Anna’s POV
As I walked down the alley, I was deep in thought, wondering where I would find a new job and how I would take care of my children.
I was already late on this month’s rent and with all the money I had saved up, I was still two hundred dollars short. I needed to find a job quickly, so I pulled out my phone and searched through my contacts for anyone I could call for help or a job opening, but there was no one. However, just as I was about to put my phone back into my purse, an ad popped up on my screen,
[Become a Maid for the Greyson Family - $1,000,000 Salary!
The Greyson family is looking for experienced and dedicated maids. Enjoy a high reward of $1,000,000. Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Apply today!]
As soon as I saw the ad, a lightbulb lit up in my head. If I could get this job, I’d be able to take better care of my children, guaranteeing more than the basics for them, and also handle all my financial problems. Finally, I could give my kids the kind of life they always deserved.
I thought about sending in my application when I suddenly froze. That name sounded too familiar. Quickly, I searched the internet and just as I thought, it was him, my old boss Mark Greyson. Immediately, a sudden fear gripped me. I had already lost my car model job because his girlfriend assumed I was hitting on him. Even if I sent in my application, what were the chances that she wouldn’t get me fired again, considering I was even accepted in the first place.
The ad clearly said they needed an experienced maid, and I had no experience.
I was still contemplating what to do when my phone suddenly beeped, interrupting my train of thought. I quickly answered, seeing it was my home phone.
“Mom! Julia fell and her body is burning up…” my son Derek said, sounding very anxious
“What?! Is she okay?” I asked, panicking, “I'm coming home right now sweetie. Take care of your sister and stay on the phone with me until I arrive.”
Immediately, I hailed a cab and returned home, paying the driver a little extra to wait for me.
I rushed through the front door of our small apartment, hurriedly picked her up with a few items, and returned to the cab.
As soon as we arrived at the hospital, I rushed to the registration desk, and in a short while, a doctor attended to us “Mommy, is Julia going to be okay?” My second son Donald asked with teary eyes.
I crouched down and held his face in my palms, my heart breaking to see him cry.
“Yes honey, your sister is going to be just fine, the doctor is going to take good care of her alright?” I said, pressing my forehead against his and wiping his tears away.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for the doctor to get back to us.
“You’re her mother?” The doctor asked as he approached me.
“Yes, is my baby alright doctor?” I asked, worriedly.
“She’s fine,” he answered, and I felt an air of relief.
“Her temperature had gone up to 39.3 degrees, but I’ve given her some medications and she’s stable now. I’ve also treated the little bump on her head she got from falling. You’ll be able to take her home shortly.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
After going through the report, the doctor adjusted his glasses and lectured me sternly,
“Ms. Anna, you do realize that the reason your daughter fainted and was running a high fever is because she’s not feeding properly and does not have enough strength in her body, right? If you got here a little later, who knows the worse might have happened.”
“You need to feed her with more healthy and nourishing food,” he added, shifting his gaze towards my boys, acutely observing them.
“I know it might not be easy, but you need to do better”
“I’m sorry doctor, I’m doing my best. I promise I’ll take better care of her. Thank you,” I replied fervently
However, deep down my heart was breaking. I was failing as a mother and things had just taken a turn for the worse. I had no job and was down to my last paycheck with medical bills and rent to pay. How was I going to take care of three children all by myself?
Without even realizing it, a tear slid down my cheeks as my fears overwhelmed me.
“Mommy, are you okay?” Derek asked, looking at me worriedly I quickly wiped off my tears, “Yeah baby, mommy is fine,” I said, willing myself to believe it was true. The truth is I was far from fine, I was drowning in a mess of my mind.
Soon after we returned home, my phone buzzed again It was the same ad from the Greyson family. This time I didn’t feel like there was much to consider, I needed a job, any job. Even if it meant working for my old boss.
However, if I was going to do this, I needed my children to be fine with it, so with that I crouched and gazed directly at their faces,
“Hey babies, there’s this new job mommy is thinking of taking. It’s going to give us a lot of money and we can have everything we want, but she’s going to be working as a maid and I don’t want to do anything that will cause you to be embarrassed of me.
