what have I done?

Kael’s mother stepped back, her voice calm but firm, yet it felt like a heavy blow to my chest. “Kael, get dressed and leave the room. I need to talk to Sophia.”

“Mom, wait—” Kael started, his tone defensive as he reached for his shirt, his movements tense.

I couldn’t take the weight of the silence between them or the shame burning through me. I cut him off before he could say more, my voice trembling as I spoke. “No, Kael. Stop.” My cheeks felt hot, my throat tightening with the words. “I… I wanted this. It wasn’t just him.”

Kael froze, his jaw tightening as he looked at me, confusion and something else—guilt?—flashing in his eyes. “Sophia…” His voice was softer now, like he didn’t know what to say.

I shook my head quickly, clutching the sheet tighter around me. “Please, just go.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment, like he was trying to decide whether to stay or argue. But then, with a stiff nod, he pulled his shirt over his head, turned, and walked out, closing the door behind him.

The silence that followed was deafening. I couldn’t bring myself to look up as I sat on the bed, trembling. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. When Kael’s mother finally moved closer, the mattress dipped under her weight. Her touch on my shoulder was gentle, but I flinched anyway.

“Sophia,” she said quietly, her voice heavy with something I couldn’t quite name—disappointment, concern, maybe both. “Why would a beautiful, young girl like you let this happen? Kael is a grown man—he’s thirty. This isn’t right.”

Her words made the knot in my stomach tighten, and I forced myself to meet her eyes. “I… I don’t know,” I whispered. My voice sounded so small, so broken.

She tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to see through my words. “Do you like him?”

The question caught me off guard, but I couldn’t lie—not now. My chest tightened, and I nodded slowly, my cheeks burning with shame. “Yes. I’ve always liked him.”

She sighed, the sound soft but weighted. Her hands fell to her lap, and she shook her head slightly. “Why, Sophia? What is it about him that made you let this happen? You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you. You don’t need to settle for this.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep them from spilling over. “I don’t know,” I said again, my voice breaking. “He… he makes me feel seen. Like I matter.”

Her expression softened, and she reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face. “You do matter, sweetheart. But this—this isn’t love. It’s not what you deserve.”

My lip quivered, and I felt the tears spill over despite my best efforts. “Then what is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her sigh this time was heavier, and she pulled me into a hug. Her arms were warm, comforting, and I clung to her like she was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. “It’s complicated,” she said quietly. “Kael has always been… intense. He doesn’t always think about the consequences of his actions. But that doesn’t make this okay.”

I pulled back slightly, wiping at my tears. “But I wanted it,” I said, my voice trembling but steady. “I’ve wanted him for so long. I thought… I thought if I gave him this, maybe he’d see me as more than just some maid.”

Her frown deepened, and I saw something like sadness in her eyes. “Oh, Sophia,” she murmured, shaking her head. “You’re so much more than that. And if he can’t see it, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

Her words hit something deep inside me, and I couldn’t stop the tears that followed. “I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, my voice breaking completely. “I feel so… lost.”

She pulled me close again, stroking my hair like a mother might. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “We’ll figure it out together.”

I buried my face in her shoulder, letting myself cry in her arms. She didn’t rush me or say anything more, just held me until I felt like I could breathe again.

When I finally pulled back, her hands rested firmly on my shoulders, and she looked me straight in the eye. “You’re like a daughter to me, Sophia,” she said, her voice steady but kind. “And I want what’s best for you. But you need to be honest with yourself. Do you really think Kael can give you the kind of life you deserve?”

Her question made my heart ache, and I hesitated, my mind racing. I thought about the way Kael made me feel—the passion, the intensity. But I also thought about the shame, the uncertainty, the way his mother had reacted.

“I don’t know,” I admitted finally, my voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

She nodded, her expression serious but understanding. “Then maybe it’s time to take a step back and figure out what you really want. You’re young, Sophia. You have so much ahead of you. Don’t let this one mistake define your future.”

I nodded slowly, though my chest felt tight with a mix of emotions I couldn’t even begin to untangle. “But what if he doesn’t see it as a mistake?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

Her expression hardened slightly, and she squeezed my shoulders. “Then that’s something he’ll have to figure out on his own,” she said firmly. “But you need to think about yourself first. Your happiness, your future. Don’t let Kael—or anyone else—take that away from you.”

Her words sank deep into me, and I looked down at my hands, my mind swirling. She was right—I knew she was right. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

After a moment, she stood, offering me a small, reassuring smile. “Get some rest, sweetheart,” she said softly. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

I nodded, watching as she left the room, closing the door gently behind her. The silence that followed was deafening, and I sat there in the dim light, clutching the sheet around me.

My mind raced with questions, fears, and regrets. What had I done? What was going to happen now? And most of all, could I ever face Kael again?