Chapter 6

The early morning sunlight filtered through the Ashfords grand kitchen windows, casting a pale glow on the polished marble countertops. The kitchen air was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soft chirping of birds outside, but Amelia's mind was far from the serene atmosphere.

Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Ashford was back.

Mrs. Ashford had caught a glimpse of her son's cruel act on her hand and rather than feeling sorry about it, she had smirked, shoving whatever the reason behind it was to the wind and ordering her to make breakfast.

The mere thought of having the old hag back in the house sent a jolt of nervousness down her spine as she thought of her cruel words and merciless treatment towards her and her children —her own grandchildren.

She had once took revenge on Aria by slapping her when Nathalie had fallen off the stairs by accident one time, wishing she could have been the one instead.

Her presence in the mansion would always give Hector the wings to fly and the weight of it all threatened to suffocate her.

As she cracked eggs into a bowl, her hands moved with a quiet efficiency, but her thoughts were consumed by the dread that had settled in her stomach like a cold, heavy stone.

But then again, there was another lady in the mansion. And that only made Amelia wonder. What was she doing here?

Amelia's gaze fixed intently on the large bowl in front of her. The eggs, once a gentle, fluffy cloud, now seemed to mock her, their whites and yolks swirling together in a chaotic mess, much like the turmoil brewing inside of her. She added a dash of cream, a sprinkle of salt, and began to whisk the eggs with a little more force than necessary, the spoon clinking against the side of the bowl like a warning bell.

Their laughter echoed from the hall again and that face...

Amelia had seen her countless times before and now...now she's in the mansion this morning, having breakfast with the Ashfords and with Hector, sitting intimately close with her.

"You sure don't want to hurt your hand any further than that child."

Madam Selene's voice sliced through, making Amelia halt to catch some deep breath. She blinked, hoping to hold back her tears .

There was only one person whom has always shown Amelia love and kindness under the Ashfords roof after Mr. Ashford White, and that was Madam Selene. Madam Selene was and still the head maid and Amelia had met her here the very first time she came. Though, fully aware of all the chaos in her life, she could barely do little to pull her out of the Ashfords grasp even if she wanted.

"I'm fine, Madam Selene," she smoothened out her frock.

Soon, the omelette began to set, its edges curling up like golden petals, but Amelia's heart remained heavy, weighed down by the presence of not only Mrs. Ashford but the other lady in the mansion.

Amelia walked back into the hall with a tray of omelettes in her hand.

Mrs. Ashford's grin sliced through the air as she announced, "Finally, here comes the omelette."

Amelia's hands moved with practiced precision, placing the delicate omelette in front of each seat. She bowed her head, her posture a perfect imitation of a submissive maid. The Ashfords' rules dictated her every move, and she knew better than to deviate.

She stood by behind their seats.

The Pancakes. Croissants. Toasts. Coffee. Biscuits. Omelette.

Maybe every sweat she had poured into making the breakfast wouldn't have hurt much if it was just an ordinary Ashfords breakfast. But it felt rather more of a convention for whatever the reason behind their giggling was all about.

Mrs. Ashford's smile was a warm, calculated gesture as she turned to Sharon. "And thank you, Sharon, for the lift from the airport last night," she said, her voice laced with genuine gratitude. "And for waiting to have breakfast with us this morning before you leave. It feels good to finally have you back with us."

The words hung in the air, a subtle reminder of Sharon's place in the Ashfords' inner circle – a place Amelia had never quite managed to occupy, no matter how hard she tried. Mrs. Ashford's eyes sparkled with a knowing glare, as if she was savoring a secret only she, her son and Sharon shared.

The air seemed to vibrate with unspoken meaning, leaving Amelia frozen in a mixture of curiosity and unease.

Amelia's heart drummed knowing Sharon's been in the mansion since last night. And what exactly does Mrs. Ashford mean by her last statement?

Wasn't she Hector's secretary?

Sharon's smile reached her eyes and Amelia couldn't help but admit that she has such a beautiful smile that could leave any soul enchanted. Just like she had last remembered her.

Amelia had seen Sharon for the first time when she started dating Hector—when she would often go to meet him at his father's company back then to bring him lunch. She had once caught them being intimately close one time but Hector had sworn to her that she was his secretary. And as a gullible teenager in lover, she believed him wholeheartedly.

But she knew Mrs. Ashford quite well. There was no way she'd be acknowledging a mere secretary even if she drove her round the entire universe!

"You are most welcome, Mrs. Ashford. And thank you for having me."

The room narrowed to a pinpoint as Amelia's gaze locked on Hector's lips brushing against Sharon's in a fleeting caress. Time suspended, and her breath caught in her throat. Then, they pulled away, grinning at each other like conspirators sharing a delicious secret. They sat side by side, a picture of ease and intimacy, ignoring Amelia's existence as if she were a mere fixture – a statue, a piece of furniture, invisible and irrelevant. The air seemed to vibrate with their shared amusement, and Amelia felt herself fading into the background, her presence erased by their obvious affection.

"Enjoying the meal, Babe?"Hector's tone was gentle as the dug.

Babe?!

Amelia's eyes went wide, her lips parting in a silent scream of shock. The words – whatever protest, denial, or plea she might've uttered – died in her throat, stuck like a broken record skipping on a painful loop.

She couldn't even remember the last time he had called her that name and now, he had just said that to her?

Did he just call his secretary, Babe?

"Hmm. Hmm...," Sharon nodded, shoving the cutlery fork in her mouth. She savored slowly, "never knew Amelia is this good to be honest."

The words rather felt like a ton of bricks thrown at her than an accolade.

"Infact, I think I'd be needing more omelettes."

Hector smiled pleasingly like a fool in love. His gaze fall on an utterly confused and disoriented Amelia on stand by.

"Hect—"

"You heard her Amelia," his once calm, gentle tone suddenly turned cold at her, "make more omelettes for her...now."

"Your—Your secretary?" her eyes sparkled with tears at his betrayal.

Second betrayal!

"Secretary?" Sharon's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. She dabbed her glossy lips with a tissue, the gesture a mockery of elegance, before rising to her feet.

With deliberate slowness, she closed the distance between her and Amelia standing by, her eyes blazing with a venomous triumph.

"You really are that stupid, aren't you?" she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension.

"I was never his secretary, Amelia. I was his childhood sweetheart, his first and only love – the one he was meant to be with, until you came along and stole him away." The words lashed out, each syllable a whip cracking across Amelia's face.