My life was pretty good before. But after my daughter Zenna was born, it was like the world cracked open and poured in this light I didn't even know I was missing.

I used to think I'd be one of those guys who just "tolerated" fatherhood. I thought I'd show up for the big moments and leave the rest to my wife, Rita. Turns out, I'm a total softie.

One gurgle from that baby and I melt.

Diaper changes? No problem. Midnight feedings? Bring it on. I was in this. Fully.

Rita and I had been trying for years. I mean years.

Specialists, tests, and long nights filled with cautious hope and heartbreak. We'd just started talking about adoption when we found out that we were expecting. So yeah, we were grateful. And we didn't take a single moment for granted.

Everything was perfect after Zenna arrived. Okay, almost perfect.

Our golden retriever, Beau, was the one thing that had me scratching my head.

He'd always been the gentlest dog. The kind who'd greet the mailman like a long-lost friend, tail wagging so hard it could knock over furniture. He was loyal, affectionate, and loved kids. We'd rescued him a few months after we married, and he was family.

But after Zenna came home, he changed.

At first, we chalked it up to adjustment. He followed Rita around like a second tail, constantly alert. And when she'd put Zenna in the crib, Beau would plop down right next to it, eyes trained on the baby like a sentry on duty.

"Maybe he thinks she's a puppy," I joked once, trying to lighten the mood. But Rita just looked worried.

"He doesn't even sleep anymore," she whispered. "He's always watching."

We tried to see it as endearing. Beau, the guardian. Beau, the protector.

But when Chlóe entered the picture, things took a turn.

Chlóe was our nanny. We hired her when sleep deprivation made us feel like zombies. She came recommended, had a calm voice, a warm smile, and was great with babies. The first time she held Zenna, she cooed so gently it made Rita tear up.

But Beau? He hated her on sight.

The first day, he growled when she walked through the door. It wasn't a warning growl. It was an all-out "I don't trust you" sound, deep and throaty. We thought maybe he was just confused by the new presence.

Then he started blocking her path whenever she tried to pick up Zenna, barking and lunging between her and the crib.

Once, he even showed his teeth. That rattled us.

Chlóe texted us with nervous updates during her shifts.

"Hey, Beau's barking nonstop again."

"He won't let me change Zenna."

"Can you please kennel him next time?"

Rita and I were torn. We were barely functioning on four hours of sleep a night, and this tension with Beau was the last thing we needed.

He'd never shown signs of aggression before. But what if something snapped?

What if he hurt Chlóe?

Or worse… what if he hurt Zenna?

And just like that, the unthinkable crept in.

Maybe we needed to find Beau a new home.

I love that dog. He's part of our family.

And thinking about sending him to a new home made me feel bad. The guilt was too much.

So, we decided to come up with another solution. Something that meant our baby and Chlóe would be safe, and we wouldn't have to let go of Beau.

That Friday, Rita and I decided to go out on a date. Just to clear our minds.

We went for dinner at our favorite burger spot.

Chlóe had agreed to stay with Zenna for a few hours.

At that time, Beau was in the laundry room. The gate was closed, per her request.

Everything seemed fine until my phone buzzed on the table while we were enjoying our meal. Chlóe's name flashed across the screen.

I picked up.

"Derek!" she cried. "Beau… he tried to attack me! He went crazy when I picked up Zenna!"

I heard Zenna crying in the background. Chlóe was breathless.

At that point, Rita was already grabbing her purse.

We sped home like bats out of hell. Chlóe met us in the living room, clutching Zenna in a tight hold, her face pale.

Beau sat behind the baby gate, still as a statue, ears low.

"He lunged at me," Chlóe said. "I don't feel safe around him."

I nodded mutely, barely hearing her.

Something didn't sit right.

I knew Beau. Knew his heart. He'd growl, bark, even block someone's way… but lunge?

"Go sit down," I told Rita. "I need to check something."

I walked to the hallway closet and pulled out the security system monitor. We had a camera in the living room. Mostly to keep an eye on the baby when we were out. I pulled up the feed from earlier that night.

Fast-forwarded to when Chlóe arrived.

There she was… stepping through the door and greeting Beau with a wary glance. Zenna was in the bassinet. And there, slung over Chlóe's shoulder, was a small gray backpack.

We'd seen that bag before, but never thought much of it.

But then I watched as she glanced over her shoulder, slipped it off, and tucked it behind the couch.

My heart picked up speed.

She reached into the bag and pulled out a tablet. Sleek. Black.

Then, she propped it up on the coffee table, opened an app, and angled the camera toward the nursery.

I leaned in.

Chlóe was livestreaming.

At first, I thought I was seeing it wrong. But then the tablet screen lit up with hearts, emojis, and scrolling comments.

Chlóe smiled at the screen and whispered greetings. She aimed the tablet perfectly into the nursery, like she'd done it before. She even typed in a title across the bottom of the stream:

"Nanny Nights: Part 12."

Rita let out a sharp breath behind me.

We watched as Chlóe cooed at the camera like some influencer, chatting about Zenna's sleep habits, feeding schedule, and even how long she napped. Then came the caption, "Night routine with Baby Z 💕👶 #NannyLife"

I felt sick.

Our daughter's bedtime… was content.

We'd trusted this woman to care for our newborn. And she was broadcasting her every move to strangers. Who was watching? How many? And why?

Then came the worst part.

Zenna stirred in her crib. A small cough. Then a sharper one. Her legs kicked under the blanket, and she made this awful wheezing noise.

She was choking.

That's when Beau stood up immediately.

First, he nudged the crib with his nose. Then he barked.

But Chlóe didn't react. She was scrolling on her tablet, AirPods in, completely zoned out.

Beau barked louder. Climbed onto the rug. Nudged the blanket again.

Then, he turned and snapped his jaws in the air, right beside Chlóe's leg. Not to bite. Just enough to startle her.

And it worked.

Chlóe immediately yanked out her earbuds, jumped up, and rushed to the crib. She scooped Zenna into her arms, patted her back, and after a tense moment, our daughter cried out.

Chlóe held her tightly, eyes wide with fear. Not just fear for Zenna.

Fear of Beau.

And then she did something that made my skin crawl.

She backed out of the nursery, still holding Zenna. Shut the door. And locked it.

Beau was stuck inside.

I sat back, numb. My hands were shaking.

That night, after Chlóe left, I watched the footage again. Twice.

I noticed every bark, every snap, and every moment Beau tried to help.

He hadn't lost his mind. He hadn't been aggressive.

He was trying to save my daughter.

The next morning, Chlóe showed up with that same sweet voice and her grey backpack slung over one shoulder. She didn't know we knew.

Rita opened the door with a printed screenshot from the footage in her hand.

I still remember how Chlóe just froze when she looked at the screenshot. She didn't even bother saying anything. She clearly knew she'd messed up and there was nothing she could say to redeem herself.

She just turned back and left.

After the incident, we reported her stream, filed a complaint, and contacted the agency. I don't know if she'll face legal action, but I do know one thing. Beau is more than just family to us.

We got a silver tag engraved with the words, "Zenna's Guardian," and made him wear it.

And now, he still sleeps beside the crib. The only difference is that we won't make him leave.

We let him watch over her because we know who he really is. He's our baby girl's protector. He loves her as much as we do.

Honestly, I'm glad we hired Chlóe in the first place. Because what she did made us realize Beau's true worth. We don't need to worry about anything when we have him by our side.