1. Nora's fingers slightly traced the handwritten list taped inside the refrigerator door. The ink was faded at the edges, written in a graceful, rounded cursive that could only belong to Maribel.

By the end of the month, the Whitaker household had achieved what Steven, Jonathan's assistant, called "a miracle."

The house was running smoothly. Nora had officially agreed to transition from housekeeper to head residential care provider, though she insisted on keeping her night classes at the university. Jonathan had personally arranged for a private driver to take her to and from campus so she wouldn't have to rely on the late-night city buses.

However, peace in a billionaire's life is always a goal for those who wish to profit from chaos.

Enter Victoria Vance.

Victoria was Maribel's elder sister—a cold, glamorous woman who lived in an estate in La Jolla and saw Jonathan's immense wealth as a family asset that had been tragically mismanaged since her sister's death. Victoria had been quietly lobbying for legal guardianship of the six girls, arguing to the family courts that Jonathan was emotionally unstable and unfit to raise six young daughters alone. Her ultimate goal, of course, was to gain control of the massive trust fund Maribel had left for the children.

On a bright Saturday morning, Victoria's silver Mercedes pulled up to the iron gates. She stepped out wearing a pristine white suit, sunglasses, and a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

She walked into the mansion unannounced, her high heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

Nora was in the living room, helping Cora and Mae build a giant cardboard castle out of recycled delivery boxes. The girls were laughing, covered in glue and glitter.

Victoria stopped in her tracks, looking at the scene with utter disgust.

"What is the meaning of this filth?" Victoria snaps, using her designer umbrella to poke at one of the cardboard boxes. "Jonathan! Jonathan, where are you?"

Jonathan came down the stairs, wearing a comfortable sweater instead of his usual sharp business suit. "Victoria? What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on my nieces, and I find them living in a pigsty!" Victoria declared, pointing an accusatory finger at Nora. "And who is this girl? She looks like she belongs in a homeless shelter. Is this the latest servant you've dragged off the street?"

The twins immediately shrank behind Nora, clutching her apron.

Nora stood up smoothly, wiping glitter from her hands. She didn't raise her voice, nor did she shrink under Victoria's harsh gaze.

"I'm Nora Delgado," she said politely. "The children are working on a creative motor-skills project. It will be cleaned up before lunch."

"Don't talk to me, girl," Victoria sneezed. "Jonathan, this is unacceptable. I've filed a petition with Child Protective Services. An investigator will be here next week. Look at this house! It's chaotic! These girls need structure, a proper etiquette coach, and an aristocratic environment—not some uneducated nanny letting them play with garbage!"

"Nora is not uneducated," Jonathan said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy tone that made Victoria pause. "She is studying child psychology at the university. And this is my home, Victoria. The girls are happy, healthy, and safe."

"They are grieving children being raised by a girl who probably can't even spell 'psychology'!" Victoria scoffed, stepping closer to Nora. "Tell me, Miss Delgado, how much are you milking my brother-in-law for? Double pay? Triple? I know your type. You see a grieving rich man and you sink your claws in."

Nora looked Victoria dead in the eyes. "Mrs. Vance, with all due respect, the only claws I see in this room belong to the woman using her late sister's children as a bargaining chip for a trust fund. Now, if you'll excuse me, the girls and I have a castle to finish."

Victoria's jaw dropped in absolute shock. No servant had ever dared speak to her in such a manner.

"Jonathan!" Victoria shrieked. "Fire her! Fire her right now or I will bring the full force of my legal team down on this house!"

Jonathan stepped between Victoria and Nora, looking at his sister-in-law with complete disdain.

"Get out of my house, Victoria," Jonathan said quietly. "And if you ever speak to Nora or my daughters like that again, I will release the financial charity audit of your late husband's finished foundation that my legal team just reviewed. You know the one I mean."

Victoria's face drained of color. She realized Jonathan was no longer the broken, passive widower she had been bullied for six months. He had his strength back.

Without another word, Victoria turned on her heels and stormed out of the house, her clicking heels angrily against the floor.