperate to put walls between himself and the terrifying vulnerability he had just felt.

Martha held Hayley, watching the billionaire flee. A small, knowing smile touched the nanny's lips.

Ding! the system chimed. Emotional barrier breached. Survival crisis temporarily averted.

Edward stood in the massive foyer of the penthouse, staring at his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

Corinne stood beside him, reading rapidly from her tablet. "The merger meeting with the board is set for 10:00 AM. They are expecting a full breakdown of the asset liquidation."

Edward strapped a heavy Patek Philippe watch to his wrist. His face was a mask of absolute authority. He had locked away the strange panic from the nursery. He was a CEO again.

Martha stood a few feet away, holding a wide-awake Hayley. It was standard protocol for the nanny to see the employer out.

Emergency Task, the system suddenly blared in Hayley's mind. You must prevent Edward from leaving alone. Failure will result in plot marginalization and a deduction of life points.

Hayley stared at Edward's broad, unyielding back. He was putting on his trench coat. He was fully armored. Trying to stop him now was suicide.

But the threat of losing life points left her no choice.

She took a deep breath and started to thrash in Martha's arms. She kicked her legs and threw her head back.

Martha tightened her grip, whispering soothing words, but Hayley ignored her.

Hayley filled her lungs and let out a piercing, glass-shattering scream.

The sound echoed violently against the marble walls of the foyer. Corinne stopped reading mid-sentence. Edward's hands froze on the lapels of his coat.

He turned around slowly. His gray-blue eyes were dark with fury. "What is the problem now? Is this how your premium team keeps her quiet?"

Martha looked stressed. "Mr. McClure, I apologize. Seeing you put on your coat may have triggered an acute episode of separation anxiety."

Hayley used the excuse perfectly. She reached both arms out toward Edward, sobbing hysterically. Tears streamed down her red face. She forced out wet, choked sounds that sounded desperately like, "Da-da."

Corinne took a step back, wisely removing herself from the line of fire.

Edward stared at the crying infant. The strange, tight feeling in his chest returned, battling violently with his need to leave.

"I have a two-billion-dollar acquisition meeting," Edward said through gritted teeth, trying to convince himself. "I do not have time for this."

The cough acted like a physical hook in Edward's spine.

It wasn't just a cry; it was a harsh, tearing sound that scraped violently against something primal and buried deep inside him. He pushed the door handle down halfway, but his arm locked. He stood frozen in the doorway for five agonizing seconds, his mind racing through a rapid, cold calculation. A delay of a few hours wouldn't kill the acquisition. But leaving this fragile, unpredictable liability unsupervised with a brand-new staff might lead to a much larger, messier disaster. It was a risk management decision. Nothing more.

Suddenly, he let go of the handle.

He spun around, his face dark as a thundercloud. He closed the distance between him and Martha in three massive strides. Before Martha could react, he snatched Hayley out of her arms.

The sudden movement shocked Hayley into silence. She stared up at his furious face, her breath hitching.

Edward held her against his chest. He turned his head to Corinne, his voice dead flat. "Push the meeting to this afternoon. I'll take it remotely."

Corinne gasped. "Sir, the board will be furious-"

Edward shot her a look that could freeze boiling water. "Tell them I have a personal matter that requires my immediate attention."

He turned to Martha. "Pack her things. Bring your team."

He took a deep breath, looking around the sterile penthouse. His eyes narrowed at the lingering, phantom scent of sour milk and utter incompetence that seemed to stain the walls. This space was too small, too exposed. He needed a completely controlled environment. A fortress where he dictated every variable. "We are going to the McClure estate in Long Island."

Corinne dropped her pen. Martha's eyes widened. Hayley felt her stomach drop. The Long Island estate was the villain's lair.

Edward didn't wait for them to process the shock. He pulled the edge of his trench coat over Hayley to shield her from the wind, and walked out the door.