The morning light seeped gently through the slightly parted curtains, casting a warm glow over Reiner’s room. Elise moved cautiously, tidying up the spacious space. With practiced hands, she replaced the air freshener, wiped the small table, and laid out Reiner’s clothes neatly on the sofa. Earphones nestled in her ears caused her to occasionally nod her head to the rhythm of the song she was listening to, her body unconsciously swaying lightly.
On the bed, Reiner slowly opened his eyes. He had been awake for a while but chose to stay quiet, observing Elise’s movements. A smirk formed on his lips as he watched the maid working with a serious expression that, somehow, appeared endearing. Unaware that she was being watched, Elise murmured softly to herself.
"Why do I have to work in someone’s room while they’re still asleep? What a strange rule..." Her voice was low but loud enough for Reiner to catch.
&nbs
Elise was wiping down the kitchen table while chatting with Will, who had just finished placing groceries in the pantry. Their conversation was light, revolving around the daily routines of the large estate. Elise gave a small smile at Will’s joke, though she remained focused on her task.“So, are you getting used to things here?” Will asked, leaning against the wall, his curious gaze resting on her.Elise nodded slightly. “Yes, though there are still a few things I need to learn.”Will grinned. “Good. But be careful. This house is full of unwritten rules. Don’t misstep, especially with—”Before Will could finish, a loud voice boomed from the direction of the stairs.“Elise!”Reiner’s deep voice echoed, making Elise stop mid-motion. The other staff in the kitchen turned to look, exchangin
The night grew late, and Elise held her breath as she stood in front of Reiner's slightly ajar bedroom door. The dim light from within made the room appear both grand and intimidating. But she had no other choice. Her younger sister Lily’s music player might have fallen into this room when Elise was tidying up earlier that morning. It was an important item, and she couldn’t leave without finding it.Elise stepped inside cautiously, her movements barely making a sound. Her heart pounded in her chest, threatening to burst out. Her eyes swept over the quiet room, her feet slowly moving toward the area near the laundry basket. There was nothing there. Frustrated, Elise began searching other spots, checking the small table by the bed and the tall bookshelf in the corner.Her search was interrupted when something fell from one of the shelves. A faded photograph fluttered gently to the floor at her feet. Hesi
After finishing a simple dinner with her younger sister, Lily, Elise sat on the old chair on their house's porch. The rain was still falling softly, creating a soothing symphony of nature, though her mind was crowded with unanswered questions.Elise gazed at the wet streets, trying to ease the tension lingering since the incident in Reiner's room. Yet, curiosity kept haunting her thoughts."Why do all the servants always quit working at that house?" Elise murmured softly, almost like talking to herself.During her time working there, she often heard stories from other servants. That grand house, despite its splendor, seemed to have an atmosphere that weighed people down. Some mentioned Reiner’s name with fear, while others simply shook their heads when asked about the family. Even Will, usually friendly, was extraordinarily cautious when speaking about his employers.Elise recalled a conversati
Part 17That morning, Elise tried to calm her mind, attempting to ease the lingering exhaustion in her body after a long night. Mr. Abraham's study felt quieter than usual, the only sound coming from her brush as she dusted the untouched bookshelves. However, as she ventured deeper into the room, a conversation from Mr. Abraham's office caught her ear—a familiar voice, though the tension in the air was palpable.Mr. Abraham and Reiner were engaged in what sounded like a serious discussion. Elise paused for a moment, cautiously approaching the door to listen more closely."…why do you keep bringing this up? Do you think I don’t already know?" Mr. Abraham’s voice was firm, accompanied by the sound of a chair shifting."I just want this resolved," Reiner replied, his tone much colder. "We already know what happened with that shipment. I’ve gone through everything. But some
Reiner sat at the large desk in his room, his vacant gaze fixed on the scattered documents before him. His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he had just had with his grandfather and father. The name Padma Lawrent echoed in his mind again—the woman whose beautiful face had once filled his heart. She appeared like a shadow, impossible to erase. Five years had passed, yet the memories refused to fade.He let out a long sigh, trying to dispel the emotions clawing at him. The stillness of the room was broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. But there was something he couldn’t ignore—something larger than just memories. The missing oil shipment, the constant flow of information, and the doubts gnawing at his mind. Was Padma connected to this? Her family? Or perhaps... the past?“Sir, why are you lost in thought again?” Danny's voice interrupted his reverie, a subtle reminder of his presence as he
