Part 4
That afternoon, the kitchen of the Barack family home was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed herbal tea. Elise was busy carrying a tray with a cup of tea for Mr. Abraham. Her appearance was simple yet captivating. Standing at 160 cm, her petite frame appeared graceful. Her shoulder-length black hair was always neatly styled, even though her face was rarely adorned with makeup. Her gaze was gentle, suggesting a patient personality, though her heart often harbored feelings of unease. Despite being just a servant, Elise exuded a unique aura. She appeared calm, yet there were traces of strength from her difficult past—a childhood in a house full of arguments that taught her to restrain herself and face every situation with composure. One of the senior servants, Greta, whispered to her colleague as she watched Elise pass by them. "Look at her. She’s only been here a few days and already so confident serving Mr. Abraham. Usually, other servants run away within a week," she said, her tone sarcastic. "I don't know," the other servant replied, "Maybe it's just an act. Let's see how long she lasts." However, Elise paid no attention to the comment. She knew that being a servant in the Barack household was an opportunity not everyone got—above-average pay, and everyone surely raced to secure a place in this house. When she entered the family room, Mr. Abraham was already sitting in his wheelchair, surrounded by a stack of morning newspapers. The elderly man straightened his back, though his wrinkled skin revealed that he was nearing ninety years old. "Your tea, sir," Elise said softly, placing the cup on a small table next to him. Mr. Abraham looked up, staring at Elise intently for several seconds before a sudden smile appeared on his face, surprising anyone who saw it. "Ah, Elise," he said, his voice warmer than usual. "You know how to make this tea just the way I like it. Not too bitter, not too sweet." Elise gave a small smile, trying to hide her nervousness. "Thank you, sir. I just followed your instructions." The old man chuckled lightly. "You're too modest. You know, for years, no servant has been able to make tea like this." He raised the cup and sipped the tea with appreciation. Elise didn’t know how to respond. Meanwhile, Greta, who happened to pass by the dining room door, stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened. Mr. Abraham, the man known for being gruff even with his own family, was being so kind to Elise. "He must be sick," Greta muttered, her tone filled with envy. Back in the family room, Elise gathered her courage and asked, "Is there anything else I can help with, Mr. Abraham?" The elderly man shook his head, still smiling. "Just this. But sit with me for a moment. Keep me company while I read. You have a calm voice, perfect for reading the political news today." Elise was surprised by the request but immediately complied. Carefully, she took one of the newspapers and began reading aloud. Her voice was gentle, and Mr. Abraham listened attentively, occasionally nodding or making brief comments. From a distance, Reiner stood behind the door, observing the interaction. He could hardly believe his grandfather was being this gentle with someone. Normally, his grandfather would dismiss a new servant within a week, but Elise seemed to be the exception. "What’s so special about her?" Reiner murmured quietly, his eyes never leaving Elise. There was something about the woman that piqued his curiosity, though his ego refused to acknowledge the feeling. --- The family room had begun to empty when Abraham motioned for Elise to come closer. With hesitant steps, Elise walked up to the elderly man. On the other side of the room, Reiner sat on the sofa, casually sipping a glass of wine, but his gaze never left the scene. "Elise," Abraham’s voice was soft but firm, "It's getting late. It's not safe for you to go home alone. Reiner will take you." Reiner immediately put down his glass with a deliberate clink, looking at his grandfather with a disapproving glare. "Grandpa, I’m sure she can get home on her own. She can call a taxi, or one of the guards can take her. I don’t have time for that." Abraham glanced briefly at Reiner, a small smile on his face that seemed to say, "You have no choice, son." "I don’t care how you spend your time, Reiner. You will take her." Elise, feeling like a burden, spoke up. "Mr. Abraham, thank you for your concern, but I can go home by myself. There's no need to trouble Mr. Reiner." "No debate, Elise," Abraham cut her off, his voice leaving no room for refusal. