AUDRINA POV. I stood by the window in my robe, heart heavy, staring out at the back garden, watching the roses sway with the morning breeze. They looked beautiful—perfect even. But one of them caught my eye. A pale pink bud, separated from the rest, a little bent like it didn’t belong. That one? That was me. Alone. Quiet. Out of place.My palm pressed lightly to the glass. “Funny how even flowers have company,” I whispered.I didn’t have friends in the States. The few I had back in the UK? Barely texted anymore. But could I blame them? I wasn’t exactly good at maintaining friendships. Always the one who didn’t call back, who missed birthdays, who pushed people away when they tried to get close. I didn’t know how to be a good friend growing up.This was the period where I needed someone by my side. More than ever. And there was no one.I placed my hand on my stomach, gently. A small tear slid down my cheek as I rubbed in slow circle. Three days ago, the doctor confirmed it. One month
AUDRINA POV.Just like that… she walked away. My own mother. I knew it was going to turn out bad. I expected nothing, but I didn’t expect the worst—this was worse than I expected. I stayed frozen, not even blinking. The silence that followed was loud—louder than the yelling had been.Jake reached across the table and pulled me into his arms, like he knew I’d fall apart without him. And maybe I really would’ve. More tears fell. They wouldn’t stop. I felt my heart crack open and everything was spilling out.“Shhhh… it’s okay, Princess. I’m here with you.” His voice was soft but strong. I pulled back just slightly, my words slurring through the sobs. “How come you don’t hate me, brother? I brought shame home… I’m a disgrace.”He held my cheeks gently, forcing me to look at him. “Hate you? No, Princess. Never.” His eyes were glassy. “I’m gonna be an uncle soon. Isn’t that great?”And then, he smiled. A real smile. “Damn, I’m gonna finally be a cool uncle. Wow… thank you, Princess.”Some
LIZ POV. The mansion didn’t feel the same anymore. Something about the air had shifted—it was heavier, more tense. Everyone looked like they were walking on glass, even the ones who used to laugh too loud in the hallways. Mrs. Blackwell’s mood had been unpredictable. She had been a storm cloud all week, snapping at the maids, firing people for breathing wrong, and hiring new ones almost immediately. Mr. Blackwell was worse—he didn’t yell, but the silence around him was terrifying.And Hazel… she was quieter now. She barely talked, and when she did, it wasn’t really her. She’d been in and out of the mansion lately, always claiming she was fine. I asked her a hundred times to take me to Mom. She just kept repeating, “When the time’s right.”Right time? What the hell did that even mean? I needed a right time to go see my own mother?And as for Jake, he’s been buried in work ever since he resumed. I barely even see him these days. I missed him. More than I cared to admit. Most nights, I
JAKE POV. My phone wouldn’t shut the hell up. I rolled over to the empty space beside me. No Liz. The bedsheets were still warm, so I knew she’d left early. Silly girl. She had me wrapped around her finger, and I couldn’t even fight it.I buried my face into the pillow and smiled like an idiot. God—was I really falling for the maid?But then the ringtone blasted again. Same damn unknown number. I hissed and dragged myself up, groaning as I reached for my phone across the nightstand.“Hello?” I answered, voice rough.“Sir, we have a patient who was just rushed in. Your contact was saved as ‘Big Brother’ on her phone. That’s why we called. Please… come immediately.”I froze. “Wait—what?! What happened? Who is this?”“We’ve emailed the hospital address. You need to come now.”Just like that, the line cut. And just like that, my whole world shattered.I stood there, stiff, numb. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t breathing until the burn hit my lungs. Audrina. It was Audrina. I mean, I had j
