The Quiet Presence

In the middle of his misery stood someone he had barely noticed: Marbel, the new maid. She wasn’t flashy or loud. She wore a simple purple uniform and carried herself with quiet grace.

When Cassandra rolled her eyes at Adrien reaching for a glass, Marbel gently placed it in his hand. When Cassandra refused to push his chair, Marbel guided him patiently through the gardens.

Adrien realized she didn’t look at him with pity or greed. She saw him as a man—wounded, but still worthy of dignity.

And something in his heart began to stir.

Masks Falling

Weeks passed, and Cassandra’s pretense collapsed completely. Her scorn grew bolder. She mocked him in private, calling him “a shadow of who he once was.”