Hidden Motives

"In the hallway*

Grayson stood outside the dark storage room and looked at the door. His mind clouded by alcohol as a figure flashed across his mind,Emma-her tears, the way she avoided his eyes and how she looked at Dexter.

And without thinking he pushed open the door and walked in.

Emma who was half asleep jolted awake and instinctively moved back. But before she could scream, He covered her mouth

"Shh..... it's me" he said

Emma just stared at him as he wordlessly carried her off the bed and walked towards his room.

His steps were heavy and calm. But Emma was not calm as her tears kept on pouring 

When he got to his room he gently laid her on the bed but immediately his hands moved toward her she flinched.

This action made Grayson fume in anger, As he ignored her resistance and had his way with her. Emma kept on crying incessantly 

"Why are you crying? Do you think I will stop if you cry?" Grayson said but Emma didn't reply she just turned her face away from him and kept crying 

"I am not Dexter, I don't fall for tears. Especially not from someone who killed my sister" He said as he continued with his deed Emma didn't say anything but deep down she thought 

"I didn't kill your sister, why are you making me go through so much, when I am also a victim"

When Grayson saw she wasn't looking him he angrily grab her chin but then..... He froze

Blood!!!

Dark red blood was seen seeping out of her shirt and the owner of the blood -Emma- had passed out 

Grayson immediately stopped his act as he frantically pulled at her shirt. He saw a large burn injury on her abdomen. That's when he knew She wasn't pretending all morning she was actually in pain.

Overwhelmed by guilt he stood up from her body and walk towards the bathroom. When he came out he was putting on a bathrobe and was holding a towel and a bowl of water. He walked towards the girl on the bed and gently but clumsily cleaned her up making sure to avoid her injury. After that he applied ointment, changed her into new pajamas. Before going to the bathroom to dispose of the blood filled water and towel,freshened up and climbed into the bed and slept with her.

.....

*Morning*

In Grayson's room Emma was the first to wake up. She woke up but noticed that she was not in her room but in Grayson's room. 

She immediately spranged up from the bed grabbed her clothes and rushed out of the room.

Grayson who was suppose to be sleeping fluttered awake as he stared at the empty bed and looked towards the closed door

"Is she that scared of me"

While Emma was going down the stairs, She bumped into Mrs Norris. Mrs Norris is one of the old servants of the Millers and the closest to Grayson. She has also been very nice to Emma. She had been at the Old house where Grandpa Miller stayed for the past two days so she wasn't in Grayson's Villa.

"Emma my dear, why do you look scared?" She asked Emma when she saw the fear in Emma's eyes before taking a thorough look at Emma. Emma was still putting on the pajamas Grayson changed for her last night. Mrs Norris didn't say anything but she knew the pajamas was Grayson's and Emma was scared because of him.

"Emma, I was about going to your room to give you your repaired phone" Mrs Norris said as she brought out a phone from her bag and passed it to Emma.

"Thank you Aunt Norris" Emma thanked her sincerely before rushing to her room as though she was been chased

"This girl....... Mrs Norris was still saying when she was interrupted by a low but graceful voice

"Aunt Norris, Good morning, it's been long I saw you" The owner of the voice said with a smile. This person was Leah who had rushed here to make her presence known in front of Grayson 

"Miss Leah, there is no need to call me Aunt, I am not worthy of being your Aunt" Mrs Norris said with fake humility before leaving not even bothering to answer Leah's greeting 

"You stupid woman, Do you think I would fawn over you if not for Grayson. Don't worry when I get married to Grayson you would be the first person I would fire" Leah said with an angry expression as she glared at Mrs Norris back.

*Grayson's room*

Grayson stood by the window, the morning sun cutting across his bare chest like a spotlight. As he fell into deep thought.

He remembered Emma's cries and painful sobbing. The way she flinched when he tried to touch. 

Her tears. Her resistance.  

And then the blood.

