Chapter 5

For days after he'd chewed her out, Stephen had barely looked at Noelle without scowling. Then one day, he called out to her.

"I'm having some friends over tonight. You'll stay and wait on us. Oh, and Rachel's coming, too. Since you like waiting on her so much, you can spend the evening doing just that."

His words cut deep.

Stephen had once been the one to protect her, but now he was the one hurting her. Still, she'd spent nine years loving him, holding on to those few moments of kindness.

Now that her feelings had finally worn away, she could see that the guy she'd fallen for was long gone. She couldn't help feeling that she'd wasted those years.

At least she was graduating soon, and then she could leave.

Noelle kept her emotions in check and said evenly, "Okay."

Stephen couldn't explain why Noelle's indifference unsettled him. Even when Rachel bullied her, she'd always tried to get back on her feet and fight back. Now she showed none of that resistance.

Still, he wasn't about to take back what he'd said.

He said nothing more, pretending to play a game as he watched Noelle work in the kitchen all afternoon.

That evening, Stephen's friends began arriving one by one. As the music started, the party soon got into full swing. No one paid any attention to Noelle, who was clearly out of place.

That changed when Rachel arrived.

She called Noelle over and held out a drink. "Come on, we went to school together. You're not going to turn down a drink with me, are you?"

Noelle could feel several hostile stares on her. Stephen was among those watching.

Her expression remained blank as she replied, "I'm working right now. I can't drink."

Rachel laughed theatrically and turned to Stephen. "Wow, Stephen. You really know how to keep everyone in line. Even the maid does exactly what she's told."

One of her friends chimed in. "Rachel, when you marry Stephen, will he make you follow orders, too?"

Noelle couldn't help looking at Stephen. He was toying with a lighter, a faint smile on his face, but he didn't say a word.

He hadn't denied it, and Noelle took his silence as agreement.

Rachel's smile widened. She deliberately dropped a piece of cake onto one of her high heels.

"Well, if you're on the clock, then you're just the Sedgwicks' maid. My shoe's dirty. Come clean it."

The party's lively mood turned icy, but the guests were all smiles. Apparently, watching someone they considered beneath them get humiliated was the night's main event.

Noelle was used to this kind of treatment.

She calmly held out her hand. "Alright, Ms. Thayer. Please take off your shoe and hand it to me."

Rachel swirled her drink and smirked. "No. Get on your knees and clean my shoe. Right here, right now."

No one spoke up for Noelle. They were all too eager to see her humiliated.

Stephen stared at Noelle. When she didn't move, his expression darkened.

Rachel's smile vanished.

She snapped, "What are you waiting for? You think you can just ignore me? You've got three seconds to get over here, or you can kiss that tutoring job goodbye!"

Noelle flinched.

She had only a few days left on her two-week contract with the Thayers. She couldn't let all her hard work go to waste, not when she was so close to getting paid.

"Three. Two…"

Noelle fought back her tears and walked toward Rachel.

Just as she crouched down, she heard a loud bang.