Chapter 32: A Baby’s Instinct

The two nannies finally settled on a bench adjacent to the one occupied by Isobel, Ella, Anna, and the twins.

Even Kristoffer and Kirsten began squirming in their stroller.

The crying was impossible to ignore.

One of the nannies hurriedly prepared a bottle and attempted to feed the baby. The infant immediately turned his head away.

A fresh wave of cries erupted from his tiny lungs.

Isobel watched carefully. Only now did she notice the thick little coat wrapped around the child.

The hall was warm. Too warm for such heavy clothing.

"Why don’t you take off his coat first?" she suggested softly. "He might be uncomfortable."

The nanny glanced at her.

As a professional caregiver who had spent years looking after children from prominent families, she knew enough to recognize a reasonable suggestion.

Truthfully, she had suspected the same thing.

The problem was that Charlotte, the baby’s mother, had specifically insisted he wear the coat.

Still, the baby’s distress was becoming impossible to ignore.

The nanny carefully removed the coat. For a brief moment, the crying stopped.

Hope flickered across both nannies’ faces.

Then, after only a few seconds of silence, the baby cried again, louder than before.

His little body shook with every sob.

"Don’t you think he’s hungry?" Isobel asked. Concern colored her voice.

She still couldn’t get a proper look at the baby’s face. His arms were flailing constantly, and he kept nuzzling against the nanny’s chest as though searching for something.

The relentless cries continued. It was heartbreaking.

Isobel felt a growing ache in her chest. She could no longer sit still.

"May I hold him?"

Both nannies froze.

The woman carrying the baby immediately tightened her hold and looked at Isobel suspiciously.

This wasn’t just any child. This was Alexander Dalton. The sole heir of the Dalton family.

What if this stranger harbored ill intentions?

Understanding the caution in her gaze, Isobel quickly spoke.

"These twins belong to Morgan Foster."

She gestured toward Kristoffer and Kirsten in their stroller.

"I’ve been taking care of them since they were born."

The nanny hesitated.

Morgan Foster. Wasn’t he ranked the top tycoon in Novare? One notch higher than their boss?

Alexander’s cries had become hoarse. His tiny face was flushed from crying so hard.

At this rate, he might make himself sick.

"Please," Isobel said gently. "Let me try."

There was something calming about her voice. Something reassuring.

After a moment’s hesitation, the nanny surrendered.

Carefully, she transferred the baby into Isobel’s waiting arms.

At the same time, she discreetly motioned for the second nanny.

Go find Mr. Dalton. Now.

The second nanny hurried away.

The moment Alexander settled against Isobel’s chest, the crying stopped.

Just like that. It was like magic. The abrupt change was so startling that everyone nearby stared.

The baby who had been screaming inconsolably only seconds ago suddenly became still.

His tiny fingers curled against Isobel’s dress.

His body relaxed. The tension drained from his little limbs. A soft sigh escaped him. As though he had finally found the place he had been searching for.

The entire hall seemed to hold its breath. Even the other nannies who gathered around exchanged stunned looks.

Alexander slowly blinked open his eyes. A pair of large, dark and beautiful orbs.

For the first time, Isobel got a clear look at him.

Her breath caught.

The baby’s gaze locked onto hers. And she found herself staring into a pair of obsidian-black eyes.

Eyes that looked startlingly familiar.

Eyes exactly like her own!

Something deep inside her trembled.

Alexander continued staring at her with solemn curiosity.

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, a tiny smile appeared on his face.

A smile meant only for her.

...

Then Alexander turned his head and burrowed against her chest.

Instinctively rooting. His tiny mouth searched desperately through the fabric of her dress.

He found nothing.

The baby sucked on the cloth for a few seconds before realizing it wasn’t what he wanted.

His little face immediately scrunched up in displeasure.

A tiny scowl appeared between his brows. Then his lower lip trembled.

"He is hungry."

Isobel looked toward the nanny who was still clutching the bottle.

The woman immediately handed it over.

Taking the bottle, Isobel gently guided the teat toward Alexander’s tiny mouth.

For a moment, he accepted it.

Then he pushed it away.

Instead of drinking, he continued nuzzling against Isobel’s chest.

Again and again.

Growing more frantic each time.

His tiny fists grabbed at her clothes while his face rubbed against her.

Searching. Looking. Trying to find something his instincts told him should be there.

When he failed, frustration overtook him. A loud cry burst from his lips. The sound was heart-wrenching.

Several nearby nannies exchanged glances.

"Why don’t you just feed him?" one suggested softly.

"I think he likes you."

The others nodded in agreement.

The way the baby had instantly quieted in Isobel’s arms was something they had all witnessed.

"But I already have two babies to feed," Isobel said hesitantly.

Her gaze dropped to Alexander.

"Besides... it wouldn’t be appropriate."

The truth was, she wanted to. Every instinct inside her urged her to comfort him.

Yet she didn’t even know who the baby belonged to. He was clearly from an important family. What if something happened afterward? What if she was blamed?

Before anyone could respond, Alexander stopped crying and started wailing.

This time even louder than before. His tiny face reddened. Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

He was so hungry.

And because he couldn’t express it any other way, all he could do was cry.

The nanny standing beside them shifted anxiously.

Her fingers twisted together.

She had tried everything. The bottle. Rocking. Walking. Singing.

Nothing worked.

Meanwhile, the baby continued reaching for Isobel.

The sight finally broke her resolve.

"Please," the nanny said quietly. "Feed him."

The desperation in her voice was impossible to miss.

After a brief hesitation, Isobel nodded.

But fear lingered in the back of her mind.

The baby clearly belonged to a wealthy and influential family. If his parents disapproved, they could easily accuse her of crossing a line she had no business crossing.

The possibility should have made her step back.

It should have made her hand him over and walk away.

Instead, she found herself staring at his tiny, reddened face as he cried himself hoarse.

Something inside her broke.

His cries pierced straight through her defenses and reached the deepest part of her heart.

In that moment, she was no longer thinking about consequences, status, or propriety.

She was simply a mother faced with a hungry baby.

Her maternal instincts overpowered every doubt and fear.

Whatever consequences awaited her afterward, she would face them when the time came.