CHAPTER 1

"Come on, Emma, we're running late," Caroline urged.

Emma nodded, clutching her bag as she approached the car. She slid into the backseat beside Caroline, passing her luggage to the driver. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the cool glass of the window, reflecting on how drastically her life had changed. She was taking a position as a maid. Yes, a maid. With only a handful of alternatives, she had little choice in the matter.

Long before her time in the boarding institution, she had lived with abusive foster parents. Their punishments had been severe, leaving her tiny body almost constantly covered in bruises. After a brutal beating one frigid winter night, her foster father had thrown her out of the house. The night's bitter cold pierced her sensitive skin like knives. She was weeping, curled up into a tight ball, when a warm hand gently landed on her shoulder. Emma raised her head to find a woman in her late forties. Emma's bloodshot, tear-filled eyes locked onto the stranger, her silent gaze begging for help.

The woman's eyes welled with tears when she saw the little girl in such a miserable state. She quickly took off her warm coat and draped it over the tiny child. Emma had been just six years old at the time.

The woman introduced herself as Caroline Garcia. She knew it wasn't the best time for introductions, but she was desperate to comfort the young girl. Emma needed to know she was in safe hands.

Miss Garcia cared for her as if Emma were her own flesh and blood—a kind of love Emma had never experienced. Caroline was a single woman, but her gorgeous blonde hair and striking grey eyes made her appear much younger than her late forties. She reported Emma's abusive foster parents to the police. After two agonizing years of legal struggles and court appearances, Miss Garcia was finally granted full custody of Emma.

Following that terrifying night, little Emma finally received the safe life she had always longed for. For the first five years she lived with Caroline, it was incredibly tough to leave her trauma behind and start over. She suffered from frequent nightmares and panic attacks, but her life was still infinitely better than before. Emma never sought luxury; she simply wanted to live without the constant fear of abuse, even if Miss Garcia couldn't provide a wealthy lifestyle.

Miss Garcia didn't have a lucrative career, and as the years passed, Emma couldn't bear the thought of her godmother working day and night just to put three meals on the table. To ease the heavy financial burden, Emma had decided to move into a boarding institution to finish her education. Caroline had insisted Emma stay with her, but the young girl was adamant. She refused to be a burden on her godmother any longer.

What exactly happened during her time at that institution remained a secret to everyone else, but it fundamentally changed her as a person—just like every other major event in her life. When the institution unexpectedly shut down, Emma reluctantly returned home. She knew Miss Garcia's financial situation hadn't improved, but she had nowhere else to go. Caroline was overjoyed to have her back, but the young woman who returned was not the same child she had taken in all those years ago. Emma was different now, and Caroline could clearly see it, though she gently chose never to question her.

The sudden closure of the school had shaken everyone. Uneasy about being a financial strain again, Emma desperately wanted to help Caroline, but she didn't know how. She reached out to a former teacher, Mrs. Will, a kind woman who decided to help Emma out of her difficult situation. That was when Emma learned about a vacant maid position for a highly influential family.

Concern and anxiety had completely pervaded her thoughts. Was it really her best option to work as a maid? When she first heard the suggestion, her eyes had filled with tears, and she swallowed the heavy lump in her throat, shaking her head. Becoming a maid was the last thing she wanted, a bitter reminder of how difficult her life had become. But to support herself and Miss Garcia, she truly had no other option. Ultimately, she and her teacher discussed the suggestion.

When Caroline first found out, she was so upset that she walked away without saying a word. But eventually, Emma managed to persuade her godmother to support the decision.

"What are you thinking about, my child?" Miss Garcia's gentle voice snapped Emma out of her deep reflection.

"Nothing, Caroline," Emma said, offering a reassuring smile that the older woman gladly returned.

"I'm so sorry, my child. I wish I could earn enough money so that—"

Before Caroline could finish her sentence, Emma reached out and stopped her. "No, Caroline, please don't say that. You have no idea how much you've already done for me. You are the most important person in my life, and I can never thank you enough for everything," Emma said, her voice catching as a tear escaped her eye.

Caroline gently wiped the teardrop from Emma's flushed cheek and pressed a warm kiss to her forehead. "Thank you, sweetheart. I just hope you will not be in misery now. I have heard that the King family is incredibly wealthy. Their staff lives in luxury, and they are fed very well," Caroline said, a tone of relief evident in her voice.

