Chapter Four

Stephanie had finally settled into the villa, but everything still felt unreal.

Every morning, she woke up wondering if she was dreaming.

The spacious bedroom, the luxurious furniture, the peaceful atmosphere, and the staff waiting to attend to her every need—it was a life she had never imagined.

She had spent most of her life struggling to survive, and now she was living in a mansion that looked more like a palace than a home.

She still wasn't used to it.

That afternoon, Chef Daniel finished preparing lunch.

The long dining table was filled with different varieties of delicious dishes. There were grilled salmon, roasted chicken, vegetable stir-fry, creamy pasta, fried rice, steamed rice, fresh salads, baked potatoes, assorted fruits, freshly baked bread, soups, and several freshly made fruit juices.

When Stephanie walked into the dining room, she stopped in her tracks.

Her eyes widened.

"What... is all this?" she asked in disbelief.

Chef Daniel smiled proudly.

"Your lunch, ma'am."

She looked at him as though he had just told her the sky was green.

"My lunch?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She burst into a small laugh.

"Chef Daniel, are we expecting guests?"

"No, ma'am."

She looked from one dish to another before looking back at him.

"Then why did you cook enough food to feed an entire football team?"

Daniel scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I wasn't sure what kind of food you like, so I prepared different varieties. I thought that way you'd have plenty of options."

Stephanie sighed before smiling.

"You've got a kind heart."

She pulled out a chair and sat down.

"First of all, you don't have to cook this much every day."

Daniel nodded immediately.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm not a picky eater. I'll eat almost anything."

His eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She pointed at the fruit platter.

"The only thing I can't eat is mango."

Daniel frowned.

"You don't like it?"

"I'm allergic to mangoes."

His face instantly turned serious.

"Oh my goodness..."

"If I eat anything made with mangoes, I'll have a terrible allergic reaction."

"I'm so sorry, ma'am. I had no idea."

Stephanie smiled reassuringly.

"It's alright. You couldn't have known."

"I'll make sure it never happens again."

"Thank you."

Just as Daniel was about to leave, Stephanie stopped him.

"Actually... can you do me a favor?"

"Of course."

"Can you call everyone?"

"The staff?"

"Yes."

Daniel looked confused but nodded.

"Right away, ma'am."

A few minutes later, he returned with Mrs. Linda, Grace, the security supervisor, two housekeepers, and the gardener.

They all stood respectfully.

"You called for us, ma'am?"

Stephanie smiled warmly.

"Yes."

She gestured toward the dining table.

"Please, everyone... have a seat."

The room fell silent.

No one moved.

The staff exchanged uneasy glances.

Mrs. Linda cleared her throat.

"Ma'am... we appreciate your kindness, but we can't."

Stephanie tilted her head.

"Why not?"

"It's against the rules."

"What rules?"

"The household staff aren't permitted to dine with the employer."

Stephanie frowned.

"And who made that rule?"

Everyone remained silent.

She smiled knowingly.

Mrs. Linda looked embarrassed.

"It's simply the professional standard, ma'am."

Stephanie leaned back in her chair.

"I don't like it."

The staff looked at one another again.

"I grew up in an orphanage," Stephanie continued softly.

"We all sat together."

"We laughed together."

"We shared every meal together."

"There was never anyone too important to sit beside another."

She looked around the room.

"So please don't treat me like I'm above you."

Mrs. Linda smiled gently.

"You're very kind, ma'am."

"I'm serious."

When no one moved, Stephanie slowly stood up.

"If none of you are eating..."

She pushed her chair back.

"...then neither am I."

The entire room panicked.

"Ma'am!"

Mrs. Linda hurried over.

"You mustn't skip your meals."

"The baby needs proper nutrition."

Stephanie folded her arms.

"Then let's all eat together."

The staff hesitated.

Mrs. Linda sighed in defeat before turning toward everyone else.

"Sit down."

"But—"

"That's an order."

One by one, they slowly took their seats.

Chef Daniel couldn't hide his smile.

Stephanie clapped her hands happily.

"Now this feels like a real meal."

Laughter filled the dining room for the first time.

As everyone served themselves, the atmosphere became warm and lively.

Mrs. Linda shared funny stories about the villa, Grace talked about her hometown, and even the quiet security supervisor joined the conversation.

Stephanie smiled.

For the first time since arriving, the villa finally felt less like a prison and more like a home.

