e felt lighter than she had in weeks-more confident, more capable, more... herself. Teaching Ellio

f firmly: this was

ernoon sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.

already reviewing papers in the study. He looke

nctual," h

pared," she said,

s... advantageo

ag down and began arranging Elliot's lesson plans, but Nathaniel's gaze lingered on he

y uncontainable. "I have a question!" he sh

abella said, keepin

d something new: a faint tension in his shoulders. He wasn't relaxed li

's presence. He asked questions-not about the subject matter, but about how Elliot u

overlook," he said quietly, wh

she replied

ng people," he continued, "

e had to learn. People rarely

she caught a subtle flicker in his eyes-curiosit

athaniel poured two cups of tea,

ain?" she ask

ed the afternoon

ese small rituals. Something about his attention to detail,

t than I imagined,"

n eyebrow.

ought someone like you would be... unapproa

ppearances can be misleading," he sa

nt her words literally or if

understand,"

le. "That's alright. Some thing

skipped.

la found herself laughing more than usual, enjoying the easy exchanges, t

math problem to Elliot, and she felt the familiar tightening in her che

ort walk with the nanny, I

asy," Nathanie

at?" sh

. Being here.

t slightly. "I..

. His gray eyes held something she couldn't

o steady her thoughts. Fo

tle gestures, the faint tension she had glimpsed in him, the soft compliments

ing, and yet i

rief moment, she wondered what it would be like to live a life where these li

was fantasy. Not real. She had rebuilt her life carefully

fident than usual. She carried her bag with pu

early,"

she replied. "Quiet

he said. His tone was calm bu

head, intrigu

ords," he said lightly, though she sen

g not to press. There were things about him that could n

y perceptive that day. Isabella guided him patiently, occasionally excha

to the small things: the way she held her pen, how she spoke to Elliot

hest tighten

ed, Nathaniel walked

ickly," he said soft

t?" sh

d, his gray eyes me

, forcing herself to look away. "It's

seems," he replied, letting

and for a brief moment, their eyes met again. A flicker of something unspoken p

sed, she felt he

haniel. About the quiet attention he paid to her. Ab

ting. Confusing

her in ways she

, Nathaniel looked out over t

about reports, me

hinking

him more than h