I know how mean kids can be and I don’t want them to make fun of you because of mommy. So, is that something you will be comfortable with?”
My first son, Derek smiled warmly and placed his hand on my cheeks, “It’s okay mommy. You told us that no job is too small, so if this new job is going to let you take care of Julia so that she doesn’t get sick again, then you should take it.”
At that moment, I beamed with joy. It felt like in the midst of everything that had gone wrong in my life, I had done one thing right raising fine and beautiful children. I couldn’t be prouder, and I no longer felt like a failure.
I patted his head, smiling proudly.
“Wait here, let me go get your sister’s medicine.”
I went into the kitchen and came back a few moments later with Julia’s medicine and a glass of water
“Mommy I want to watch cartoons on TV,” she asked, fidgeting happily as I sorted out her pills. She was an adorable little girl with beautiful blue eyes that I couldn’t say no to, even though it was a little past their bedtime.
I turned on the TV and went back to organizing her pills, unaware of what was displayed on the TV.
However, shortly after, I heard her voice and it immediately drew my attention,
“Derek, is that our dad? He looks like you.”
I quickly looked at the TV, my heart racing with curiosity and as soon as I saw his face, I froze in shock.
Anna’s POVI almost did not hear my name being called, as I waited with my head in my hands.My daughter’s question had completely unsettled me. I knew it wasn’t possible that Mark was their father. Besides the deep blue eyes they shared, they had no other similarities. The truth is, I wasn’t entirely sure who their father was either.After that tragic incident that happened eight years ago, I packed my bags and left Brigdon and everything behind. There was nothing left for me in that town anymore.I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I got to Delroy and didn’t know who to call. I had been with Luke earlier that week before I woke up in bed with that stranger. Either of them could have been their father.Still, I couldn’t dismiss the fact that Julia was right. My first son Derek looked a lot like Mark, which left me very confused.“Ms Brookes…Ms Brookes…” the secretary called, and I quickly jerked up.“We’re ready for you,” she said with a smile.I quickly stood up and followed her
Mark’s POVI was in my home office going through some work files when a reminder for the shareholders' meeting popped up on my laptop. I heaved a deep sigh immediately when I saw it. I knew for sure what that meeting was about. Those old folks just couldn’t wait to remove me as the CEO of my father’s company.However, just before I could confirm my attendance at the meeting, I heard a knock on my door,“Sir?” Rita called and waited for my response.“Come in,” I answered immediately, packing up the files spread out on the table.“Did you find her?” I asked with curiosity, leaning back into my chair.Rita marched forward and placed a folder on the table, looking anxious and quirky,“Uhm, I did, but not much.”“What do you mean?” I questioned with a frown on my face.“I mean I found the woman, but it seems like she has completely disappeared in the last eight years. All her records are gone,” Rita explained, leaving me even more confused.“Disappeared?” I asked, raising my brow in curio
Anna’s POVI stood at the entrance of the Grayson mansion, my heart pounding as I stared at the luxurious building. I had been so thrilled to get this job that I never paused to consider what would happen once I did. Now, standing before the mansion doors, I was filled with fear.It was eight in the morning, and I had left my children at home, rushing here to make breakfast for a man I should be avoiding.As I walked through the hallways, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made the right decision in accepting this job.This job was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to give my children the life they deserved, but I could not help but wonder if I could fit in here.“Oh, it’s you… how nice of you to join us. Keep this up, and you’ll lose your job before you even begin,” Mia’s icy voice echoed through the hallways, and I immediately turned to meet her sharp eyes, assessing me from head to toe with a coldness in her gaze that sent a shiver down my spine.“I’m sorry Ms, I had to…” I b