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Reiner will make sure you get home safely." Realizing that arguing would only make the situation worse, both Elise and Reiner finally gave in. The atmosphere in the car was tense, especially with the heavy silence. Reiner held the steering wheel with a relaxed yet tense posture, occasionally glancing at Elise through the rearview mirror. Elise sat with her hands in her lap, her gaze fixed on the blurred cityscape outside the window. After a few minutes, Reiner finally spoke. "So..." he began flatly, "How did you manage to work at that party? It wasn’t easy, I know. The servants there had to do more than just serve food. Some were even asked to do... other things." The cynicism in his voice didn’t escape Elise’s notice. She turned slowly towards Reiner, her eyes meeting his with a calm gaze. "What do you mean, Mr. Reiner?" she asked without emotion. Reiner shrugged, not taking his eyes off the road. "You know what I mean. A job like that isn’t for a decent woman. I know the people there." Elise smiled faintly, not because she was entertained, but because she was used to such prejudice. "Mr. Reiner, I just work to earn money. What others think or do is none of my business. I’m there to work, not to judge or be judged." Her response silenced Reiner. He hadn’t expected her to reply so calmly without even flinching at his words. Instead of feeling satisfied, he felt slightly... unsettled. "Elise," he said finally, his tone softer, "You didn’t answer my question. How did you end up working there?" Elise looked out the window again, as if unwilling to continue the conversation. But after a few seconds, she replied flatly, "Someone recommended me. I needed the money, and the job paid well." Reiner snorted softly, half-mocking. "So you really just relied on luck. Ah... or maybe money can buy you anything." Elise smiled thinly, suppressing the discomfort from his insinuation. The car finally stopped in front of a modest house on the outskirts of town. Elise opened the door and stepped out gracefully, then turned to Reiner. "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Reiner. Goodnight." Reiner merely nodded slightly, his eyes still following Elise as she walked into her house. For the first time, he felt curious. She was different from what he had imagined. And for a reason he couldn’t understand, that disturbed him. Before the car drove off, the sound of something heavy falling from a height was heard. Reiner saw Elise quickly enter her house, as if something had happened.Reiner drove his car down the dimly lit road, following the direction indicated by Elise. When the car stopped in front of a modest yet somewhat shabby house, Reiner glanced briefly at the building from inside the car. Nothing too striking, just a house with a wooden fence that had started to decay. It was a stark contrast to the grand house he lived in.Elise opened the car door, about to get out. Reiner lowered his gaze for a moment, trying to hide the curiosity that was growing inside him. With some hesitation, he followed Elise out of the car and walked behind her toward the front door. In Reiner’s mind, this house was a world apart from his luxurious, privileged life.As soon as they entered, the damp smell and stuffy air hit them. The house looked chaotic, with items scattered across the floor. The room that was supposed to be the living room appeared empty, filled only with old wooden chairs and a table that had clearly not been taken care of. Dirty dishes were piled up in a co
Part 6That night, a fragile calm enveloped Elise’s small family home. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air, mingling with the aroma of rotting wood. Elise guided her father, Eddie, to his room to tend to the wound on his hand. Though the injury wasn’t deep, it was enough to make Eddie wince whenever Elise cleaned it.A dim lamp on a small table in the corner of the room served as the only light source, casting shadows over Eddie’s face, etched with the lines of age and weariness. Elise worked silently, her hands swift, though her mind churned with unspoken questions.“Ahh… easy, Elise. You act as if you’re trying to skin me alive!” Eddie grumbled.Elise offered a faint smile. Her father’s demeanor was as gruff as ever.“You’d better stay quiet if you can’t handle the pain. This wound is your own doing.”“Huh, as if I had any other choice. You know they came because of the debt! If I hadn’t faced them, they might have wrecked the entire house.”Elise paused briefly. “And what’
Part 7That morning, Elise woke up before dawn.The shadows of the previous night’s events lingered in her mind, but there was no time to dwell on her unease. Swiftly, she began tidying the disheveled house, setting upright the overturned chairs and sweeping up the shards of glass scattered across the floor. Every so often, she glanced toward her father’s room, ensuring no suspicious sounds came from inside.Elise prepared a simple breakfast: two portions of rice and an omelet. It had to be enough for Lily and her father. As she worked, her thoughts wandered to Eddie’s order from the night before. Approach Reiner? What an absurd idea. Elise shook her head, trying to push the thought away.When Lily emerged from her room, her hair still messy, Elise gave a small smile.“Go wash your face quickly. After that, eat before we leave,” Elise said, handing her sister a plate of rice.“Have you eaten, Sis?” Lily asked innocently, her voice raspy from just waking up.Elise nodded while busying
