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 frighteElise 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
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
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
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
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.”
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
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. 
The banquet hall was filled with opulence, reflecting the wealth of the social elites. The crystal chandelier sparkled, casting a soft glow across the expansive room. Yet, the chosen venue wasn’t entirely open to the public eye.Guests, impeccably dressed in evening gowns and expensive suits, engaged in conversations while sipping champagne from crystal glasses. The light hum of laughter blended seamlessly with the delicate notes of the orchestra playing in the corner.But the moment seemed to pause as Reiner Barack entered the room.His tailored black suit framed his tall, well-built figure perfectly. His hair was slicked back neatly, save for one stray strand falling onto his forehead, giving him an effortlessly captivating look. His face bore a cold expression, yet his charisma was undeniable. Each step he took exuded a confidence so commanding that all heads turned toward him.The women whispered amongst themselves, some hiding shy smiles behind their fans. One of them, a young so
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