Anna’s POVMy heart raced as Mark’s piercing gaze bore into me. I quickly realized Rita had set me up, but I doubted mentioning that would matter at this point.“Why are you in here, Anna?” Mark demanded coldly, his voice rising. I froze in fear, searching for an explanation that wouldn’t sound foolish.“I-I, I thought I heard something, so I decided to check it out,” I stammered, my voice trembling, and immediately regretted my choice of excuse. I was a terrible liar, and this was the worst excuse I could come up with.‘Good going, Anna,’ I scolded myself, trying hard to maintain my composure and not give myself up.However, just as I failed terribly in staying composed, Mark saw through my shallow lie instantly.“I can tell you’re lying,” he spat in disappointment, his eyes narrowing at me.He walked past me, and stopped, staring out the open glass windows of the room.“Leave my sight,” he uttered weakly.“Huh?” I asked, unable to hear him.“Get out now!” He yelled, swinging his
Anna’s POVThe sterile smell of the hospital still clung to me as I walked through the hallways. After what happened with Mark, I should have been worried about being late again, but I couldn't care less.My mind was consumed with worry and fear for my daughter as I walked to the kitchen, hoping no one had noticed my tardiness.I made my way through the hallway and overheard the maids whispering amongst themselves. Intrigued, I moved closer and overheard them conversing about Laura. ‘Laura…Laura?” I quickly delved into my head trying to remember where I’d heard that name before. Then it hit me - ‘The picture!’“She was so beautiful,” one of the maids said with emotion “And such a sweet soul.”My curiosity grew as I leaned closer to the kitchen door, straining to hear more.The staff’s reluctance to speak openly about her only deepened my curiosity. Who was this woman, and why did she affect Mark so much? I remember how furious he was yesterday when he saw me holding her picture, and
Anna’s POVLater that evening, I was cleaning the old library, still gripped by terror from the image I saw. Why was I in that picture? What happened between Rita and me? I finally glimpsed why she treated me the way she did now. Something must have happened between us. Just then, I noticed Mark staring at me through the doorway. He seemed more relaxed and softened this time as he approached. He could notice the unease on my face and said with a wry smile, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost”I stopped and tucked my hands behind my back nervously “Mr. Grayson, I want to apologize about yesterday, I didn’t know–““Enough about that, Anna,” he interjected calmly.“I was being hard on you. I realized you mustn’t have known that I don’t allow people into my room.”I remained silent, still unable to look him in the eye. I wasn’t afraid anymore, I only tried to keep my distance. With Rita and Mia watching me, I realized if I needed to keep this job, I’d have to keep away from Mark, no
Anna's POVAs I drew closer to my room, my mind was still occupied with the unanswered questions about my past and Mark's offer.Suddenly, I heard a noise inside and stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding. It sounded like someone or something was rummaging through my things.My first thought was Rita. She had been seething with jealousy and a clear disdain towards me ever since I moved into the mansion.Though I still could not understand why she felt that way about me, I had a strong guess. Rita seemed to have strong undisclosed feelings toward Mark, and strangely, I could share in her plight. Seeing him close to someone else must have been heartbreaking.However, I didn't think it was just her feelings for Mark that caused her to despise me; our past seemed to have left a huge sting on her.These reserved feelings had driven her to snoop through my belongings, searching for anything that could give her an edge.I slowly opened the door cautiously, and just as I had suspected, I fou
Anna's POVTears streamed down my face as I reflected on the difficult choices I had to make. At that moment, I wished I was back with my ex-fiance Luke. Even though he never gave me a chance to explain myself, things would have been easier with him.Since I left Brigdon and started a new life in Delroy, we hadn’t communicated at all. It was probably for the best, it was easier to let go of him that way, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. Despite my curiosity, I'd never searched for him in the years we'd been apart. I didn't know anything about his life now, and the truth was, I didn't want to.The thought that he might be living his best life, and might have moved on with someone new was just so devastating. It would only hurt to see him happy knowing my life was shit.However, sometime last year, my curiosity got the best of me. I knew what I did to him was wrong, but I didn't even recognize myself or my thoughts that night. Somewhere deep down, I still wished he'd reach out to m