Chapter 5

Mary froze.

Instinctively, she covered her chest, eyes wide.

“Wha…what are you doing here?”

Alexander stood in the doorway, staring at her. His gaze darkened as they traveled over her flushed skin.

The air between them suddenly felt heavier, charged with something unspoken.

He wondered how her skin would feel beneath him. His thoughts began to run wild. His breath hitched, as his body reacted instantly.

Mary panicked when she saw his reaction. She rushed into the bathroom and leaned against the door, breathing hard. Her heart was pounding so loud, she thought it might give her away.

"What was that?" she thought. "I need to be careful."

She filled the tub and soaked in the warm water, trying to calm down.

In the bedroom, Alexander stood frozen. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. "Get yourself together, Alex," he muttered. "She's not her. Just a substitute, nothing but a look-alike.”

He walked to the balcony and pulled out a photo he always carried with him.

“Maya,” he whispered, touching the picture. “I hope you are doing well wherever you are.”

His gaze softened.

“I love you, Maya. I will always love you, no matter what.”

He lit a cigarette and took slow puffs, the smoke masking the pain he refused to acknowledge.

When Mary came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and her hair still dripping, she walked into the room to get her nightwear.

She froze.

Alexander was lying on the bed, his eyes tightly shut.

Why is he still here? Did he fall asleep?

She tiptoed closer and waved her hand in front of his face.

Suddenly, Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto him.

Mary gasped, shocked.

“What do you think you are doing?” he asked, his voice low and raspy.

“I thought you were asleep,” she rushed. “I just wanted to check.”

She tried to stand, but he flipped them over, pinning her beneath him.

Her face burned. She was only wearing a towel.

His weight above her made her pulse race, heat pooling low in her stomach before she could stop it.

Is this how it is going to happen?

No. I cannot let this happen.

“What are you doing?” she asked again.

“Shh,” he whispered, bending slightly as he inhaled her scent.

Her body reacted instantly. Goosebumps rose across her skin, as her breath caught. A strange sensation settled in her lower belly.

What is happening to me?

“Alex,” she whispered, “I need to change.”

“Just a little while,” he said softly.

“Okay,” she replied, her voice barely audible.

Suddenly, Alexander stiffened and pulled away.

“What am I doing?” he muttered.

His gaze dropped, and so did hers.

Mary gasped.

Their eyes met.

“Shit,” he cursed before rushing into the bathroom.

“Oh my gosh,” Mary blurted. “He is huge.”

Realizing what she said, she quickly covered her mouth, climbed off the bed, changed into her nightwear, and slipped under the covers.

Alexander stood under the cold shower, frustration burning through him.

“Get it together,” he told himself. “Maya is the only woman you will ever love in this lifetime.”

But why did my body react to her?

Images flooded his mind. Her scent. Her voice. The way her body responded.

Mary Andison, what are you doing to me?

He slammed his fist against the wall as cold water poured over him.

When he returned to the bedroom, Mary was already asleep. He looked at her quietly, then smiled faintly.

“Is this your way of avoiding me?” he murmured.

He lay beside her, turned off the lamp, and drifted to sleep.

The Next Morning

Mary woke up to an empty space beside her. Had he left in the night?

She freshened up and went downstairs.

“Good morning, Miss Andison,” Butler Brooks greeted her.

“Good morning,” she replied with a smile. “Where is Alex?”

“The young master has already left for work.”

“Oh,” she said, stretching. “So I am alone today. Today is going to be a happy day.”

“Would you like breakfast now?” Butler Brooks asked.

“Yes, please. I am starving.”

After breakfast, Mary went for a walk in the garden, deciding to explore the mansion while Alexander was not around.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Dad!

She hesitated before answering.

“Dad.”

“My angel, how have you been?”

“I am not your angel,” she cut in sharply. “Do not call me that.”

He sighed. “I know you are angry. I only did it for the company.”

“The company?” she scoffed. “So it mattered more than my happiness?”

She swallowed hard.

“I hope I have helped you now. I do not owe you anything anymore. Please do not call me again.”

She hung up.

On the other end, Mr. Andison stared at the photo of his daughter and wife, as the call ended. Tears dropping.

“I am sorry, Mary,” he whispered. “I failed you.”

Back in the garden, Mary sat quietly on a bench.

A maid approached.

“Young miss, there is a guest waiting for you in the living room.”

Mary looked up. “A guest? I am not expecting anyone.”

“Young miss,” the maid replied softly, “she is the young master’s close friend.”

“She?” Mary echoed.

“Why don't you call him? I cannot entertain his guests. We just got married. I do not even know him well, let alone his friends.”

“Butler Brooks already called the young master. He said he will be back soon.”

“And?”

“You are the madam of the house. We believe it is your duty to entertain the guest.”

Mary felt a chill crawl down her spine.

“I will,” she said hesitantly. “Make her comfortable. No one wants to offend her.”

After the maid left, Mary sighed.

“What did I do to deserve this life?” she muttered. “First, I am expected to please Alex. Now I have to please his friend too.”

She stood up and headed toward the living room, unaware that the person she was about to meet would push her life from bad to worse.

Mary walked into the living room and found a woman standing in front of a huge portrait of Alexander. Selene's fingers drifted over his face.

“I am finally back, Alex,” she whispered. “I came back for you. I will not let you go. Back then, I could not fight for you because you were deeply in love with Maya. But now Maya is gone.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“This is my chance. I will win you over.”

She leaned in, pressing her lips to the frame. Lost in the moment, she didn't notice Mary behind her. The sound of Mary's throat clearing made Selene jump, and she spun around.

"Hello," Mary said calmly. "I heard you're a friend of Alex's. I'm Mary Andison, and…"

"Excuse me," Selene cut in, her tone sharp. "As a maid, shouldn't you be more formal? Calling him 'Mr. Alexander', or young master, perhaps?"

Mary's expression froze.

“I think you are mistaken. I am not a maid.”

No regret for your mistake, huh?”

"What mistake?" Mary shot back.

Slap.

The sound cut through the room. Mary's head whipped sideways, her cheek burned. The sting spread fast, but it was the humiliation that hurt more, hot and suffocating in her chest.

"You hit me?" she asked, disbelief sparking anger.

"Why?"

Selene gripped her wrist. "Butler Brooks!" She called out in a loud voice.

He burst in and froze at the scene before him .

"Who hired her?" Selene demanded.

“She’s not who you think,” Butler Brooks said cautiously, bowing his head.

“No need to kowtow to someone so full of themselves,” Mary said, icy.

Selene’s eyes blazed. “Butler Brooks, who brought this tramp here?”

“No one employed her,”

“Does Alex know she’s staying?”

“I’m not a tramp,” Mary said calmly.

“Watch it you tramp.”

“What gives you the right to talk back to me like that?” Selene snapped.

Mary lifted her chin, radiating confidence, the kind she’d never dare to show in front of Alexander. "I'm Mrs. Lipton. Alex's wife."

Selene laughed. "Wife? She scoffed, folding her arms. In your dreams , Alex would never marry anyone that doesn't belong to the same social class as him, especially not a lowlife like you."

"Why don’t we wait for him to return, then," Mary said coolly.

"The only one waiting for Alex is me," Selene snapped. "You’re leaving this house.”

The tension in the room thickened, sharp enough to cut through.

Butler Brooks panicked, "Miss Selene, you can’t…”

Mary cut him off, "It’s fine. I’ll leave."

The door suddenly swung open.

Alexander walked in, sensing the charged air. His brow furrowed, jaw tightening. "What's going on here?”