Chapter 1: The Crippled Young Master

The moment I laid my eyes on the dusty painting of a man that I found by accident in the attic. It felt like my whole world stopped spinning for a moment. Curiousity about who he is or where he could be now fills my head. It's been over a month since I started working for the Luciano and yet I haven't seen any member of the said family. We keep their mansion spotless each day as if they'll be here and yet no one does 

I looked around and a smile slowly crawls on my lips when I saw a string for the blinds. Sunlight immediately makes the corner of this mansion brighter and so I was able to see the man in the painting better.

Dusting the said painting with the back of my hand. I couldn't help it but smile like a fool while my heart started to beat in an unfamiliar rhythm.

Did I just develop a crush for a man whom I am not so sure if he's alive or what? Maybe? But, God! This man is gorgeous. That pointed nose, the snobbish curve on his lips and those pair of soulful eyes. His existence is God's blessing in this world.

"Ava! Ava? Where the heck are you?" Hearing Miss Jane's voice, the female butler of this household. I was instantly reminded of the reason as to per why I am here.

My hand reached for the blinds to close it again and I grabbed the porcelain vase that was the mere reason why I am up here.

"Coming!" I said in a calm voice, glancing at the portrait one last time before I turned my back on it and climb down the stairs.

"What took you so long?" She asked, her hand placed on the side of her waist as she taps her feet, a sign that she was indeed running out of patient waiting for me down here. I saw her caught the dirt at the back of my hand.

Handing the porcelain vase in her hand and following her steps. My mind spend a few seconds debating whether I'll let my curiousity take over.

"Miss Jane, I-I saw a portrait up there. Who is he?"

"What portrait?" She asked back while she managed to keep her pace.

"It has a gold frame. I-I don't know how else to explain it but the man looked like a royalty to me. He is handsome, his beguilling eyes."

I almost bump against her back when she suddenly stop walking. Miss Jane turned to me with her eyes looking larger than their usual.

"What did I told you when you started to work here, Ava?"

"That I shouldn't be curious with anything about the Luciano. I wasn't curious about them though. I was just wondering who could be the man in the portrait." I tried to reason out but ultimately stop myself from speaking once things started to make sense. That can't be just anyone's portrait. That man is a member of the Luciano too.

"But..."

"Ava, how about you go wash yourself and come back up here afterwards? Help me with the flower arrangements. The Young Master is coming home tonight," she said so casual but to me. The information is something I can compared with the bombs that they drop in Hiroshima back then.

Miss Jane narrowed her eyes at me and mouthed the word chop-chop which means she wanted me to move as fast as I can.

Reaching for the clean towel. I stared at my reflection in the mirror after I rested my face to dry against the fabric. Finger moving unconsciously to fix the strands of my hair. The next thing I know I was putting a lip balm on my lips and spraying my citrus scented cologne on my neck.

Confusion sipped through my system as I saw every single housekeeper, male and female lining up in front of the front door, reaching the living room and in front of everyone is Miss Jane and Butler Jurie.

"Why? What's happening why are we here?" I whispered to one of my co-maid. She rolled her eyes at me after she saw my lips and caught a whiff of my cologne.

"Stop acting all innocent? Don't tell me that you didn't know that the young master will be here? You freshen up yourself, Ava. You want him to notice you, you gold-digging bitch!" She whispered back. She pulled her arm out of my hold and I chose to remain silent and to keep any violent reaction to myself.

I didn't freshen up for the young master to notice me. I did because Miss Jane asked me to! I would never dare covet someone like the young master. I thought to myself until a limo stopped in front of the drive way. Everyone stood up straight, bottling their excitement to see the young master but as seconds pass. Our excitement became this unexplainable anxious feeling after we all hear pairs of squeaking tires, a sound of wheelchair.

"Welcome home, Young Master Augustus," Miss Jane greeted.

"Welcome home, Young Master!" I said out loud thinking that just like what Miss Jane did. We were supposed to greet the young master too but that is not the case and now everyone's attention is on me and that includes his.

I bow my head to ask for apology but when I look up and I finally saw the man sitting on the wheelchair. My world stopped spinning for the second time around.

"It's you! The man in that dusty portrait," I said out loud and it was too late when I realized that I did.

The young master is already glaring at me as if he is instantly displeased with my presence.

Am I going to be fired right after this? I can't be fired! I need this job.

"Butler Jurie, please take me to my room. I am tired," he ordered leaving us behind.

The corner of my lips twitch. How did he went from looking like a friendly prince charming to a lifeless villain? I wonder what happened to him. I thought to myself as I watch him being pushed away by Butler Jurie.