tly made her way to the kitchen, still half-asleep, but driven by the sens

moment, she felt a flicker of peace. But the tranquillity quickly v

e scrubbed the counters, mopped the floor, and wiped every surface until it sparkled. There was something comforting about th

ed quickly, instinctively, slicing vegetables, whipping eggs, and frying bacon until the kitchen was filled with the warm, inviting aroma of a home-cooked meal. She

epmother's house. She wasn't a maid here; she was Alexander Drake's wife, the young lady of the household. But ol

x of frustration and something else he couldn't quite

re you

slipping from her hand. "

ng-habits ingrained in her after years of mistreatment at the hands of her stepmother and stepsister. Alexander knew he shouldn't care

o leave that to the staff. You

must have looked. "I made breakfast. I thought... I thou

his eyes narrowing slight

ting through the room like a blade. "The maids are here for a rea

together nervously. "I know," Sophie said quietly, h

hat had been anything but kind. And in that moment, he realized that he wasn't the only one fighting demons. So

m of simpler times, times he couldn't afford to dwell on. He was tempted, if only for a moment, to sit down and taste the meal she h

his hair as he walked away. He didn't know how to handle

could make things a little better between them. But Alexander's words felt like a slap to the

, her voice cracking slightly. "At

simply kept walking, his s

olish and unwanted, as Alexand

tly. Alexander slipped into the back seat, barely acknowledging his assistant as he tugged at his tie, lo

earview mirror, sensing his boss's tensi

er right away. His mi

voice gruff as he looked out the window, try

focused on the road, navigating the sleek black car through the bustling c

so different from the women he was used to-those who flocked to him for his wealth, power, or just the thrill of being seen on his arm. Sophie didn't

into his good graces to secure her place in his life. But Sophie was the opposite. She was cautious, almost

s in frustration. He hated himself for feeling like a jerk,

thing. But Sophie was making it hard to ignore the

was clear she had put thought and effort into it, and for a brief second, he regretted not sitting down a

her, his mind was filled with doubts and the remnants of his past. As much as he wanted to trust her

ng out a slow breath. He couldn't afford to let his em

k into the box he had carefully crafted for years. He had a business to run, an em

lding, he couldn't deny that for the first time in a l

ansion, and the unsettling realization that she was