<b>Chapter </b><b>191 </b>


    ylist: “Liability” by SWIM


    -MIA’S POV


    The Reid Oil and Tech building shone brightly like a ss symbol of everything I could not achieve.


    I walked through the marble lobby in my designer heels, each click echoing my frustration from yesterday’s humiliation with Vincent.


    Jessica’s office was on the fifteenth floor, far enough from Hunter’s executive level to


    safe, close enough to feel like torture.


    I found her hunched over spreadsheets, her auburn hair falling in messy waves


    her face.


    She looked up when I knocked, and her expression immediately shifted from skilled politeness to genuine concern.


    “Jesus, Mia. You look like shit.”


    “Good morning to you too.” I slumped into the chair across from her desk, suddenly exhausted by the effort of maintaining my perfect act.


    “Seriously, when was thest time you slept? Your mother called me asking if I had seen you. She’s worried.”


    I rolled my eyes, epting the coffee Jessica pushed across her desk. The first sip burned


    “My mother only cares about whether I’ll show up to whatever blind date she’s arranged this


    Jessicaughed, but there was no funniness in it. “Can you me her? She’s trying to help


    tongue, but I weed the pain.


    move on.”


    “Move on from what?”


    “From Hunter.” Jessica’s voice went quiet, careful. “Mia<b>, </b>how long are you going to keep obsessing over that man? It’s obvious he doesn’t have any romantic interest in you. He never has.”


    I ignored her words, focusing on the bitter taste of coffee and the way the morning light cut harsh shadows across her office.


    But Jessica wouldn’t let it go. She never did.


    “The man is expecting a second child, Mia. He seems serious about the woman he’s with. Really serious.”


    My hand tightened on the coffee cup. “So?”


    “So maybe it’s time to……”


    The cup hit her desk with enough force to make Jessica flinch. Coffee sshed across her papers, staining h


    quarterly reports brown.


    “Have you met her?” I asked quietly.


    Jessica blinked. “Who?”


    “Celine. Have you met Hunter’s little girlfriend?”


    “I… yes. At Caroline’s housewarming party.” Jessica grabbed napkins from her drawer, dabbing at the mess I had made.


    “Why?”


    I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a whisper that felt dangerous even to me. “Does she look suitable to stand beside <b>him</b><b>? </b><b>To </b><b>be </b><b>the face </b><b>of </b><b>the </b><b>Reid </b>empire?”


    <b>Chapter </b>191


    “I don’t <b>mind </b>if she’s his baby making machine,” I continued, the words tasting like poison


    “Let her pump out his heirs. But she was never meant to be by his side in public. She’s a maid, Jessica. A maid who got lucky<b>! </b>


    Jessica sighed, abandoning the coffee stained papers. “What are you nning to do? Hunter seems hell–bent on keeping her


    A smile curved my lips, cold and calcting. “I just need the perfect moment to be alone with him. To remind him what he’s losing


    <b>“</b>Mia……”


    “Caroline!” Jessica’s eyes widened, looking over my shoulder.


    I turned to see Hunter’s cousin walking toward the coffee counter, her blonde hair perfectly styled, her outfit effortlessly chic.


    She hadn’t noticed us yet, too focused on her phone.


    “That’s perfect,” Jessica murmured.


    “What?”


    Jessica turned back to me, excitement lighting her features. “Caroline’s bachelorette party is this weekend. She invited me and said I could bring a plus


    one.”


    My heart stopped, then started again with vicious hope. “Hunter will be there.”


    “Probably not at the bachelorette party itself, but…..”


    “But he’ll be involved in the wedding nning. He’ll be around.“My mind was spinning <b>as </b>I calcted the possibilities.


    “Caroline doesn’t like me.”


    “So?”


    I smiled, feeling truly happy for the first time in days. “So I’ll use anybody to get what I want.”


    I leaned closer to Jessica, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “So who’s your plus one going to be?”


    Jessica’s cheeks flushed pink. “I haven’t decided yet.”


    “Perfect. You have now.”


    ~CELINE’S POV~


    The Reid mansion looked exactly the same, yet everything felt different.


    Maybe it was because I wasn’t wearing a maid’s uniform. Maybe it was because Caesar was running ahead of me, shouting with joy instead of hiding behind my legs in fear.


    Or maybe it was because this time, I belonged here.


    “Miss Celine!” Head maid Sally rushed toward me with tears in her eyes, her arms open wide. “Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you!”


    I let myself be enveloped in her warm embrace, breathing in the familiar scent ofvender and vani that always surrounded <b>her</b>.


    “I missed you too, Sally.”