"I hope so too, Caroline," Emma replied softly.

The King family. They were rumored to be the wealthiest folks in the country, and Emma was going to be working for them as a maid. She let out a heavy sigh, pondering the idea. She was curious about the people who lived in such grandeur. They had sent a private luxury car just to pick up a new maid, which had absolutely shocked Emma when it arrived. Wealthy individuals are haughty, Mrs. Will had warned her. To them, showing off their exorbitant wealth was just a game. Emma shook her head to clear her racing thoughts, closed her eyes, and tried to get some rest.

An hour later

The soft voice of Miss Garcia—a voice Emma realized she would hear far less of from now on—gently woke her. "Emma, honey, wake up. We're here."

Emma's eyelids fluttered open. She rubbed the sleep from her blurry eyes with the backs of her hands. As soon as the weariness faded, she grabbed her bag and stepped out of the car. She looked up, her jaw dropping in sheer disbelief at the massive estate looming in front of her. This place is enormous!

It was nothing like she had expected. This was no average home; it was a modern castle! The architecture was stunning, featuring expansive marble structures and a beautifully linked pool. It was breathtaking. Emma suddenly felt a surge of nervous excitement to see what it looked like on the inside.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Caroline asked, admiring the view.

Emma nodded, still in awe. "Yes, Caroline, it's wonderful."

A few moments later, two uniformed guards approached them. Emma flinched slightly; the men were massive and looked highly intimidating. Without a word, they collected her luggage and instructed the women to follow them inside.

If the exterior was magnificent, the interior made her exclaim even more. It was a perfect blend of modern luxury and timeless elegance. They stood in the grand foyer, their eyes eagerly scanning every opulent detail, until a well-dressed woman approached them.

"Hello there. Are you the new maid?" she asked politely.

"Oh, yes, ma'am, I am," Emma replied quickly. "I'm Emma Wilson." As much as she despised her legal name, she couldn't change her dark past, nor her last name.

"I'm Martha Steve," the woman smiled warmly. "I'm also a maid here—well, more like the head of the maids, as I've been working here for years," she added with a light chuckle.

Emma smiled back, feeling a bit of her tension melt away.

"Where is Mrs. King?" Caroline asked.

"Oh, Madam has an important meeting to attend today, which is why I came to greet you instead," Martha explained. "Come on, let's go get you settled in your room." She motioned for them to follow.

Emma's legs soon began to ache from the sheer number of steps required to reach the staff wing. The long corridors were spotless, with gleaming floors and lavish decorations. The walls were painted a soft, creamy white, and expensive paintings adorned nearly every corner. The King mansion was truly magnificent. Emma couldn't help but feel a pang of reality; she was only here to work, not to live a life in a place like this.

They passed at least seven closed bedroom doors before finally halting at the end of a quiet hallway in the staff quarters. Martha pushed open a solid door and gestured inside. The room was incredibly decent—in fact, it was exceptionally neat and clean for a maid's quarters. It was simply but comfortably furnished with a single bed, a sturdy wardrobe, a desk, and a mirror. To Emma, it looked perfect.

"So, how do you like your new room?" Martha asked with a welcoming grin.

"It's really lovely," Emma smiled.

However, her smile quickly faded when she heard quiet, muffled sobs coming from behind her. Turning around, Emma saw Caroline crying softly. Without a word, Emma wrapped her arms around the older woman, hugging her tightly. She was going to miss her so much.

"Be a good girl, my child," Caroline whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"I will, Caroline," Emma murmured sadly.

Caroline pulled back slightly and looked at the head maid. "Please take care of her, Martha. She is all I have."

"Don't worry, Caroline. She will be perfectly alright here," Martha reassured her kindly. The two women shared a brief, comforting hug.

A few minutes later, it was time for Caroline to leave. Emma and Martha walked her back to the grand front entrance. It broke Emma's heart to watch her leave, but she knew she didn't have a choice. This sacrifice was necessary for Caroline's benefit.

Emma lingered at the massive front doors for about five minutes, watching the car drive Caroline away from the estate. Eventually, her attention drifted to the sprawling garden, which spanned well over a hundred yards and was safely enclosed by high, whitewashed walls.

Taking a deep breath, Emma smiled at the wonderful creation of nature in front of her for the first time in a long time.