Alejandro turned abruptly, turning his back on Anaís. His fists clenched tightly as he fought the urge to yield to the child. He could not afford to show weakness, not now when he had come so far; besides, if he did, he would lose the respect of everyone.

"Miss Lucrecia," he called out in a tense voice to the nanny waiting on the threshold. "Take Anaís to her room. Regarding her refusal to eat—I do not believe she will carry out her threat. Surely, once she is hungry, she will eat."

As the nann