The night was late, yet the streets remained busy with vehicles passing by. Reiner walked along the sidewalk, hands tucked into the pockets of his suit jacket, his steps heavy from the several glasses of alcohol he had consumed. Though his face remained cold, his mind was consumed by the name Eva had just mentioned.Eva, dressed in a striking red gown that clung perfectly to her figure, struggled to keep up with Reiner’s longer strides. The sound of her high heels echoed on the pavement, adding an awkward rhythm to the silence between them."Reiner," Eva called out, her voice sweet and coy, trying to catch his attention.Reiner merely snorted, not slowing his pace."Is it true, what I heard earlier?" Eva continued. "Padma. Who is she? A woman you once loved?"Reiner halted in his tracks. He turned, his sharp gaze piercing enough to make anyone feel insignificant. Yet Eva st
Just as Reiner entered the narrow, dimly lit road leading to Elise's residence, his phone vibrated. Danny’s name appeared on the screen, and without hesitation, Reiner pressed the green button.“I’ve got news about that oil transport truck,” Danny’s voice sounded rushed.Reiner gripped the steering wheel tighter. “What? Did you find it?”“I can’t explain over the phone. We need to meet in person. But... this is big, Rei. Really big.”Reiner paused for a moment before ending the call without further response. His eyes focused on the narrow road ahead, but his mind was already overwhelmed with troubling possibilities.“Elise, come out for a moment,” he said the moment they arrived in front of her house.Elise frowned, hesitating to follow his instruction. “What’s going on? Why do you look so
Chapter 21That morning, the sun had just risen over the horizon. The main floor of the grand house was still bathed in the haze of dawn when the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the stairs. Reiner descended with determined steps, dressed sharply despite having woken up not long ago. Something seemed to propel him to move faster toward a purpose he had already set.Barbra, brewing coffee in the kitchen, turned her head upon hearing her son’s footsteps. She glanced at the wall clock, surprised at the early hour.“Rei?” Barbra called out, slightly confused, watching her son head toward the front door. “Where are you going? It’s still so early.”Reiner paused briefly, looking at his mother. His expression was blank, giving away little.“To Elise’s house,” he replied curtly.Barbra froze, trying to process his words. That name echoed in her mind. Elise. Never in their family’s history had Reiner shown any particular interest in a
Elise hurried toward the front yard after hastily cleaning herself up. Her face was still damp, her half-dry hair loosely tied back, and though her uniform looked neater, faint wrinkles remained on the sleeves.As she approached the black car parked nearby, she saw Reiner standing beside the vehicle, arms crossed over his chest. His expression was blank, but his slightly raised chin added to his signature arrogance.“Took you long enough,” Reiner muttered, glancing at his watch.Elise swallowed hard, stopping in her tracks, her legs trembling slightly. “I apologize, sir. I came as soon as—”“Open the door.”His voice was flat, devoid of anger, yet sharp enough to cut off her explanation. Elise hesitated for a moment, feeling that his curt order hardly matched the effort she had just put in. But she knew arguing was pointless. 
Elise crouched by the poolside, using a cleaning net to scoop out dry leaves. Occasionally, she let out a quiet sigh. The gentle rippling of the water beneath her feet was soothing, but her mind was unsettled."Greta… she always acts like she’s better than everyone else," Elise muttered under her breath, her voice just audible over the rustling breeze. "And Mrs. Barbra? Instead of giving proper orders, she sent me to clean the pool. Does she not realize this is a daytime task, not something to be done first thing in the morning?"Her lips pursed in protest as she stirred the water with the net, creating tiny bubbles on the surface. "What am I, a robot? A servant is a servant, but that doesn’t mean I deserve to be treated like trash. If they think I’m trying to get attention, they couldn’t be more wrong!"As Elise continued grumbling to herself, she was unaware that from behind the glass wal
The sharp clack of Barbra’s high heels echoed through the narrow hallway, which was filled with the scent of floor cleaner. Elise, just stepping out of the bathroom in a towel robe, nearly dropped the small towel she was holding when she saw the elegant yet intimidating figure standing before her.“Mrs. Barbra?” Elise’s voice trembled as she spoke, her gaze immediately dropping in an attempt to avoid Barbra’s piercing stare.Barbra glanced around with a look of disdain, like a queen who had wandered into a slum. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, she swore she would never set foot in this place.“You’re quite something, Elise. Your innocent act is very convincing.”Elise lifted her head slightly, still overwhelmed by fear and confusion. “I-I’m sorry, Madam… What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