JAKE POV“Brother, please, I don’t want you to do something reckless. He’s not worth—”“I said give me his fucking address, Audrina!” I snapped. “Don’t make me repeat myself again.”My voice cracked from the weight of it. Pain. Rage. Guilt. It poured out of me like a flood I couldn’t stop.She flinched. Her eyes were red and puffy, her hand still wrapped tightly in mine. I saw the tremble in her lips as she finally gave in.“Okay… I’ll give it to you.”“Fast,” I growled. My chest was on fire. My hand trembled as I gripped hers. Not too hard. But I needed something to hold onto before I exploded.“But only if you promise me, brother. Promise you won’t do anything reckless. Please.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t wanna lose you.”That I won’t do something reckless? What the hell does that even mean? Was I supposed to go there and hand that bastard a bouquet of flowers?“I’ll try.”She grabbed my hand tighter. “If anything happens to you, Jake… I promise I’ll kill myself.”I froze.“It’s ok
LIZ POV.It was just another day. Another day for him to walk past me like I was invisible—like I meant absolutely nothing to him.That morning, I’d just finished cleaning the living room—dusted every damn shelf like I was fine, like my heart didn’t ache. I was rounding the corner when I almost bumped into him. “Oh—I… I’m sorry sir,” I murmured, stepping back.If he had scolded me, or even raised his voice at me—told me to look where I was going, maybe it would’ve hurt less.But he didn’t. He didn’t even look at me; he just walked past me like I was insignificant. No glance. No sound. No emotion.I stood there, frozen, my heart clenching. It felt like something inside me was about to collapse.I had regrets. Like maybe… I was the fool. I should’ve never let him touch me at all. I should’ve known better. I was probably just a fling—something for his boredom. ****I cried alone at night—quiet sobs into my pillow, muffled so no one would hear. Hazel had been acting distant lately. I d
LIZ POV. Sundays were supposed to be peaceful, but peace wasn’t what I felt. I’d slept through most of the morning with Hazel, both of us curled up in silence like two broken dolls. For me, sleep was the only way to run away from reality. From the pain I felt in my heart—this gaping hole Jake left in my chest. I kept telling myself it didn’t matter. That last night was just a dream. That maybe he didn’t mean it when he said I was just a maid. Maybe he was angry. Maybe he’d change his mind.But he didn’t. And he wouldn’t.****After lunch, we sat on our beds. Quiet. Heavy. Hazel was clutching that picture again—the one she always carried like it was special. She didn’t even notice me watching her. She just stared at it like it held the answers to everything she ever lost. Sometimes she’d smile at it. Other times, she’d look like she was about to cry. I hated that picture—she hardly even smiled at me. But that damn picture? Whoever was in it, they meant the world to her. I cleared
LIZ POV. “Hazel… I can’t promise that.” My voice came out choked, trembling with every word. “Not until you tell me why. Why can’t we ask for help from other people?”Hazel’s eyes widened, brimming with fresh tears. She looked like a trapped bird—frightened, panicked. “Liz, please!”I glanced at her, then at the pale figure in the hospital bed—our mother. My heart dropped. “Liz, I’m serious. I just don’t want anyone interfering with our personal lives.” Hazel said again.I gave her a tight nod. “Okay.”“Promise?” she pressed, voice soft, shaky.I hesitated. Everything in me screamed no. But I nodded again. “Promise.”Hazel threw her arms around me. “Thank you so much, sis. Thank you.”My hand hovered awkwardly behind her back before I finally hugged her. But it didn’t feel right. Something in my gut twisted. Something felt… off. I just couldn’t place it.****We stood at the subway station, tears still fresh on both our cheeks. Hazel wasn’t saying much—neither was I. Then, out of no
