Ina jolted awake to the sound of insistent banging on her door. Heart pounding, she sat up, disoriented in the predawn darkness. The heavy thuds echoed through the small, sparsely furnished room that had become her sanctuary since arriving at the sprawling estate. She rubbed her eyes and stumbled to the door, dreading what might await her on the other side. The door creaked open to reveal Clara, one of the other housemaids. Clara's sharp features were twisted into a scornful sneer, her eyes glittering with barely concealed contempt."The boss wants to see you in his office. Immediately," Clara announced, her tone dripping with malice. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at Ina with undisguised glee.Ina's stomach churned with anxiety. Clara had made her life miserable since the day she had set foot in the mansion, constantly belittling her and undermining her efforts. Now, faced with the prospect of a summons from Mr. Adams, the enigmatic and imposing owner of the es
"What are you doing there?" the voice boomed.Ina jumped, the photograph slipping from her fingers and landing softly on the bed.She turned to see Mr. Adams standing in the doorway, his expression a mixture of suspicion and irritation.He took a step forward, his gaze narrowing as he looked at her."What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing."You're not supposed to be in that corner."Ina's mind raced, struggling to find a coherent response.She knew she wasn't supposed to be nosing around in Mr. Adams's personal space, but the photograph had piqued her curiosity in a way she hadn't anticipated. Now, faced with Mr. Adams's stern questioning, she found herself at a loss for words."I... I was just..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.Adams's eyes bored into her, his suspicion evident."You were just what?" he pressed. "Answer me, Ina. What were you doing over there?"Ina's throat tightened, her thoughts a chaotic jumble. She could feel the weight of his
Adam sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought. The encounter with Ina had left him more unsettled than he cared to admit. When he had hugged her, he couldn't help but notice the slight bump in her stomach. At first, he wondered if she might be sick, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Ina didn’t look unwell; in fact, there was a glow about her that suggested otherwise.What’s it to me if she is sick? Adam thought, trying to shake off his concern. She’s just a maid, after all. Yet, the rationalization felt hollow. Adam had never been one to fall easily for a woman’s attempt at seduction, but there was something different about Ina. The way she had trembled in his arms, the look in her eyes—he had felt something inside him shift, something he couldn’t quite control. And that was why he had kissed her, to at least have an understanding of why he was feeling that way.He wanted to get to the bottom of why Ina was at his estate and if she was the woman he had spent that unforgettabl
The next morning, as Ina worked in the kitchen, her body finally gave in to the exhaustion and lack of nourishment. She had not eaten since the previous day, determined to fulfill her duties despite her weariness. The room began to spin, and before she could steady herself, her vision blurred and she fainted, collapsing to the floor.One of the male workers saw her fall and quickly rushed to her side. He lifted her gently, ready to carry her out of the kitchen. At that moment, Adam walked in, and his eyes immediately locked onto the scene. A surge of jealousy and concern welled up within him, and without a second thought, he strode over and took Ina from the worker's arms."I'll handle this," Adam said curtly, leaving no room for discussion.The worker nodded and stepped back, watching as Adam carried Ina out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his private quarters. Adam's mind raced with a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite understand. He laid her gently on his bed, brushing a s
The enormity of what she had just agreed to was almost too much to bear. With a mixture of resignation and determination, she turned to make her way back to her room, needing some time alone to process everything.Just as she reached the door, Adam's voice stopped her. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his tone sharp and authoritative.Ina turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm going back to my room," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Did I not make it clear to you that you’ll be staying in my quarters from today onwards?" he demanded. "You are now my wife, and you are expected to act as such."Ina felt a chill run down her spine. "Yes, sir," she murmured, bowing her head. "I understand."Adam took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "Then act like it," he said firmly. "Your things will be moved to my quarters immediately. I expect you to fulfill your role, both publicly and privately."Ina swallowed hard, nodding.
Ina woke abruptly, her stomach churning with the unmistakable urge to vomit. She sat up quickly, disoriented and fearful, as she realized she was not on the couch where she had fallen asleep but in Adam's bed. Panic seized her as she considered the possible consequences of being found here. She pondered how she had ended up in his bed, her thoughts racing through the events of the previous night.While still trying to piece together what had happened, the door to the bathroom opened, and Adam emerged, fresh from his shower. His hair was damp, and water droplets glistened on his chiseled body. Ina's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of him, her thoughts momentarily silenced by the sheer physical presence of the man before her. The pregnancy hormones raging through her body only intensified her reaction, making her feel both embarrassed and inexplicably drawn to him.Adam noticed her stunned expression and the way her eyes lingered on him. He raised an eyebrow, a h
The JourneyAfter carefully packing his lunch, I made my way to the driveway where Adam’s car was parked. I approached the driver, a stern-looking man who barely glanced at me as I approached. “Excuse me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to deliver Mr. Adam’s lunch to his office. Could you please drive me there?”The driver looked at me with a mixture of disdain and confusion. “Why would I drive a maid to Mr. Adam’s office? You’re not supposed to be using his car,” he said dismissively.“But I’m his—” I began to explain, but he cut me off.“I don’t care what you are. Mr. Adam didn’t give me any instructions about you using the car. Now move along, I have work to do.” He turned away, effectively ending the conversation.Frustration bubbled up inside me, but I bit my lip and turned away. It was clear that my new status as Adam’s wife, albeit in name only, had not reached everyone, or perhaps they just didn’t care. I approached the gatehouse, where the gateman sat reading
Immediately upon seeing me drenched, Adam's eyes narrowed with concern, or perhaps it was annoyance. "Why are you wet?" he demanded, a hint of suspicion in his voice. He seemed to be considering the possibility that I had done something wrong or was involved in some mischief. I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could get a word out, he had already moved towards his desk.I watched as he picked up the phone and dialed a number. His voice was stern and authoritative. "The driver who refused to take my wife to the office this morning is fired. Effective immediately." I stood there, holding the lunchbox, feeling a mix of emotions. I was surprised and somewhat bewildered. Adam was firing someone because of me? It was an unexpected turn of events, and I wasn't sure how to process it.Adam hung up the phone and walked back towards me, his eyes locking onto mine. "Come here," he said firmly. "Let's get you dried off."Careful not to make any mistakes, I followed him through a door that