With the last bite, he speedily chewed his food and drank the remaining milk in one gulp, almost choking in his haste.

"Hey, slow down." Nanny Rosita’s hand immediately held him by the shoulder, stopping him before he could bolt out of the room.

"I’ve finished my food. Can I now go outside?" He politely said, beaming at his nanny with a sweet smile, even giving the older woman a pleading look.

He looked down excitedly at his new best friend, who had finished its food in a flash and had been patiently waiting for him, lying lazily on its stomach at his feet.

"Come on, Kenji." He beckoned the large Labrador once his nanny gave him a nod, patting him on the back to follow him. "Let’s play outside." Rushing to the back door.

The dog obediently obeyed, as if it had known its new master for a long time. Wagging its tail, Kenji strode behind the young boy until they reached the courtyard.

Then, as if unleashed, Kenji ran wildly on the grassy lawn. This time, Caleb ran after the dog, laughing hysterically as the tamed beast played with him.

"Careful, Caleb..." Nanny Rosita shouted, not far behind. "Don’t run too fast." Again, his nanny shouted, concern laced in her voice.

Since he could remember, everyone had told him that he could not do this. He could not do that.

His body was just too fragile to do anything. But since Kenji arrived, he had never felt much alive. It felt like he could do anything and everything.

"Stop worrying, Nanny Rosita." He breathlessly shrieked as Kenji tagged on his shirt as if trying to get his attention. His nanny was just overreacting. Worrying too much for nothing.

"I’m fine." He grabbed the dog by its collar and hugged it tightly. "Isn’t that right, Kenji?" As if the dog agreed with him, he barked several times.

Truthfully, his life had been lonely. Except for his grandparents and Nanny Rosita, he hardly had anyone to play with.

Hazel never loved him. His mother even left without giving him a second glance. Sometimes, he wondered if she was truly his mother since she had never once shown him any affection.

Although he knew his father loved him, Oliver had been too busy running their empire. He hardly had time to play with him or even to tuck him to sleep.

"Just don’t overdo it." The warning in his nanny’s tone was very clear and sharp.

Of course, his health condition had confined him mostly to this mansion or in the hospital, making it hard for him to make any actual friends. He couldn’t even go to a regular school.

But since Sophia came into his life, many things had changed.

Sophia became the mother that he never had.

Suddenly, his father was making an effort to spend more time with him.

Now, he even had a dog to play with. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I promise..." He cheerfully replied as he threw a ball across the yard. "Go fetch, Kenji." He shouted, pointing in the direction where the ball landed.

The dog ran on cue, chasing the ball as it rolled down the descending slope. Then, it returned with the ball fastened securely in its mouth.

"Good boy!" He patted the dog on the head as the lively animal handed him the ball. For a few minutes, they continued with the same pattern until they both ended in a heap on the grass.

"Caleb, why don’t you come here. Maria prepared your favorite snack." Nanny Rosita called to him.

Immediately, he ran toward his nanny with his dog tagging along. Then, he noticed the young woman in uniform.

"You’re new." He commented on the maid who delivered the pitcher of fresh watermelon smoothie and newly baked blueberry muffins. "I haven’t seen you around before."

His eyes studied the young girl who had pretty eyes and a friendly smile that curved around her lips.

"Actually, she is Leah, Maria’s daughter." Nanny Rosita informed him. "She is working on the estate part-time."

"Hi! I’m Caleb." He quickly introduced himself. "This is Kenji, my friend. He is also staying with us while his owner is away."

Maria’s daughter immediately knelt before the dog and gently touched its fur. "Hello there, Kenji." She said in a mild voice. It was so soft that he thought she sounded like the angel in his dreams.

Kenji appeared to like her, too, as he barked at her before licking her hand.

"And it’s nice to finally meet you, Caleb." Leah turned to him with a lovely gaze. Then, her hand stretched before him, touching him so gently on his head, slightly messing his hair.

Leah poured the juice into a tall glass before handing it to him. "Drink up before you get dehydrated." Then, she placed a piece of muffin in the saucer.

After putting his food in front of him, she went back inside. This time, when she returned, she had a bowl of water and food for Kenji. "Did you think I forgot about you?" She bent down and petted the dog.

"What will you two say?" Nanny Rosita looked between him and his pet with a reprimanding stare.

"Thanks, Leah." He quickly said, knowing that his nanny had taught him to always be polite. "Why don’t you join us? There’s plenty of food for everyone." His little fingers pointed to the muffins on the table. Even Nanny Rosita had already taken one.

"You’re so sweet." Leah smiled at him so tenderly that for a second, his heart skipped a beat. "But I can’t join you. I’m working." She pointed to her uniform.

"And you’re so beautiful." He said, unable to help himself from admiring her.

His eyes could not stop staring at her face, as if he wanted to engrave every detail into memory.

Suddenly, Leah stared down at her feet as heat and color crept into her cheeks. She looked quite mortified.

Immediately, his dog also looked up and barked a few times as if it agreed with him.

"Aren’t you too young to have such a sweet tongue?" Leah finally recovered from her embarrassment and smiled at him.

"Well, you’re single, and I’m..."

"An adorable kid." Leah finished his sentence.

"Hey, little Romeo. Slow down..."