LIZ POV. The bleeding hadn’t stopped. My palm stung like hell, but honestly? I couldn’t even feel it. Not with how fast my heart was beating. Not with Jake’s hand wrapped around mine like he was afraid to let go.I couldn’t take my eyes off him. What just happened?This man—this same man who tore me down just last night, who said I was nothing but a maid, who made me feel so damn small—just announced me in front of his family. Just claimed me—out loud.Not gonna lie, I felt special.He didn’t stop until we were in his room. As soon as the door slammed shut behind us, he turned, held my face in both hands—so gently, like he was scared I’d break—and stared straight into my eyes. His grey eyes were glossier than I’d ever seen them, like he was holding back everything he didn’t say last night. Like he was seconds away from breaking.“I’m so sorry,” he said, voice low. “I’m sorry I spoke to you that way last night, Liz. I swear I— I miss you. I miss you so much.”I didn’t even get the cha
JAKE POV. That night, I’d heard the knock. Not once. Not twice. Four goddamn times. And each time, I sat there, staring at the door like a coward. Heart pounding—fist clenched. Back pressed against the headboard like I needed the wood to hold me down or I’d do something stupid—like open it and pull her straight into my arms.But right before the fifth knock could land, I opened it. I didn’t even think. Her hand was already mid-air. For a second, her face lit up—hopeful.But I shut it all down. I crushed it before she could speak. I told myself it was the right thing to do. That if I wanted to keep her safe from this hellhole of a family, I had to push her away. Be cruel. Be heartless. Anything to make her stay away from me. For now, at least. She’s too soft. Too pure. Too fucking good for all of this. But when I closed that door, I swear, it felt like I’d shut something in me too.I stayed up all night. Sleep? Forget it. I kept seeing her face.The way her eyes watered. The way her
LIZ POV. “Hazel… I can’t promise that.” My voice came out choked, trembling with every word. “Not until you tell me why. Why can’t we ask for help from other people?”Hazel’s eyes widened, brimming with fresh tears. She looked like a trapped bird—frightened, panicked. “Liz, please!”I glanced at her, then at the pale figure in the hospital bed—our mother. My heart dropped. “Liz, I’m serious. I just don’t want anyone interfering with our personal lives.” Hazel said again.I gave her a tight nod. “Okay.”“Promise?” she pressed, voice soft, shaky.I hesitated. Everything in me screamed no. But I nodded again. “Promise.”Hazel threw her arms around me. “Thank you so much, sis. Thank you.”My hand hovered awkwardly behind her back before I finally hugged her. But it didn’t feel right. Something in my gut twisted. Something felt… off. I just couldn’t place it.****We stood at the subway station, tears still fresh on both our cheeks. Hazel wasn’t saying much—neither was I. Then, out of no
LIZ POV. Sundays were supposed to be peaceful, but peace wasn’t what I felt. I’d slept through most of the morning with Hazel, both of us curled up in silence like two broken dolls. For me, sleep was the only way to run away from reality. From the pain I felt in my heart—this gaping hole Jake left in my chest. I kept telling myself it didn’t matter. That last night was just a dream. That maybe he didn’t mean it when he said I was just a maid. Maybe he was angry. Maybe he’d change his mind.But he didn’t. And he wouldn’t.****After lunch, we sat on our beds. Quiet. Heavy. Hazel was clutching that picture again—the one she always carried like it was special. She didn’t even notice me watching her. She just stared at it like it held the answers to everything she ever lost. Sometimes she’d smile at it. Other times, she’d look like she was about to cry. I hated that picture—she hardly even smiled at me. But that damn picture? Whoever was in it, they meant the world to her. I cleared
LIZ POV.It was just another day. Another day for him to walk past me like I was invisible—like I meant absolutely nothing to him.That morning, I’d just finished cleaning the living room—dusted every damn shelf like I was fine, like my heart didn’t ache. I was rounding the corner when I almost bumped into him. “Oh—I… I’m sorry sir,” I murmured, stepping back.If he had scolded me, or even raised his voice at me—told me to look where I was going, maybe it would’ve hurt less.But he didn’t. He didn’t even look at me; he just walked past me like I was insignificant. No glance. No sound. No emotion.I stood there, frozen, my heart clenching. It felt like something inside me was about to collapse.I had regrets. Like maybe… I was the fool. I should’ve never let him touch me at all. I should’ve known better. I was probably just a fling—something for his boredom. ****I cried alone at night—quiet sobs into my pillow, muffled so no one would hear. Hazel had been acting distant lately. I d
