Chapter 9

I bowed my head in confusion, not knowing exactly how to answer for what I have just done. I stood up at once to greet him. “Good evening, Mr Windsor”

He stepped in and shut the door behind him. “Good evening, Nina.” He said but I had a lot on my mind at the moment that I didn't hear him

“Nina?” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “What are you doing here by this time?”

I quickly closed the book and took a step backwards, my mind searching for a perfect excuse that would fit the moment, but guess what? My mind was blank so I decided to answer with any word that would come out from my mouth. “I…was passing…but the door was slightly ajar.. I thought they might like a bedtime story, that's why I walked in.” I stammered. “It’s something my mother did for us when we were younger, so I thought I should do the same for them”

Henry’s eyes softened, and he nodded slowly. At this point, I heaved a sigh of relief “I see.” He added. “They seem to enjoy it.”

I forced a smile but my heart was pounding. “Yes. Children always love stories.”

He stepped closer, and his eyes never left mine. “Nina, there’s something about you I want to know… something I want to reignite. Can we go beyond the boss and maid relationship?” He asked romantically.

I felt a surge of panic but kept my expression neutral. “Sir, with all due respect, No. I’m just a maid trying to help, in the little way I can. Nothing more.”

He studied me for a moment longer before nodding. “Alright, I didn't mean to take advantage of you. Anyways,thank you for taking care of them.”

I nodded and quickly left the room, with my heart racing. As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, my breath coming in short gasps. That was too close, I would have been caught freely. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes now.

Back in my room, I lay awake, replaying the events of the night over and over in my mind. I wanted to hold my children so badly, to tell them the truth. But the fear of their reaction, especially James', kept me silent. I couldn’t risk losing them again. But I was helpless

The next morning came all too quickly. The mansion was filled with a bittersweet energy as the children prepared to leave. I watched from afar as they said their goodbyes, seeing them go again gave me heartbreaking all over again. Henry hugged them tightly, with his eyes filled with tears.

“Be good you two, and I’ll see you soon,” he said, he said sweetly but his voice was thick with emotion.

“We will, Daddy,” Sophie replied, her eyes shining. “And don't forget that we love you.”

James nodded, his expression serious. “Take care, Dad. We’ll miss you.”

I watched as they climbed into the car, my heart beat increased with every step they took away from me. As the car pulled away, I turned and hurried back into the mansion, unable to watch them leave.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I threw myself into my work, trying to keep my mind occupied. But the emptiness in my heart remained. That night, I found myself outside Henry’s office, my hand raised to knock. I hesitated, what was I doing here, I was unsure of what I wanted to say but I knew I wanted to tell him something.

Before I could decide, the door opened, and Henry stood there, his eyes red-rimmed from crying. “Amelia,” he said softly. “Come in.”

I entered the office, the familiar warmth of the room bringing a sense of comfort. Henry gestured for me to sit, and I did, my hands trembling.

“I need to talk to you,” he began, his voice unsteady. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to say.”

My heart raced. Was he about to reveal that he knew my secret? That we wanted more to our relationship? I got myself prepared for the worst.

“These past few weeks… they’ve been some of the hardest of my life,” he continued, his eyes locked on mine. “But through it all, you’ve been there. You’ve been a constant support, and I can’t thank you enough for that.”

I nodded, unable to speak. The weight of my secret felt heavier than ever.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you,” he said, his voice breaking. “You’ve been more than just a maid. You’ve been a friend, a tutor and a companion”

Tears filled my eyes, and I fought to keep them from falling. “I’m just doing my job, Henry, your kids are nice,and I enjoy every time I spend with them.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s more than that. I… I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. There’s something familiar about you, but it's something I can’t quite explain. I don't know if it's love, but I feel something about you.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “Henry, there’s something I need to tell you, too.”

He looked at me, his expression filled with anticipation. “What is it?”

The words caught in my throat. I wanted to tell him the truth, to reveal my identity and explain everything. But the fear of losing him and the children again kept me silent.

“I… I just wanted to say thank you,” I said finally, my voice trembling. “Thank you for giving me this chance to be here, to be a part of this family.”

Henry’s eyes softened, and he reached out, taking my hand in his. “Nina, you’ll always have a place here. No matter what.”

As I left the office, I regretted not telling him who I truly was. I knew I couldn’t keep this secret forever, but for now, it was the only way to protect the ones I loved. The mansion felt empty without the children, but their presence was felt in every corner, as a reminder of the bond we shared.

That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about the future. There would come a time when I would have to tell them the truth, to face their reactions and the consequences. But until then, I would remain under the cover of a secret maid, watching over them and protecting them as best I could.

 The memory of the previous night, the pain of not being able to hold my children, stayed with me. I clung to the hope that one day, I would be able to tell them the truth, to be their mother once more.

For now, I would continue to be Nina Salvatore, the maid with a secret. But in my heart, I would always be their mother, watching over them and loving them from afar. And one day, when the time was right, I would reveal the truth and hope that they could forgive me.

Until then, I would cherish the moments we had, the memories we created, and the love that would always bind us together. No matter the distance, no matter the secrets, the bond between a mother and her children could never be broken.