He hadn’t stopped to ask if she was okay. Hadn’t paused to think. Now, the image of her unconscious form haunted him like a shadow he couldn’t shake.

A soft knock interrupted his spiraling thoughts.

“Sir?” came a voice from outside. “Miss Leah is asking if you’re ready for the day.”

Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “Tell her I’m busy.”

Silence followed, then the sound of retreating footsteps.

He rose and walked to the dresser, pulling out a clean shirt. But before dressing, he paused and stared at his reflection in the mirror.

“Get it together,” he growled at himself. “She’s just a servant. A slave. And your sister’s murderer.”

With that, he turned away and calmly walked to his study.

---

*Emma’s Room*

After closing the door of the storage room behind her, Emma changed out of the pajamas and into her own clothes. She held the pajamas for a moment, staring at them before deciding to wash them careful

She decided to wash the pajamas and return them to Grayson later.

Taking the repaired phone Mrs. Norris had handed her, Emma switched it on. Instantly, messages began popping up. She saw texts from her best friend, Miranda, asking when she’d be returning to work.

Emma had taken paid leave after learning Grayson was coming back from abroad—since no one knew she had a job. Grandpa Miller had instructed the servants not to tell Grayson. She was supposed to return next week.

Emma quickly replied to Miranda’s message, then scrolled through her phone, noticing thousands of unread messages from her class group—all buzzing about an upcoming reunion.

Yes, she had gone to school. Grandpa Miller had paid her academic fees ever since her dad died. Somehow, he had convinced Grayson to agree. He also found her a job, unknown to Grayson. Emma never understood why he did all this, especially since she was accused of killing his only granddaughter.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Knock, knock.”

“Emma, come to the kitchen and have breakfast,” Mrs. Norris called from outside the door.

“I’m coming, Aunt Norris,” Emma replied, smiling softly to herself as she walked out of the room.

"Aunt Norris is the only one who makes me feel warmth in this cold house."

---

*Jason Family Estate*

Leah entered the lavish estate with a cold expression. She found her mother sitting at the edge of a velvet couch, twisting a golden ring around her finger. The sitting room glowed with soft golden light, but Leah’s face was anything but warm.

Her mother, a sharp-featured woman with calculating eyes, set down her teacup. “You’re frowning again,” she said crisply. “Let me guess—Grayson?”

Leah exhaled sharply. “He’s slipping away from me, Mother. It’s that girl.”

“Emma?”

Leah nodded bitterly. “A servant. Can you imagine? A nobody.” Her voice trembled with frustration.

Her mother leaned back, watching her carefully. “What has she done to him?”

“She hasn’t done anything,” Leah said abruptly, pacing back and forth. “That’s what makes it worse. She’s so quiet. She cries, but she obeys. She doesn’t even fight back when he lashes out at her.”

Her mother, Mrs. Jason, spoke calmly, “Men like Grayson are drawn to weakness. It makes them feel powerful.

Leah looked up, eyes filled with hope. “Mom, I want to marry Grayson. I love him, I really do.”

“I know,” her mother replied softly.

Leah’s voice turned urgent. “Can you talk to Grandpa Miller? Maybe he can decide on our engagement.”

“No!” Mrs. Jason said sharply, causing Leah to flinch.

Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Mrs. Jason softened her tone. “You know Grandpa Miller holds a grudge against us. You know why. Last time, it took everything to stop him from exposing us. Forcing him to decide on your marriage to Grayson would be pointless.”

She paused, turning to look her daughter in the eyes before continuing. “Instead, we have to make Grayson want to marry you. Only then will Grandpa Miller have no choice but to accept.”

"I understand, Mom, but... how do I deal with Emma? She’s such a nuisance," Leah said, frustration clear in her voice.

Mrs. Jason’s eyes narrowed with calculation. "Don’t worry. As for that servant girl, I’ll find a way to handle her. But it won’t be easy—Grayson truly believes she killed his sister, and he won’t let her go without a fight."