Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Just a simple reminder was enough to drain all color from May’s face. In her excitement, she had nearly forgotten her place. As a long-time employee at Nyxeria, May was fully aware of how twisted and violent Damien could be—what he hated most was being addressed by his name directly.

Luckily, Damien wasn’t present. Otherwise, May feared she wouldn’t even get a taste of this wealthy life before dying a miserable death. Quickly trying to divert attention, she said, “Then please take us to our rooms. I still need to go shopping for my daughter later.”

Alfred said no more and led them to the bedrooms that had already been prepared. Emma silently followed behind, her eyes shifting from one thing to another, filled with surprise and awe. She couldn’t believe a place like this was meant for people to live in. The outside of the mansion was already beautiful, but the inside was even more stunning.

Emma’s and her mother’s rooms were on different floors. Emma’s room was on the third floor, while May’s was on the second. The butler’s earlier reminder had silenced any questions May might have had. She had wanted to know where Damien’s bedroom was, but aside from her and her daughter’s rooms, all other doors were tightly shut.

Alfred glanced at Emma’s figure, frowned slightly, and signaled for a maid to bring her a new set of clothes. Before leaving, he said, “Mr. Thorne will be back soon to join you for dinner. So I suggest Miss May postpone her shopping until tomorrow. I’ve already prepared several sets of clothes and personal items for your daughter.”

“Of course, I must wait for my husband to return,” May replied sweetly. There were only a few hours left before dinner, and she wanted to appear beautiful and seductive in Damien’s eyes. Just thinking about the night ahead was enough to make her tremble with excitement. Her eyes were filled with unhidden desire and lust.

Dinner arrived quickly. May wore a tight-fitting wine-red dress that accentuated her alluring curves. Her body was enveloped in a strong, slightly spicy perfume. She was eagerly anticipating tonight—after all, from now on, she would be Damien’s wife, a noble lady of high status.

But Emma felt anxious. She remembered what Hina had said the night before, and also recalled the man’s gaze and aura. Just one glance from him had already made her feel breathless. Now that they were to live under the same roof, she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to endure it.

“Mom… I don’t feel well. Should we—” Emma looked up at her mother, hoping to find some comfort for her unease. But her mother had never truly cared for her. May frowned slightly. “Later, you need to perform well. If you want to enjoy a comfortable life without worrying about food and hunger, don’t do anything that would disappoint Mr. Thorne. Understand?”

Emma nodded softly. Of course, she understood. But everything was happening too fast. For a girl not yet sixteen, it was too surreal to fully accept.

May was no longer just a high-class prostitute from Nyxeria. Though she had never cared about her daughter, and even once thought of selling Emma for money once she turned sixteen, everything had changed now. She reminded herself that she had to change too—she wanted to become a respectable noblewoman, admired by all.

“Emma, didn’t you always want to go to school? I’m just saying—think about it yourself.” May left her words half-finished, but Emma understood completely.

The dark, sorrowful light in Emma’s eyes suddenly brightened. She understood what her mother meant. That’s right—school. She had once heard that the quickest way to escape a miserable life was through education. In fact, Emma had never attended school. Everything she knew about reading and writing was thanks to a kind neighbor who had taught her. But that lady had passed away just two years later.

Emma was recalling those joyful days of learning when the sound of the door opening pulled her back. A tall, elegant man walked in—the very same Boss she had seen the night before.

May instantly stood up and ran over to him, helping him remove his coat while speaking to him tenderly, like a devoted wife. “Darling, our daughter and I have been waiting for you to have dinner together.”

Damien glanced at Emma. She was so frightened she didn’t know what to do until her mother gently reminded her, “Emma, aren’t you going to greet your father? From now on, Mr. Thorne is your father.”

Emma quickly stood up, bowed her head low, and spoke softly, “Father, welcome home.”

Damien raised an eyebrow slightly and walked to the dining table, his eyes still fixed on Emma, though his face revealed nothing. May thought her daughter’s slow reaction had displeased Damien, but then she heard him say, “Sit and eat.”

Only then did Emma dare to sit down. Perhaps because of her poor impression of him—and the words Hina had said—she couldn’t bring herself to like him. But when she remembered her mother saying that this man would give them a life of wealth and even let her go to school, her fear eased just a little.