Meanwhile...

Kai Ray sat alone in his executive office.

On the large screen of his laptop, the villa's security cameras displayed different areas of the house.

Every corner of the villa was monitored for Stephanie's safety—except the bedrooms and bathrooms, where her privacy was respected.

Kai watched the dining room camera.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he saw Stephanie laughing with the staff.

"So... she finally smiled."

Just then, a knock sounded on the office door.

"Come in."

Ken entered and bowed respectfully.

"Sir."

Kai's eyes never left the screen.

"Ken."

"Yes, sir."

"Make a note."

Ken immediately opened his tablet.

"Miss Stephanie is allergic to mangoes."

"Yes, sir."

"From today onward, remove every mango from the villa."

Ken looked up.

"Every single one?'"

"Yes."

"I don't want anything containing mangoes brought into that house."

"Understood, sir."

Kai finally looked away from the screen.

"And one more thing."

"Yes, sir?"

"Take one of my platinum credit cards to her."

Ken blinked.

"The unlimited one, sir?"

Kai nodded.

"Tell her she can use it whenever she needs anything."

"What if she refuses to accept it?"

Kai was silent for a moment before replying.

"Then don't force her."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"Just leave it with Mrs. Linda. One day... she'll use it when she truly needs it."

"I understand, sir."

Ken bowed once more before leaving the office.

Left alone again, Kai looked back at the screen.

Watching Stephanie smile with the staff eased the guilt that had weighed on his heart for months.

Although she refused to see him, knowing she was safe—and seeing her smile again—was enough for now.

----

Later that night, after everyone had retired to their rooms, Stephanie quietly stepped onto the balcony.

She wrapped a thick shawl tightly around her shoulders as the cool night breeze brushed against her skin. Resting both hands on the balcony railing, she lifted her gaze toward the endless sky.

The stars glittered beautifully above her, illuminating the darkness.

A slow, weary sigh escaped her lips.

"So much has changed..." she whispered to herself.

Just a few months ago, she had been sleeping on a thin mattress in her tiny apartment, praying every night for a stable job and a better tomorrow.

Now, she was living in a luxurious villa surrounded by people who attended to her every need.

Yet, despite the comfort and security, her heart felt heavier than ever.

Instinctively, her hand drifted to her stomach.

A faint smile appeared on her lips before quickly fading away.

"My little one..." she murmured softly. "I don't know what kind of future I can give you... but I'll do everything I can to protect you."

Her eyes gradually filled with tears.

"I grew up without knowing my parents... I don't want you to experience the same loneliness."

She blinked repeatedly, refusing to let the tears fall.

The gentle breeze carried strands of her long black hair across her face as she stood there, lost in countless thoughts.

She wasn't afraid of hardship.

She had survived it all her life.

What frightened her most was bringing an innocent child into a world full of uncertainty.

At the same time...

Inside his own luxurious villa, Kai Ray sat alone in the living room.

Dressed in a pair of comfortable navy-blue pajamas, he leaned back against the sofa, one leg crossed over the other.

His tablet rested on his lap, displaying the live security footage from Stephanie's villa.

One hand supported his chin while the other gently tapped against the armrest.

His eyes never left the screen.

The camera showed Stephanie standing alone on the balcony beneath the night sky.

She looked... lonely.

Painfully lonely.

Kai frowned.

"Why are you still awake?" he murmured.

His gaze lingered on her fragile figure as the wind gently swayed her hair.

He couldn't hear what she was saying, but somehow he could feel the sadness in her silence.

His chest tightened.

She had every reason to hate him.

Every reason to reject his help.

Yet she had chosen not to destroy his career, not to expose him to the world, and not to ask for anything in return.

That only made the guilt in his heart grow heavier.

"If only I could turn back time..." he whispered.

He wanted to apologize.

To explain everything.

To tell her how deeply he regretted what had happened.

But he had promised to respect her wishes.

No meetings.

No phone calls.

No messages.

Only distance.

Kai let out a long breath as his eyes remained fixed on the screen.

"I know you don't want to see me," he said quietly, almost as if she could hear him. "But even from a distance... I'll make sure you and our child are safe."

For a long while, neither of them moved.

Though they stood beneath different roofs, they both gazed at the same moon, carrying the same sleepless thoughts—two strangers whose lives had become forever intertwined by fate.