why does this involve me

Kael’s mother gave me one last look before standing. “Think about what I said, Sophia,” she said softly, then turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

I let out a shaky breath, sinking further into the bed. Before I could gather my thoughts, the door opened again. Kael walked back inside. My chest tightened, and without thinking, I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over my head, burying myself in it. I couldn’t face him.

“Sophia.” His voice was soft, and I heard his footsteps approach the bed. The mattress dipped as he sat down beside me. “Sophia, look at me.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled under the blanket, my voice muffled and shaky. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m so sorry for everything.”

The blanket shifted as he gently tugged it away from my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, but then I felt his warm hand on mine.

“Sophia,” he said quietly. “Look at me.”

I hesitated before slowly opening my eyes. He was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read—gentle, maybe even kind.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice steady. “You don’t have to apologize. I should’ve been more careful… but don’t blame yourself for this.”

My lip quivered as I tried to hold back tears. “But it’s my fault. I—”

He shook his head, cutting me off. “No. It’s not.” His hand moved to brush a strand of hair from my face. “And since this is your first time, I want you to know something.”

I blinked at him, my heart pounding. “What?”

“I’ll cherish it,” he said simply, his eyes locking with mine. “And as for your mom’s hospital bills… I’ll pay them. All of them.”

My breath caught, and I stared at him, unable to speak.

“I mean it,” he continued, his voice calm but firm. “You don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t stop them from spilling over. “Why would you do that for me?” I whispered.

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips warm against my skin. “Because you deserve it,” he said softly. “I’ll be back soon, okay? Just rest for now.”

I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. He stood and left the room quietly, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sank back into the bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin. My mind raced, replaying everything that had just happened. How did I end up here?

I closed my eyes, letting the memories come flooding back.

Not too long ago, I was just a normal high school student. My mom was my whole world—my best friend, my rock. She was a single mother, and I did everything I could to help her. I’d cook, clean, and take care of her when she was tired from work. She always told me I was her little angel.

But everything changed when she got sick. It started with small things—fevers, fatigue—but it quickly got worse. The hospital bills piled up, and we had no way to pay them. I had to quit school to take care of her, but even that wasn’t enough.

I thought we’d lose everything.

And then there was Kael. I’d seen him on TV so many times—a billionaire, known for his power and influence. He was untouchable, like a dream that could never be mine. But I admired him. I always did.

One day, I saw a job offer in the newspaper—a maid position at his estate. I didn’t think I’d actually get it, but I applied anyway. I was desperate.

When they called me back and told me I got the job, I couldn’t believe it. I thought maybe this was my chance. Maybe I could pay off the debt, take care of my mom, and put our lives back together.

But now… now I wasn’t so sure.

I stared at the ceiling, the weight of everything pressing down on me. What was I supposed to do now? Could I even face Kael again after all this?

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the thoughts, but one question kept echoing in my mind: what happens next?

I lay there for a while, my mind spinning with everything that had happened. Finally, I sat up, wiping the tears from my face. My eyes landed on my maid uniform crumpled on the floor.

With a shaky breath, I got out of bed, clutching the blanket around me as I bent to pick it up. Before I could grab it, the door burst open.

Startled, I straightened up. Two maids walked in. One of them held a stunning gown—long, sleek, and more luxurious than anything I had ever seen. The other carried a small box, which she opened to reveal sparkling jewelry.

I blinked at them, completely confused. "What… what’s going on?"

One of the maids gave me a polite smile. "Mr. Kael said we should get you dressed."

I stared at her, my mouth dry. "Dressed? For what?"

"For an occasion tonight," the second maid said, holding up the gown. "He asked us to prepare you."

I hugged the blanket tighter around me, my heart racing. "But why? I don’t… I don’t understand."

The first maid set the jewelry box on the dresser, her expression calm. "We’re just following orders, Miss."

"But I’m just a maid," I said, my voice trembling.

The second maid gave me a soft look. "Not tonight, you’re not."

I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. "I don’t think I should—"

"Please, Miss," the first maid interrupted gently. "We don’t want to upset Mr. Kael."

The mention of his name made me swallow hard. Slowly, I nodded. "Okay… I guess."

The second maid smiled and gestured to the gown. "Let’s get you ready, then."

I glanced at the dress again, the rich fabric shining under the light. It looked so out of place in this room, like it belonged in another world.

Still clutching the blanket, I hesitated. "I don’t even know how to wear something like that."

"Don’t worry, we’ll help you," the first maid said, her tone reassuring.

Before I could say anything else, they gently guided me to the dresser. One started brushing my hair while the other laid out the dress and jewelry.

As they worked, I couldn’t stop the questions swirling in my mind. Why was Kael doing this? What kind of occasion was this? And why did it involve me?

I bit my lip, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I barely recognized myself.