During the entire meal, only May spoke, and to herself at that. It wasn’t that she didn’t notice the strange atmosphere—years of working as a high-class escort had long taught her how to read a client's expression and mood. Damien had clearly said he wanted her as his wife, but his eyes had been fixated on her daughter the whole time. May felt jealous and uneasy, but dared not show it. What made it worse was that Damien looked at Emma with such a blank expression that she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Emma didn’t dare lift her head to look at anyone. She focused on eating—everything tasted so delicious that she couldn’t stop, but she also didn’t want to appear greedy, afraid the man would look down on her. Though she didn’t eat quickly, she ate a lot and didn’t even realize she was already full.

And so, the evening passed smoothly and quietly. For the first time, Emma got to sleep on a soft, comfortable bed. The bedroom wasn’t as large as her mother’s, but it was warm and cute in design. There were many stuffed animals and sparkly decorations that made Emma's eyes light up and her lips curl into a small smile.

"Feels like a dream..." she whispered softly before falling asleep.

Early the next morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Butler Alfred’s voice followed:

“Miss Emma, breakfast is ready. Mr. Thorne and your mother are waiting in the dining room. Please get up.”

Emma quickly changed into a simple outfit that one of the maids had brought her the night before. As she stepped toward the dining room, she saw the man sitting upright, reading documents, with her mother attentively pouring tea beside him.

“Father, Mom… good morning,” Emma greeted and hurried to the table. But before she could start eating, a deep male voice spoke.

Damien gave her a friendly smile that made her freeze in place.

“Emma, did you sleep well last night?”

She hadn’t expected him to ask her anything, so her reply came out a little awkwardly, “Yes, Father…” She wasn’t used to addressing him like that, so it felt very unnatural. After replying, she lowered her head again. Bowing her head had long become a difficult habit to break.

He tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said, “Emma, when someone speaks to you, you should look at them, okay?” His voice was deep but gentle.

Emma looked up at him. Although her new father hadn’t done anything to her, she couldn’t shake the instinctive feeling that he was dangerous—it wasn’t a conscious reaction, just her body’s natural response. Afraid her timidness would displease him, she softly said, “I’m sorry.”

“How old are you this year?” Damien asked.

Before Emma could answer, May jumped in,

“She’s sixteen this year. Very obedient and well-mannered. You don’t have to worry about her.”

“Sixteen? She doesn’t look sixteen,” Damien said, ignoring May, his eyes still locked on Emma.

Emma blushed with embarrassment. Though she was sixteen, years of poor nutrition had left her underdeveloped. Compared to her peers, she looked smaller and thinner. Aside from her pretty face, her body was so skinny it could easily be seen as unattractive.

May, displeased that Damien only paid attention to her daughter, added,

“She’s always been a picky eater. That’s why she’s like that.”

“Alfred,” Damien turned to the butler, “from now on, you’ll be responsible for managing my daughter’s nutrition.”

Then he looked back at Emma and asked gently, “Would you like to go to school?”

It was like he had struck the exact chord in her heart. Emma’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Really? I can go to school? Then... when can I start?” She hadn’t expected her new father to bring it up himself—she assumed her mother must’ve told him about her wish.

Seeing her reaction, Damien's lips curved into a clear smile.

“Of course. If you want, you can start as soon as tomorrow. You are my daughter now, and you’ll enjoy the privileges I allow.”

Emma was overjoyed, her voice rising with excitement.

“Thank you, Father, thank you, Mom. Thank you both so much.” At that moment, her eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration as she looked at Damien.

After breakfast, Damien left for work and May went shopping, leaving Emma at home with the maids and the butler. She was now sitting in the living room, reviewing documents Alfred had brought.

“Miss Emma, to attend school, we need to complete some formalities. Mr. Thorne has arranged for you to attend a private girls’ school. To ensure you stay focused, there are a few terms you’ll need to understand...” Alfred explained each condition clearly, even pointing them out line by line.

Emma understood some parts, but others were confusing. Among the normal requirements, there were a few strange clauses. But her excitement at the thought of finally going to school made her sign without much thought.

“All done. In a short while, your school uniform and supplies will arrive. Starting tomorrow, a driver will take you to school. From now on, you’ll be known as Mr. Thorne’s daughter, and the privileges you enjoy will come with that.” The butler collected the documents and left the room.

Emma sat there humming an old song happily, completely unaware of the strange look in the butler’s eyes as he left.