JAKE POV“Brother, please, I don’t want you to do something reckless. He’s not worth—”“I said give me his fucking address, Audrina!” I snapped. “Don’t make me repeat myself again.”My voice cracked from the weight of it. Pain. Rage. Guilt. It poured out of me like a flood I couldn’t stop.She flinched. Her eyes were red and puffy, her hand still wrapped tightly in mine. I saw the tremble in her lips as she finally gave in.“Okay… I’ll give it to you.”“Fast,” I growled. My chest was on fire. My hand trembled as I gripped hers. Not too hard. But I needed something to hold onto before I exploded.“But only if you promise me, brother. Promise you won’t do anything reckless. Please.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t wanna lose you.”That I won’t do something reckless? What the hell does that even mean? Was I supposed to go there and hand that bastard a bouquet of flowers?“I’ll try.”She grabbed my hand tighter. “If anything happens to you, Jake… I promise I’ll kill myself.”I froze.“It’s ok
JAKE POV. My phone wouldn’t shut the hell up. I rolled over to the empty space beside me. No Liz. The bedsheets were still warm, so I knew she’d left early. Silly girl. She had me wrapped around her finger, and I couldn’t even fight it.I buried my face into the pillow and smiled like an idiot. God—was I really falling for the maid?But then the ringtone blasted again. Same damn unknown number. I hissed and dragged myself up, groaning as I reached for my phone across the nightstand.“Hello?” I answered, voice rough.“Sir, we have a patient who was just rushed in. Your contact was saved as ‘Big Brother’ on her phone. That’s why we called. Please… come immediately.”I froze. “Wait—what?! What happened? Who is this?”“We’ve emailed the hospital address. You need to come now.”Just like that, the line cut. And just like that, my whole world shattered.I stood there, stiff, numb. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t breathing until the burn hit my lungs. Audrina. It was Audrina. I mean, I had j
LIZ POV. The mansion didn’t feel the same anymore. Something about the air had shifted—it was heavier, more tense. Everyone looked like they were walking on glass, even the ones who used to laugh too loud in the hallways. Mrs. Blackwell’s mood had been unpredictable. She had been a storm cloud all week, snapping at the maids, firing people for breathing wrong, and hiring new ones almost immediately. Mr. Blackwell was worse—he didn’t yell, but the silence around him was terrifying.And Hazel… she was quieter now. She barely talked, and when she did, it wasn’t really her. She’d been in and out of the mansion lately, always claiming she was fine. I asked her a hundred times to take me to Mom. She just kept repeating, “When the time’s right.”Right time? What the hell did that even mean? I needed a right time to go see my own mother?And as for Jake, he’s been buried in work ever since he resumed. I barely even see him these days. I missed him. More than I cared to admit. Most nights, I
AUDRINA POV.Just like that… she walked away. My own mother. I knew it was going to turn out bad. I expected nothing, but I didn’t expect the worst—this was worse than I expected. I stayed frozen, not even blinking. The silence that followed was loud—louder than the yelling had been.Jake reached across the table and pulled me into his arms, like he knew I’d fall apart without him. And maybe I really would’ve. More tears fell. They wouldn’t stop. I felt my heart crack open and everything was spilling out.“Shhhh… it’s okay, Princess. I’m here with you.” His voice was soft but strong. I pulled back just slightly, my words slurring through the sobs. “How come you don’t hate me, brother? I brought shame home… I’m a disgrace.”He held my cheeks gently, forcing me to look at him. “Hate you? No, Princess. Never.” His eyes were glassy. “I’m gonna be an uncle soon. Isn’t that great?”And then, he smiled. A real smile. “Damn, I’m gonna finally be a cool uncle. Wow… thank you, Princess.”Some