Chapter 4 :A place at the table

Rachel could hardly sleep the night before. She stared blankly at the patterned ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts. Slowly, she got up and staggered to the bathroom.

Austin had left for work early that morning without telling her. He was heading to an important business meeting, but even he wasn’t sure why Rachel had suddenly grown cold after seeing Amanda. Sitting in his office, waiting for the meeting to begin, his thoughts lingered on her.

Was she jealous?

Does she like me? he asked himself.

“Sir, they’re here,” his secretary said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He adjusted his suit and stood to greet his guests.

Meanwhile, Rachel wandered around the mansion looking for Austin. After searching endlessly and finding no trace of him, she ended up in the massive parlor. There, John and Daisy sat on one of the couches.

“Morning,” she said softly as she walked up to them. She was determined to make them love her.

“Darling, how are you?” Daisy asked kindly.

She scanned the room until her eyes landed on a secluded kitchen tucked beyond a sliding door. Without asking, she slipped inside.

The kitchen was pristine—too pristine. Everything gleamed under the warm golden lights. Yet to Rachel, it felt sterile, unlived. She opened the fridge, and an old version of herself blinked back—hungry, broke, desperate. Everything good in the fridge seemed to mock her former life, where dinner came from scraps or not at all.

But today… today she had something to prove.

She rolled up her sleeves and began cooking—not just food, but a message. A way to say I belong here.

She crafted homemade sushi rolls with precision, grated cheese over truffle-spiked macaroni pies, rolled seasoned meatballs, and chopped vegetables into a vibrant, colorful salad. She worked like an artist—focused, deliberate.

John had tried to get up to stop her, but Daisy gently held him back. “Let her,” she whispered.

An hour later, Rachel returned, carrying the trays of food herself.

John’s eyebrows lifted. Daisy blinked in surprise.

They took a bite—then another. The flavors were rich, comforting, soulful.

“This is… incredible,” Daisy said in awe.

Rachel smiled quietly, and for the first time, she saw something warm in their eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, Amanda had been watching from a distance. She stared at the scene bitterly. Joy radiated from the family—something she had never experienced. All her father had ever cared about was wealth and power. Now, at just 22, she’d been forced into this marriage. She was determined to win Austin’s parents over—but seeing how effortlessly Rachel connected with them made it clear she had a rival. Amanda knew what she had to do: she had to get closer to Rachel.

Later, a doctor entered the room. “Mr. Daniels would like to speak with Anna,” he announced.

Anna—Rachel—excused herself and followed the doctor into Mr. Daniels’ room.

“My dear,” he began warmly, “before your parents died, they owned 25% of my company. I’d like you to have it.”

Rachel blinked, stunned. Austin had never mentioned anything like this. She didn’t know how to respond.

“I just got back and really don’t want to feel overwhelmed,” she said gently. “I’ll answer your question, but I’m not ready right now.”

Mr. Daniels nodded. “Fair enough. Tell me about yourself. Did you go to college? What did you study?”

Rachel hesitated. “After high school, I couldn’t afford college. I had no money, so I did whatever I could to survive.”

Mr. Daniels looked at her with a mix of sadness and guilt. “All my life, I’ve worked hard under pressure, and yet someone in my own family couldn’t go to school? I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she replied softly. “I forgive you.”

He smiled, clearly moved. Then, reaching into his drawer, he handed her a card. “You don’t have proper clothes. I want you to be comfortable with the family. Go buy yourself something.”

Rachel was about to refuse, but he insisted. “Please,” he said.

“Thank you,” she whispered, accepting the card.

Mr. Daniels clapped his hands, and his assistant entered. “Tell the driver to take her to the boutique,” he instructed.

Rachel was taken to a luxurious boutique. Her eyes widened at the prices—every dress, every shoe cost more than she spent in three months. Still, she chose only a few items, but the total still climbed over $15,000.

That evening, Austin returned home. Rachel noticed his car parked outside.

“Is Mr. Austin back?” she asked the housekeeper.

“It seems so,” she replied.

Rachel went upstairs to try on the dresses she had bought. She wore a short, fitted mini dress that barely covered her thighs. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

She opened it—and found Austin staring at her.

His breath caught in his throat. She looked stunning. The dress clung to her curves, exposing just enough to drive him wild. He stepped into the room, trying to gather himself.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone. It was important,” he said, but his eyes refused to meet hers. Instead, they were fixed on her body.

Rachel invited him to sit beside her on the bed. “It’s okay. There’s something I need to tell you…”

But Austin wasn’t listening. His body was tense with desire. Her scent. Her skin. Her lips. Everything about her tempted him.

Without thinking, his hand brushed her thigh, his other hand moving to her back as he leaned in. Their faces were inches apart. His breath was hot on her lips.

But then—he stopped. Her wide, startled eyes brought him back to his senses. He pulled away quickly.

“You’ll be fine,” he said, flustered, and left the room to take a cold shower. He couldn't believe how close he had come to losing control.

Suddenly, a scream rang out from Austin’s parents' bedroom.

They rushed in to find Daisy collapsed on the floor, gasping for air. Her lips were pale, and her skin was turning grey.

“Call the doctor!” Austin shouted.

Racheal rushed to her side, opening Daisy’s mouth and pressing down on her chest. Rachel recognized what to do—she’d seen this before. It was one of the first things she’d been trained on in her old job.

When the doctor arrived and took over, he looked at Rachel in amazement.

“You saved her life,” he said.

John looked at her with a new sense of awe. “Thank you,” he said genuinely. “You’re a blessing to our family.”

From that moment on, Rachel was treated like a queen. Austin’s family adored her, especially Daisy and John. But it didn’t last.

Daisy had noticed the way Austin changed when he saw her ,"he wouldn't feel that way for his Cousin "

she questioned herself.

A few weeks later, on a quiet Tuesday morning, Rachel was sitting at the bar. Daisy, on a phone call, joined her moments later. She walked to the shelves, poured herself some water from a secluded glass, and took a sip.

Rachel wasn’t drinking anything at first, but then reached for the same pitcher and poured herself a cup. She took a small sip—

Only for Daisy to snatch it from her hands in panic.

“Are you okay?!” Daisy exclaimed.

Rachel blinked. “Yes, why?”

“You’re allergic to rose water. You remember that, right?”

Rachel paused. “When I turned 20, my allergies didn’t bother me anymore.”

Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

It was a lie.

It was all a test.

Daisy had never been allergic to rose water. She knew something wasn’t right—and now she had proof.