    09:31 TOO 26 AUTT JOM


    “And your” <b>Bally </b>crouched down as Caesar barreled into her arms. “Look how big you’ve gotten, my sweet boy!”


    <b>“</b>Sally) Guess what? I’m gonna have a baby sister or brother!”


    Sally’s eyes went wide, then found mine over Caesar’s head. The joy that spread across


    her weathered face was like sunshine<b>. </b>


    “Oh, honey,” she whispered. “That’s wonderful news.”


    Behind Sally. I could see Ana and the other staff watching us with expressions ranging from stunned to calcting. They probably never expected me to return here, especially not like this.


    To be honest, I never expected it either. Thest time I had been in this house, I had run away in the middle of the night with Caesar in my arms.


    Now I was walking back in as Hunter’s woman, the mother of his children. Not Celine–the–maid. Not Celine the gold–digger.


    Just Celine.


    “We’ve prepared everything for your arrival,” Sally said, taking Caesar’s hand. “Mr. Reid wanted everything to be perfect.”


    I followed her through the familiar halls, memories flooding with each step.


    The dining room where Caesar and Hunter had shared pancakes that first morning, before Hunter even knew Caesar was his son. The same table where Eleanor had tried to make me feel small.


    Hunter had renovated some of the spaces, but the memories remained like ghosts.


    “This is Caesar’s new room,” Sally announced, opening a door to reveal a space that made my breath catch.


    It was three times the size of his room at the penthouse, with floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking the garden.


    Toys and books filled custom–built shelves, and a reading nook had been created by the window with soft cushions and nkets.


    “Papa made this for me?” Caesar whispered, awed.


    “Your papa wanted you to have everything you could ever want,” Sally said softly.


    We continued down the hall to the master bedroom, and when Sally opened the door, I stopped breathing.


    The walls were covered with photographs. Not professional portraits or formal pictures, but candid shots of me.


    Meughing at something Caesar had said.


    Me sleeping with sunlight across my face. Me cooking in the kitchen, flour in my hair.


    When had Hunter taken these? How had I not noticed?


    “He really loves you,” Sally said quietly. “I never thought that boy was capable of loving anyone but himself. But seeing how happy he is with Caesar… it gives this old heart hope.”


    Tears burned behind my eyes. “Thank you, Sally.”


    “I’ll let you settle in. Dinner will be ready whenever you are.”


    <b>you </b>


    and


    After she left, I walked to the window, looking out over the gardens where Caesar was already ying with a ser ball. I pulled out my phone and dialed Hunter’s number.


    “How’s my girl?” His voice was warm honey over the phone.


    “Overwhelmed,” I admitted. “The pictures, Hunter… when did you take all those pictures?<b>” </b>


    <b>3/5 </b>


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    “Good. Because that’s just the beginning.


    We talked for another ten minutes, sweet nothings and promises that inaute my chest ware will contentment When mestly and dis was stun


    My phone rang again immediately.


    “Miss me already?” I answered without looking.


    “Only every second,” Caroline’s voiceughed through the speaker. “Where are you? We’re going out.”


    “Caroline, I just got back to the mansion. I should……”


    “Thirty minutes, Celine. I’m not taking no for an answer.”


    Thirty minutester, I found myself in a cooking ss Caroline had booked, watching her struggle to crack eggs without getting shell chunks es


    “I thought you said you could cook,” Iughed, gently taking the whisk from her hands.


    “I said I wanted to learn how to cook. There’s a difference.”


    I showed her how to properly separate the whites from the yolks, trying not tough at her look of intense concentration. <fn0dab> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0dab>


    “So Hunter moved you back to the mansion,” Caroline said, attempting to follow my technique. “Are you okay with that? I know most of the staff there…


    “Don’t like me,” I finished. “I know. But honestly, I prefer the mansion to the penthouse. It feels more like home.”


    Caroline looked shocked. “Really?”


    “Caesar’s happier here. And it’s where we started, you know? Where Hunter and I… figured things out.”


    “Well, if you say so. But if Ana or any of those bitter old bats try anything, you tell me. I’ll have their jobs.”


    Iughed. “Caroline, you can’t fire people for not liking me.”


    “Watch me.”


    We worked inpanionable silence for a while, Caroline slowly improving under my guidance. Finally, she brought up the topic I had been dreading.


    “So I’ve finally decided where I want to celebrate my bachelorette party.”


    I groaned. “Please tell me you’re not still serious about celebrating in another country.” Caroline’s eyes lit up with mischievous joy, and my stomach dropped.


    “Where?” I asked, though I already knew I didn’t want to hear the answer.


    Caroline’s grin was pure wickedness.


    “Las Vegas, bestie. We’re going to Las Vegas.”