Chapter 4 - The Gala of Glass and Gold
By the fourth week of Hannah’s employment, the Ralston estate was hosting its annual Summer Philanthropy Gala.
It was an event Victor hosted every year to raise millions for children’s hospital foundations—a cause close to his heart since Eleanor’s passing. Over three hundred high-society guests, politicians, foreign diplomats, and defense executives were set to arrive at six o'clock.
The mansion was transformed. Flowers lined the grand marble staircase, string quartets played near the terrace, and massive crystal chandeliers illuminated the sprawling ballroom.
Hannah had spent the afternoon ensuring the quadruplets and Ethan were washed, dressed in matching navy velvet mini-tuxedos, and settled in the third-floor media room with Mrs. Alvarez to watch movies.
At five-thirty, Hannah walked downstairs toward the kitchen to check on the catering staff.
As she passed the grand sitting room, she heard raised voices.
“Victor, darling, it’s completely absurd!” a high-pitched, aristocratic female voice sneered. “You’ve turned your home into a charity house for a common nanny and her fatherless child! People are talking!”
Hannah paused in the hallway, keeping out of sight behind a stone pillar.
Standing near the grand piano was Victoria Kensington—a tall, stunning blonde heiress in a sparkling silver sequined gown. Her father was one of the major board members of Ralston Global, and for two years, Victoria had made her intentions toward the wealthy widower crystal clear.
Victor stood near the fireplace, wearing a tailored black tuxedo, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
“Victoria,” Victor said flatly, sipping his bourbon. “Ms. Brooks is an employee of this household. Her personal life is none of your concern.”
“An employee?” Victoria scoffed, stepping closer and touching his lapel with her manicured hand. “She’s a waitress from Bridgeport! She’s taking advantage of your grief, Victor! My father and I heard about that pathetic scene at the front gate last week with her ex-husband. You’re letting trash drag down the Ralston name!”
Hannah felt a sharp, bitter pain slice through her heart. She turned on her heel, intending to slip quietly back up the stairs to her room.
“Victoria,” Victor’s voice rang out, dropping into a tone so cold it made the air in the sitting room freeze.
Hannah stopped.
“Remove your hand from my suit,” Victor said with quiet, lethal precision.
Victoria blinked, startled, pulling her hand back instantly. “Victor—”
“Hannah Brooks has done more for my sons in four weeks than twenty elite nanny agencies accomplished in two years,” Victor said, stepping back from her. “She has more grace, dignity, and strength in her little finger than half the people walking into my ballroom tonight. If you ever speak about her or her son with that disrespect again, I will have security escort you off my property.”
Victoria’s jaw dropped in absolute shock. “You’re defending a maid over me?”
“I am defending a woman I respect,” Victor corrected coldly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have guests to greet.”
Hannah’s heart pounded against her ribs so loudly she was certain they could hear it. She ducked into the service corridor just as Victor walked out into the foyer.
At eight o'clock, the gala was in full swing.
Hannah was standing near the edge of the terrace, enjoying a quiet moment in the cool night air, when she heard a commotion near the grand buffet table inside.
She rushed through the glass doors.
A crowd of wealthy guests had gathered near the chocolate fountain. In the center of the circle stood Victoria Kensington, her silver sequined dress dripping with rich, dark melted chocolate.
Standing five feet away were Mason, Noah, Oliver, and Theo.
Mason was holding a long wooden fruit skewer. Noah was adjusting his navy velvet cape. Oliver was quickly hiding a small, spring-loaded catapult toy into his pocket. And Theo was holding Ethan’s hand, both boys trying desperately to hide their grins.
“You little monsters!” Victoria shrieked, her voice echoing across the ballroom as she wiped chocolate off her diamond necklace. “You ruined my dress!”
“It was an accident!” Mason shouted innocently, though his eyes were dancing with mischief. “The catapult had a structural failure!”
“They did it on purpose!” Victoria screamed, looking around at the horrified guests. “Victor! Call the police! Have these brats locked up!”
Victor pushed through the crowd, his brow furrowed. Before he could speak, Hannah stepped firmly into the center of the circle, placing herself directly between Victoria and the five boys.
“That’s enough, Ms. Kensington,” Hannah said, her voice clear, calm, and commanding.
Victoria glared at Hannah with pure venom. “You! This is your fault! You trained them to attack me!”
Hannah didn't flinch. She picked up a linen napkin from a passing waiter’s tray and handed it to Victoria with a calm, steady hand.
“My boys made a mistake with a toy,” Hannah said, her tone smooth and immovable. “And they will apologize. But calling six-year-old children monsters in front of three hundred people shows a distinct lack of class, Ms. Kensington. The powder room is down the hall on the left. I suggest you go clean yourself up.”
A few muffled snickers erupted from the crowd of wealthy guests.
Victoria’s face turned bright red. She looked at Victor, expecting him to side with her, but Victor was staring at Hannah with an expression of open, breathtaking admiration.
Defeated and humiliated, Victoria turned and hurried out of the ballroom, holding her ruined silver dress.
The guests broke into quiet chuckles, returning to their conversations.
Hannah turned to the four quadruplets and Ethan, dropping to her knees so she was eye-level with them.
“Why did you do that?” she whispered, trying to keep a stern expression, though her eyes softened.
Mason looked down at his patent-leather shoes. “We heard her talking bad about you in the sitting room earlier.”
Noah nodded vigorously. “She called you trash. Nobody calls our Hannah trash.”
Oliver held up his wooden catapult. “So we recalculated the trajectory of the strawberry.”
Theo reached out his tiny hand and touched Hannah’s cheek softly. “You’re ours.”
Hannah felt a lump form in her throat so large she couldn't breathe. Tears pricked her eyes as she pulled all five boys into a warm, fierce hug, burying her face in their neat little velvet shoulders.
May you like
Standing above them, Victor looked down at the woman holding his entire world in her arms.
The last lingering wall around his heart shattered completely.