The evening sky was overcast when Elise arrived at the small house she hadn’t visited in a long time. As soon as she knocked on the door, hurried footsteps sounded from inside. The door swung open quickly, revealing Lily, her ten-year-old younger sister, with sparkling eyes."Elise!"Lily immediately threw herself into Elise’s arms, sobbing against her sister’s shoulder. Elise hugged her back, gently stroking her hair, trying to hold back the tears welling in her eyes."Lily, I’m here. Don’t cry, okay?"But Elise’s voice trembled with emotion. She released the hug and took Lily’s hand, leading her inside."Come on, let’s talk inside."In the simple living room, Elise opened her bag and took out some gifts. Lily’s eyes lit up again when she saw the chocolates and a new storybook."You always know wha
That afternoon, drizzles of rain streaked the large glass windows in Mr. Gale’s living room. Barbra busied herself adjusting the table decorations, ensuring the flowers in the vase were perfectly arranged. Greta stood near the door, holding a tray of freshly prepared tea.Barbra glanced at the wall clock, her face tense.“Eva should be here by now. Greta, make sure she doesn’t get wet when stepping out of the car,” Barbra instructed.“Yes, Madam,” Greta replied.Barbra walked toward Gale, who was seated in a leather armchair, reading the newspaper. He slowly closed it and looked up with a weary expression as Barbra started speaking.“My husband, you need to talk to Reiner later. I want him to be serious about Eva.”Gale sighed. “Barbra, Reiner is not a child anymore. You know he hates being forced.”“That’s because he’s stubborn—just like his father. But I know what’s best for this family. Eva is the right choice, and I won’t allow any intruders to interfere—”Barbra stopped mid-sente
Chapter 35 – The Unseen BattleThat afternoon, a sudden call from Madame Barbra took Elise by surprise. She was arranging a flower vase in the living room when one of the maids relayed the message."Madame Barbra wants you in her room now," Sofia said curtly.Elise nodded obediently, but her heart started to race. She walked down the long hallway on the other side of the main house, where Madame Barbra’s room was located. As she passed by Greta, who was wiping a shelf in the corner, she felt the woman’s sharp gaze burning into her back."Good luck, Elise," Greta’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Elise kept her head down, unwilling to engage.When she reached the door to Madame Barbra’s room, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm herself. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ve done nothing wrong, she reassured herself.A soft knock on the wooden door was met with a firm voice from inside."Come in."El
Elise woke up with a strange feeling. Her half-conscious hand touched something warm, muscular, and lightly covered with hair. She swallowed hard, her mind instantly racing to terrifying scenarios she didn’t dare to consider."Is this... a pillow?" she mumbled softly, trying to find a reasonable explanation.But as her eyes slowly opened, she almost jumped. It wasn’t a pillow she had touched—it was Reiner’s arm, looking as solid and impressive as those she often saw in television dramas. The man was still fast asleep, his face calm, with slightly tousled hair that somehow made him look even more... attractive.Panic crept up Elise’s spine. She quickly withdrew her hand from Reiner’s arm as if she had been electrocuted. Had this just happened? Or was it last night? Her mind spun with unanswered questions.She glanced at Reiner again, ensuring he was still asleep. Moving carefully, Elise slid off the bed. Her hands hurriedly straightened h
Elise walked slowly toward the large sofa in the middle of the room. She felt confused and nervous as she realized how silent the hotel room had become. But her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. Reiner was still in there, probably washing his face after stepping out onto the balcony ten minutes ago.Feeling safe, Elise sat at the edge of the sofa, the satin robe wrapped around her moving slightly with her anxious breaths. She kept thinking, "Why did he have to choose this outfit? Why not just buy regular pajamas instead?" Occasionally, she glanced at the bathroom door, hoping Reiner wouldn’t come out suddenly.But without her realizing it, the bathroom door slowly creaked open. Elise, who had been only stealing glances, now turned her head fully and instantly froze. In front of her, Reiner stood with slightly damp hair and his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows."Why are you sitting there like a frighte
"I'm sorry, Sir. I ruined your event."Reiner merely glanced at Elise, his eyes briefly sweeping over the red stains on her clothes. She looked messy, yet she remained composed as if the incident hadn't affected her much.The car stopped in a well-lit area. Several stores lined the street, and the atmosphere was much quieter, far from the event's previous commotion."Wait here."Without waiting for Elise’s response, Reiner swiftly opened the door and stepped out, striding into one of the nearby stores. Elise sat still, lost in her thoughts. Guilt filled her heart."So careless..."She muttered under her breath, smacking her thighs alternately, cursing herself. Anxiety took over, making her feel even worse about the disaster she had caused.The car door suddenly swung open again, startling her. Reiner returned, holding a paper bag whose contents were still unknown. He tossed it onto the seat beside her without a wor