Chapter 21: The Secret Brother
Moana

“Uncle Ethan!” Ella jumped up and ran over to Ethan. Smiling, he picked her up and twirled her around in a circle. The quiet air of the garden became briefly filled with the sweet sound of the little girl’s giggles before he sat her back down and patted her on the head.

“I think your grandma is looking for you,” he said, to which Ella immediately perked up and took off to find Verona.

I was still sitting on the bench, utterly shocked by Ethan’s presence. “Fancy seeing you here,” he said, walking up to me and standing in front of me so that his tall body blocked the light.

“Fancy seeing you here, too,” I said, standing. “I had no idea you were related to the Morgan family.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, running a hand through his hair. Even now, dressed in his formal attire, I could see a small smudge of paint on the artist’s left pinky. “The whole ‘Bradley’ last name is just a pseudonym. Well, sort of; it was my mother’s maiden name. I use it now to protect my true identity.”

I nodded, not sure of what to say. Ethan turned and walked over to the fountain, gesturing for me to follow, which I did.

“So… You’re Ella’s au pair, right?” Ethan asked as we slowly walked together around the garden. The summer air was still and humid, but the feeling of the cool spray coming off of the fountain was refreshing.

the direction where Ella had just gone.

stood, I could smell the citrus in the air. As we passed underneath the trees, Ethan casually reached up and plucked one. I watched as he expertly peeled the orange

be Ella’s nanny. I know how much the kids at the orphanage love you. Ella certainly seems to feel the

I replied. “I love

of the large colonnade, where the feeling of the cold marble

one side of the colonnade that looked

almost a little embarrassed by it. “I still live here now, part of the time, whenever I need to have

inside; I could hear music now, and the sound of laughter. Through one of the large draped windows that led to the banquet hall, I could see the silhouettes of people ballroom dancing. I

head a bit for a few moments before turning toward me and holding his hand

“Care for a dance?”

my face

don’t know how,” I admitted, staring down at

and pulling me away from the railing. “It’s easy. Besides, no one is here to see

his other hand on

“It’s like this…”

me, it was easy to move along with him. Soon enough,

enough to one another that I could smell the citrus on his breath. I felt my heart rate quicken and my face flush red

as it happened, Ethan placed me back on my

said. “Some might even call

but I knew that it would never happen; not only was

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