CHAPTER 5

The next two days after what happened in the garden were exhausting and stressful for Sienna. She could feel Don Xavier's gaze every time they crossed paths in the hallway. Marco, the tutor, never came back—he was quickly replaced by an elderly professor, which only proved how strict, possessive, and controlling the Don was when it came to the De Luca family.

But what Sienna never expected was the order she received before the end of that week.

"Elena, pack your things in the servants' quarters," Auntie Gabi said as Sienna was wiping the flower vases in the living room. "The Don ordered you to move upstairs."

Sienna almost dropped the cleaning cloth in her hand.

"U-Upstairs? Where upstairs?"

"Next to Lucas's room," the older woman replied, her face showing both concern and confusion. "The Don said the servants' quarters are too far away in case Lucas gets stomach pain again in the middle of the night. He wants you to be there as soon as he calls."

Sienna's hands trembled as she carried the few clothes she owned inside an old bag. Moving to the second floor meant two things—only one wall would separate her from her son, but she would also be only a few steps away from Don Xavier's bedroom. She had entered this mansion because of her son, but now it felt as though she was slowly becoming trapped in the Don's game.

Sienna's new room was small but much better than the servants' quarters. It had its own window overlooking the back of the mansion and a door that connected directly to Lucas's room through a small passage.

That night, after Lucas had fallen asleep, Sienna stayed beside his bed. She gently stroked his soft hair.

"If only you knew, my son... if only you knew that your real mother is the one taking care of you now," Sienna whispered. As her glasses rested on the bedside table, a tear slipped down her cheek.

"What did you just call him?"

Sienna quickly turned around.

Standing by the connecting doorway was Don Xavier. She hadn't heard him come in because of the thick carpet. He was wearing a black silk robe that was slightly open at the chest, and his hair was still damp, as if he had just finished taking a shower. Without her glasses on, Sienna could clearly see how handsome the Don was, but it also made her even more nervous that he might recognize her.

Sienna quickly put her glasses back on, stood up, and lowered her head.

"D-Don Xavier... I said, 'little master.' I was only making sure he was sleeping soundly."

Xavier stepped into the room. The scent of his expensive soap and mint filled the air, making Sienna even more nervous. He stopped in front of her and looked at her face, which had already turned red from fear and from how close they were standing.

"I heard what you said, Elena. But I'll let it pass tonight," Xavier said seriously. He looked at Lucas, who was sleeping peacefully, before turning back to her. "Since you arrived, the mansion has become much quieter. Lucas doesn't cry at night anymore."

"That's my duty, Don Xavier."

"Your duty?"

The Don let out a faint, teasing smile. He took another step closer until Sienna could feel the warmth of his body.

"No maid takes care of a child like that, Elena. The way you look at my son... it's as if he's the only person who matters to you. There's something different about you that I can't understand. And I don't like the feeling that someone is hiding something inside my own house."

"I'm not hiding anything, sir. I only want to do my job well," Sienna replied, trying hard not to stammer or let her voice shake.

Xavier reached up and held Sienna's face. But this time, he didn't grab her chin. Instead, his fingers slowly touched the side of her thick glasses before carefully taking them off.

Sienna gasped. She tried to step back, but Xavier's other hand quickly wrapped around her waist, stopping her from moving away.

"D-Don Xavier, please... my eyesight is poor—"

"Liar," Xavier whispered as he stared into Sienna's eyes under the dim glow of the night lamp.

For a moment, the Don froze.

There was something familiar about her eyes. A feeling he couldn't explain. But every time he tried to remember where he had seen them before, he found no clear answer.

Xavier frowned and tightened his grip around Sienna's waist, as if he was afraid that if he let her go, the answer he had been searching for would disappear with her.

"Who are you really, Elena?" Xavier asked slowly, his voice growing lower and more dangerous. He leaned in until only a few inches separated his face from Sienna's lips. "Your eyes... they remind me of someone. Something I've been searching for for a long time."

Fear filled Sienna's heart. She knew that one wrong answer or one wrong move could destroy everything she had worked so hard to protect. What if the Don discovered she was the surrogate? What if he kept Lucas away from her forever?

Sienna forced herself to stay calm and gathered the last of her courage. She looked directly into the Don's eyes and convinced herself that she really was Elena.

"My name is Elena Montes, Don Xavier. And if I remind you of someone... maybe it's because many poor people happen to look alike."

Xavier stared at her for a long time, studying every angle of her face before slowly putting her glasses back on and letting go of her waist.

"Go back to your room, Elena," the Don ordered coldly as he turned away. "But don't expect me to stop until I find out what you're really hiding behind those glasses."

When Sienna finally returned to her own room, she quickly shut the door and leaned against it until she slowly slid down to the floor, clutching her chest. The Don was beginning to suspect her, and now that they were spending so much time near each other, her secret was becoming more dangerous than ever.