The Kane villa was quiet that evening, the kind of heavy, echoing quiet that made even the ticking of the clock seem loud. Down the wide hallway, a soft yellow light spilled from Mila's bedroom, where she sat cross-legged on her bed in a frilly nightdress patterned with tiny blue stars.
The nanny sat beside her, tucking the blanket around her legs and patting her shoulder. "Come on, little one, it's bedtime now," she said in a gentle, coaxing tone. "If you don't sleep soon, you'll be cranky in the morning."
Mila shook her head in a small, stubborn motion, making the loose strands of her silky dark hair sway and brush softly against her round cheeks. "I am not sleepy," she said.
"Then what do you want to do, little young miss?" the nanny asked with a sigh. She was tired working the entire day and wished to sleep soon. However, she couldn't until the little girl went to bed.