The sound of footsteps echoed along the marble hallway of the grand Barack family mansion. Elise walked slowly behind Will, the bespectacled man in a neat suit who always seemed like Mr. Abraham’s shadow. This morning, Elise’s duties grew heavier with new instructions delivered directly by her employer.“So, as Mr. Abraham stated, starting today, you’ll be responsible for Mr. Reiner’s morning needs,” Will explained, handing her a sheet of paper.Elise hesitated as she took the paper. Her eyes scanned the list of instructions written in neat lines:1. Work attire must be prepared in his room by 6 a.m.2. A glass of water should be placed on the nightstand.3. The AC must be set to 24 degrees, no cooler.4. No noise should be made that could wake Mr. Reiner.5. Breakfast must be ready on the dining table after he wakes up.6. Do not enter the room without permission once he is aw
That morning, the dining room was calm, filled with the warm aroma of toast and coffee. Elise had just finished attending to Reiner’s needs and quickly hurried to bring a breakfast tray to Mr. Abraham. Unlike the rest of the household, Abraham had his own habits—he always preferred having his breakfast in his private study, away from the noise of the grand house.Elise knocked politely on the door.“Come in,” came Abraham’s deep voice from within.When Elise entered, she was greeted by the stillness of Abraham’s study, surrounded by tall bookshelves. He was seated in his recliner, his gaze shifting from the book he was reading to Elise.“Good morning, sir,” Elise greeted softly as she placed the tray on the small table beside his chair.“Morning,” Abraham replied, folding his book and setting it on his lap. “Have you gotten used to working here, Elise?”“I’m starting to, sir. Although… there’s still much for me to learn,” Elise admitted honestly, bowing her head slightly.“Good. Don’t
Eva Myles, with her undeniable grace, walked in. Her posture was upright, her oval face adorned with a faint smile that seemed warm yet commanding. Her long, wavy hair fell perfectly over her white blazer and black pencil skirt. Each step of her high heels created a rhythmic sound on the floor, drawing the attention of employees who had been busy just moments before."She's here again," whispered one receptionist to her colleague."How bold of her. Everyone knows Mr. Reiner doesn't like her," replied the other in a hushed tone."Remember the rumors from that party? Ugh! She should be ashamed."Eva ignored the whispers. To her, they were merely part of the everyday scenery. Calmly, she walked toward the elevator, pressing the button to the executive floor without asking for anyone's permission.When she arrived upstairs, Reiner's personal assistant, Han
The servants bustled with their respective tasks, while in the living room, Barbra enjoyed her afternoon tea at a small, intricately carved table. The sound of approaching high heels immediately drew everyone's attention.Eva appeared gracefully, dressed in a pastel-colored dress with a simple cut that still radiated luxury. Her long, wavy hair cascaded neatly, and a sweet smile adorned her oval face. However, behind that smile lay a confidence bordering on arrogance."Aunt Barbra, darling," she greeted, approaching Reiner's mother. "I thought this afternoon would be boring, but I found a reason to visit after all."Barbra offered a faint smile, sipping her tea before responding. "Eva, my dear. It's always a pleasure to see you. What brings you here?"Eva placed a shopping bag on the side table, filled with various expensive gifts. "I just wanted to share a few gifts for you, Uncle Gale
Elise carried the empty glass out of Reiner's room. Her steps were slow, trying not to draw attention, but the faint sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor betrayed her presence. Once in the kitchen, she placed the glass in the sink and began washing the dirty plates and glasses that had piled up.The dining room adjacent to the kitchen was quiet. However, the silence didn’t last long. Elise noticed someone entering the kitchen with a casual stride. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was—the faint yet luxurious fragrance gave it away. Eva."Elise, isn’t it?" Eva’s voice sounded friendly, almost too friendly. Elise turned slightly, nodding politely.Eva sat down on a chair in the dining room, taking a slice of bread from the basket on the table, and began spreading strawberry jam with deliberate slowness.“Have you been working here long?” she 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