Chapter Five

05~ The Cut That Always Bleeds

"Sir, Mason is your son, isn't he?" I asked as everywhere became silent.

"You... You know?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Noah, I saw him yesterday" I said to him, taking a sigh.

"Sit" he ordered as we walked to the chair and he sat. He took a deep breath as he looked at me and began speaking.

"Mia. The first time I saw you in the kitchen trembling with fear because of the food you burnt, you reminded me of my Hailey...my wife" he said, looking at me.

"You have a wife?" I asked. He chuckled.

"Her hair was very long and her blue eyes, the brightest I've ever seen" he smiled, reminiscing about his wife. "We met in college, where I confessed my feelings to her. She quickly accepted, not knowing she had been in love with me longer than I knew. I mean... who wouldn't?" he said with a smile.

"We'd travel around the world, celebrate birthday parties, and I eventually proposed to her." A smile beamed on his face. "She said yes! And we got married, Mia. Life was so perfect, I had everything I had dreamed of" He smiled again. "She bore me a son and I couldn't be happier. My family was expanding, and with the most beautiful woman on earth. I can remember that day she looked down at our son, smiling with joy. 'Noah, look, he has your nose' she said with the most beautiful voice ever." Mr. Noah laughed, he looked at me, then continued.

"'Mason' she said. 'That will be his name.' All I could do was nod, admiring my world right in front of me. Mason loved cakes, and we'd fill the house with them like every day was his birthday. He'd jump on my legs and call me Papa." Mr. Noah chuckled.

"My work got intense as I'd come home late and travel for months, leaving Hailey with Mason all alone" he said. "Hailey would get angry, yell at me for leaving my family, when all I did was earn a living for her and Mason. I'd apologise by buying her gold jewelleries and cars, but I didn't know love wasn't all about money." Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I got angry after trying to explain it wasn't easy for me either. I took a suitcase full of clothes and left the house, slamming the door. Only if I had known that was the last time I'd see the sun, the last time my world would have a meaning... the last time I was going to see my Hailey." Tears fell from Mr. Noah's eyes as I quickly grabbed his hands, patting him.

"I was in a meeting when Hailey called me. Still angry at her, I turned off my phone, focusing on what I was doing. After the meeting, I turned on my phone and I saw 25 missed calls... I thought to myself, 'Now she knows how important I am.'" Mr. Noah chuckled.

"I called back but no one picked. I called the second time and I was told to come to the hospital Hailey was in. In no time, I took a flight back home, rushing to the hospital I was told. Getting there, I saw... I saw..." Mr. Noah broke into tears.

"Hailey had called me to tell me the house was on fire. Mason was saved and rushed to the hospital for treatment, but Hailey died. If only... if only I had picked up the first call, maybe I could have gotten the fire team to rescue her before it was too late. I walked into the ward, seeing Hailey covered with a white cloth, the body that once glimmered like gold burnt like paper. Her once perfect smile, her voice that sounded like the heavens... everything I had was gone, like wind" Tears fell from my eyes as I held onto his hands.

"I rushed over to Mason, seeing a huge scar on his chest. He was awake and I felt a bit of relief, I stepped closer to him with tears in my eyes, reaching for his hands. As if Hailey's death wasn't enough shock, Mason removed his hands. 'Go... go away' he said as I stepped back in shock. The eyes that were once filled with love were nothing but hate and despair." Mr. Noah wiped his eyes.

"I lost everything in one day; my house, my happiness, my son's love and my world...Hailey. I became wealthier, more successful, richer, but never happy. There I realized, Mia, that money wasn't everything. The wealthier I became, the less healthier I was. I spent all my years crying. I worked for nothing. Mia, I would trade all my life's riches just to see Hailey's smile for a second" Mr. Noah wiped his eyes, smiling.

"To the world, I'm the richest man on earth. But to myself, I'm the unluckiest man in the world" he said, looking at me. "Mason was just 10, he hated me. He never wanted to see my face. 'Go, go away like you always have'...that was all Mason said to me growing up. I realized that I had lost all the love Mason had for me. He spends lavishly, lives his life recklessly and unapologetically, I couldn't even muster the courage to correct him because I knew I have failed as a father. I realized he was my only heir, and if I wanted to set his life straight, I would have to become heartless, strict and nonchalant, even when all I wanted was to hold him in my arms. Even if it breaks me Mia.. I’ll have to make him responsible and let him know that money isn't all in life"

Mr. Noah stood up. "So I made decisions, I set boundaries and standards, and that's why I want you to be there with him, Mia."

"Me?... Mr. Noah, how's that possible? I... I am just a maid" I replied.

"You are my daughter," Mr. Noah said as my eyes became teary.

"I need you to be there Mia. Make sure he eats, checkmate him, and influence him, because Mason is a tough nut to crack" he said.

"Mr. Noah?" I called, my heart beating fast from the responsibility he was giving me. "But Mr. Noah, I don't think I can... how can I serve him, when I spent a decade of my life serving you?" I said, my voice laced with sadness.

"Mia, you can. And I'm giving you this responsibility because I have observed and watched you. Of all maids, you stand out. You don't care about the money I give you, you always make sure things are right, you sneak in on day offs, give me my medications, and also make the best coffee just like my Hailey" he said, chuckling as he stepped closer.

"Mr. Noah, this is huge... I might not..." I began, when Mr. Noah cut me mid-sentence.

"You can, and you will. I believe in you, Mia. I beg you...as a failed and hopeless father" he said, as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Sir, please don't" I quickly replied, not wanting him to cry again. Taking a deep sigh I said, "If serving him will make you happy... then I will."

Mr. Noah's face beamed with joy. "Bless you, my child" he said, folding his hands to thank me.

"Please don't, sir. This is the least I can do for you. After all, you are like a father to me. You gave my brother and I shelter and took us in. If I can't do this, then it won't be good," I said to him, smiling.

After our conversation, we headed downstairs. I told him to go to his room and I'd bring his food to him. Mr. Noah was still in tears as I left. I gently opened his door, serving his dinner on the bed and said to him that I will be back the next day with my things. As I turned to leave, he held my hand.

"Promise me, Mia, that you will do this?" Mr. Noah said, his voice shaking.

"I promise, Mr. Noah, i will do my best. I'll be here very early in the morning. I'll submit my uniform and my things, and I will await your order, boss" I smiled, as I saluted him.

He laughed. "Go now, my dear."

I waved him goodbye as I gently closed his door.

"Mason... Mason Cyrus" I muttered to myself as I lay down to sleep. Never did I know this was just the beginning of a new chapter in my life.