Nestled near the tranquil Silvermist River, in the heart of the city, lay the Howard Villa. It was a serene yet costly neighborhood, boasting a series of four-story manor-style buildings, all owned by the Howard family.
As Natalie's car rolled to a halt at the entrance of the Howard Villa, she spotted Adrian emerging from a Bentley. He strode over to her, opening her car door with a personal touch. "Alice, I apologize. Work held me captive, preventing me from picking you up."
"It's fine," Natalie replied, a hint of unease in her voice. However, noticing Adrian's unaffected demeanor regarding the previous night's events, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Her fingers clenched involuntarily, a constant reminder of her new identity - Alice, not Natalie.
Suddenly, her clenched hand found itself enveloped in a warm palm. A slight tremor ran through her body as she glanced up at Adrian standing beside her. He played with her hand, a light smile gracing his features. "Are you nervous?" he asked.
Nodding gently, Natalie admitted her anxiety. She was indeed nervous, terrified of her true identity being revealed...
Just then, a burly, middle-aged man with a single eye approached them. "Mr. Howard, Ms. Cullen," he greeted.
Adrian introduced him to Natalie as Paul Duncan, a man who had served his grandfather for many years. As the foster son of Ruben and the butler of the Howard Villa, Paul held a significant position within the Howard family.
"Hello, Paul," Natalie greeted him respectfully.
Paul acknowledged her with a slight nod before turning to Adrian. "Mr. Howard, Mr. Ruben Howard has requested your presence in his study."
Adrian gave Natalie's fingers a reassuring squeeze. "Why don't you explore the house? I need to see my grandfather." Natalie nodded in agreement.
Once Adrian had departed, Paul guided Natalie into the house, assigning a maid named Mary to show her around the garden. The Howard Estate, appearing as a four-story mansion from the outside, boasted a robust security system and impressive landscaping.
As Natalie followed Mary, a panting sound emerged from the woods ahead. Natalie furrowed her brow, unable to spot anything amidst the dense greenery, but the sound...
Mary quickly ushered Natalie away. "Ms. Cullen, let's head back," she suggested.
Natalie nodded, her gaze shifting awkwardly. The area was eerily quiet, and Natalie was certain that whoever was in the woods had heard them. Yet, instead of quieting down, the sounds from the woods intensified, showing no signs of stopping.
Emerging from the tree line, Mary offered an embarrassed explanation. "Ms. Cullen, that was Carlos Duncan, Paul's son. He's quite reckless, and his personal life is rather chaotic. Several maids have... liaisons with him. Carlos exploits the fact that Paul once saved Mr. Ruben Howard, which is why he dares to behave so blatantly here at the Howard Estate..."
Natalie laughed, "I suppose we're the ones interrupting them then."
Mary smiled, finding Natalie refreshingly approachable and devoid of any pretentiousness. "Ms. Cullen, you have a way with words..."
Natalie chose not to dwell on the incident; after all, she was merely a guest in the Howard family's home. As they continued their stroll, chatting amiably, they failed to notice Rachel alighting from a car at the entrance of the Howard Estate.
Rachel's eyes immediately fell on Alice, a woman she deeply despised. To Rachel, Alice was nothing more than a manipulator, no different from the other women trying to seduce Adrian. She thought to herself, "Does she genuinely believe that her engagement to Adrian will secure her a place in the Howard family? I'll teach her a lesson!"