CELINE POV-


    The morning started with a quietness I couldn’t exin, soft sunlight flowed in through the tall window, casting long golden streaks across the marble floor,


    Last night memories still yed in my mind, i had forced myself to forget about it, not to overthink it.


    I work quietly beside the other maid in the dining room, fading napkins and wiping down crystal ssware.


    It was peaceful and I wanted it to remain that way but damn it, it didn’t.


    Not with the way Ana kept sneaking nces at me like she had something sitting wicked on the tip of her tongue. And I knew it was going to be hell the moment she opened her mouth.


    *That one guy who delivered winest week One of the maids, Elsie, said, breaking into a giggle. “Now he can flirt”


    “Too short” Ana Sniffed. “I like tall, handsome, smart, Capable men”


    She said casting a smirking nce towards the hallway, I did not need to follow it to know exactly who she meant.


    “You mean like Mr Reid” Elsie teased.


    Ana didn’t even pretend to be subtle. “He has everything a woman wants, I will do anything to <b>have </b>him just look at me….fuck those blue <b>eyes</b><b>” </b>


    I bit my lower lips, trying to stop myself from thinking about it, his touch, his smell. I shook my head.


    Ana turned towards me. “What about you, Celine? What is your type?”


    I froze, my hand halfway through straightening the cutlery. I looked up and blinked. I wasn’t used to like this, Especially not about men


    “I don’t <b>have </b>time for a rtionship” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the silverware. “Too busy”


    “Lidon’th


    Ana let out a dramatic scoff. “Did not seem too busy to get yourself knocked up, though.”


    pulled into conversation


    I stiffened. The napkin in my hand slipped, crumpling like paper. The other maids let out an “oh” sound, and I felt my blood boil.


    “What did you just say?” I turned to her, my voice low, sharp.


    Ana met my re with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh rx. Just saying… if you had time for that, you could at least tell us what kind of guy makes you forget your schedule.”


    My heart mmed against my ribs. A hot flush of shame and fury crawled up my neck.


    “Ana that’s enough, she looks embarrassed” Elsie tried to chipped in.


    “Ohe on, She keeps acting Innocent and busy but we all know her type,” Ana said with disgust. “Have you seen the way she acts around Sir Hunter, she has been eye fucking him”


    I scoffed in disbelief, I was about to speak when a voice cut through the chaos. It was cold and biting.


    “Interesting,ing from a maid who does not even know her ce.” Everyone fell silent.


    I raised a brow. “Caroline”


    I had not even heard here in. But there she stood, in cream–colored heels and an ivory silk blouse tucked into tailored <b>cks</b>.


    Her blonde hair framed her face in soft, effortless waves, like she belonged in a fashion spread instead of this house <b>full </b>of shitty people and dusting polish.


    Ana looked like someone had pped her.


    Caroline didn’t bother to spare her another nce as she strode over to me. “You have a high dream for a maid, wanting my cousin,” she said without smiling. “That’s almost cute. If it wasn’t so delusional<b>” </b>


    We all stood there watching and listening, I blinked at Caroline, surprised. <fn83d6> Get full chapters from F?ndNovel</fn83d6>


    “I did not know you were <b>here</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>I said softly trying to sound normal.


    Caroline smiled–one of those real, warm ones that made her beauty seem even more unfair. “I was. Now I’m here.” She reached out and grabbed my hand gently, tugging me toward the hallway.


    Behind us, I heard murmurs. Probably from Ana, licking her wounds with whispered spite.


    “Don’t listen to them,” Caroline said as we stepped into the hallway that led toward the main living room.


    The house was quieter here, all the hate and words I didn’t want to hear stayed in the dining room with the other Maids


    thought you were angry with me,” I admitted.


    She gave me a look. “Angry? Why?”


    “Because of that night. When I… danced with Hunter.”


    Caroline rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. “Please. I wasn’t angry, I was just protective. My cousin has a terrible. track record. And women like chasing power and money, he’s <b>both</b>.”


    I opened my mouth to defend myself but stopped. What would I even <b>say</b>? That I wasn’t like that? That I didn’t care about Hunter’s power?


    “I’m not interested in him,” I lied instead. “I don’t feel that way about him.


    Caroline didn’t blink, She just stared at me for a moment too long before giving a slow, knowing smile.


    *If you say so.”


    She linked her arm through mine like we were Sixteen again, sneaking out of school. “So? How’s it going here? How’s work?”


    I hesitated. For once, I didn’t want to pretend.


    “It hell” I whispered. “My so called boss is grumpy, cold, impossible to read. He doesn’t even look at me like I am human hall the


    time”


    Caroline threw her head back andughed like I’d told the best joke in the world. “That just means he kes <b>you</b>.”


    nu


    I shook my head, but the heat creeping up my neck betrayed me. Caroline smiled again. “How’s my godson?”


    “Ceasar?” I look around, that’s right, Ceasar, I had left him alone in the living room to y, hoping he wouldn’t distract me while 1 was working “He’s in there. But…”


    Caroline and I stepped toward the second main living room and the words died in my throat.


    Caesar was sitting on therge velvet couch, his feet dangling His bright little eyes were fixed on the woman sitting across from him.


    She was older and elegant, dressed in a fitted navy dress and a string of pearls that looked older than time. Her expression was hard. Unmoving


    Caesar kept smiling at her like he couldn’t even see the frost she radiated. But she didn’t smile back. Something in my gut twisted.


    , shit,” Caroline said as if she just saw someone she should not. Before I could speak–before I could even guess–another voice


    It came from behind us, smooth and low andpletely devoid of warmth.


    “Mother.”


    I flinched, spinning to find Hunter standing directly behind us. His face was unreadable. His eyes<b>, </b>were cold steel.


    I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I heard Caroline exhale sharply beside me.


    And for the first time in a long time… I was scared.


    色