Chapter 23 Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Lily’s POV 

The first thing that greeted me when I opened my eyes was not the ceiling above me, not the pale light of morning streaming through the window, but the heavy memory of the hospital. It came back so vividly, like I had only just left that place. The smell of disinfectant, the thin sheets, the monitor that beeped quietly at my mother’s side, and her trembling hands that reached for mine as she begged me to quit my work in the Kingsley mansion.

How can I forget? I don’t think I ever will.

She had cried and pleaded, her voice weak yet firm. She wanted me to leave this place, to find another job, any job that wouldn’t chain me to Sebastian Kingsley’s world. But I couldn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t explain how deep things had already gone, how bound I was to him now. So I lied.

I told her that servants in the mansion weren’t allowed to quit until after one full month of work. That it was a rule. That if I tried to stop now, it would cause trouble. She believed me. She nodded, holding my hand tightly, and said she would wait until the end of the month. She even smiled faintly, relieved that I would be safe soon.

But inside me, I knew the truth. At the end of this month, I will find another excuse. Another story. Another reason to stay. Because leaving wasn’t an option. Not when Mama’s health, her hospital bills, and even her life were tied to Sebastian’s mercy.

I sighed and pushed myself off the bed. A new weight rested on my shoulders now. I was no longer only a maid. I am now also Sebastian’s secretary. His personal secretary. The thought still made my stomach twist with confusion. Secretaries were meant to work in offices, not in their boss’s home. Yet here I was, assigned to both clean his personal spaces and manage his work from inside his mansion.

My duties had doubled. I had to clean his private office, his room, his belongings — every detail spotless, every surface shining. But beyond that, I had to handle his documents, arrange his schedules, keep track of his calls, and ensure his home office functioned with the same efficiency as his company’s boardroom.

I didn’t understand why he had chosen me. Out of all the capable women who would have begged for this opportunity, why me? A maid with little experience, barely learning how to survive? The thought unsettled me, but there was no time to dwell. I had to prove I could do it, that I was worthy of the trust he had given me.

I dressed quickly, tying my hair back neatly and straightening my uniform. Just as I was about to leave my room, Maud, the chief maid, appeared at the door. She held a small set of keys in her hand.

“These are for you,” she said, her tone serious, her eyes sharp as they locked onto mine. She handed me the keys slowly, like she was passing down something sacred.

I stared at them in my palm, surprised. “What… what are these for?”

“Sebastian’s office keys,” she replied, lowering her voice. “His office keys, his room keys but his secret room, you can only clean when he is around. And remember this well, Lily–as you can see, you have been given the keys, which means the room is now in your hand. Nothing must enter or leave that room without Sebastian knowing. Do you understand?”

My throat tightened. “Yes, Maud.”

Her words rang heavy in my ears. Nothing must enter or leave. If anything happened, if even one document went missing, I would be the one held responsible. It wasn’t just a duty. It was a burden, one that could crush me if I failed.

I tucked the keys carefully into my apron pocket and set off toward Sebastian’s office. The closer I got, the more uneasy I felt.

When I pushed open the door, the air inside made me pause. He wasn’t there, yet his presence filled the space like a shadow that refused to leave. His scent – a mixture of fresh cologne and something darker, sharper – lingered in the room. His desk was immaculate, polished until it shone, as if it dared me to leave even a fingerprint. The shelves were filled with leather-bound books and files stacked with precision. Even the silence felt alive, thick and commanding.

I swallowed hard and stepped inside.

As I wiped the desk, my hands trembled slightly. Every object I touched reminded me who he was: a man who carried power like a weapon, a man who could end my world with a word. And yet, this same man had paid for my mother’s hospital bills, and had tied my survival to his choices.

The room seemed to breathe with him, even in his absence. It wasn’t just cleaning anymore; it was walking into his world, one I didn’t belong in. His world was spotless, orderly, expensive, untouchable. And here I was, a simple maid, afraid to misplace even a pen.

After cleaning the office, I made my way to his bedroom. The moment I entered, that same suffocating feeling washed over me again. His room was grand, spacious, yet it felt heavy. The bed was neatly made, the sheets pressed without a wrinkle. The air carried the faint scent of cedarwood, expensive and masculine. Every corner of the room reminded me of his dominance — sharp, clean, controlled.

It was strange. He wasn’t there, yet I felt as though his eyes followed me. Watching. Waiting. Judging every move I made.

I dusted the shelves slowly, adjusted the curtains, and polished the surfaces, all the while feeling my chest tighten. This wasn’t just a room. It was Sebastian himself — powerful, unyielding, impossible to ignore.

When I finally finished, I exhaled in relief, stepped out, and closed the door behind me. My heart was still racing.

On my way back, I noticed a group of maids huddled together at the far end of the corridor. They were whispering, their heads bent close, their voices low. Curiosity tugged at me. I began to walk toward them, but the moment they noticed me approaching, they scattered, breaking apart as if I had caught them in some forbidden act.

“Wait… where are you going?” I called after them, my steps quickening. But none of them looked back. They just disappeared down the hallway, leaving me standing there in confusion.

What just happened? Were they talking about me? Why would they leave so suddenly the moment I came close?

I stood frozen, trying to understand, when a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Lily.”

I turned. Martha was standing there, her arms folded, a sly smile on her lips.

“I’m sure you’re curious about what’s going on,” she said, tilting her head.

“Yes,” I admitted, frowning. “I mean… why did they all leave when I came close? Did something happen?”

Martha chuckled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Well, it’s good news for you, Lily.”

“Good news?” I repeated, uncertain.

“Of course,” she said smoothly. “Sebastian and Victoria are going on a date tonight. And after that, they’ll both attend a convention together. I heard it’s a couple-only event. Can you imagine? The great Sebastian Kingsley, finally attending such a gathering. Do you know how happy Victoria is? The Sebastian we know never has time for women. He doesn’t even talk much to them. But now… he’s going on a date night. With Victoria. And from the look of things, Sebastian likes her. They love each other, Lily.”

I put my hand on my waist, still trying to process her words. “So… Martha, why are you telling me this?”

She laughed, a sharp sound that echoed down the hall. “Oh, Lily, I can’t believe you’re so naïve. What I’m saying is – prepare yourself. Because when Victoria makes Sebastian her own, when she finally ties him to her, he won’t have time for you anymore. He won’t support you. He won’t even look at you. She’ll turn him against you and make him hate you.”

My chest tightened at her words, but Martha wasn’t finished.

“I can see you’re now his personal maid. But that’s just the beginning of your misery. You have no idea what Victoria is planning for you. Better cry now, because starting tomorrow, your pain begins. And honestly? I can’t wait to see it.”

She laughed again, shaking her head as she walked away, leaving me standing there, frozen.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. Her words dug into me like sharp knives. Part of me wanted to dismiss them, to tell myself that Martha was only trying to scare me. But another part of me knew she might be right.

If Sebastian stopped supporting me… if he turned his back on me… if Victoria succeeded in making him hate me… what then?

That would be the end. A real problem. A disaster.

I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to steady my breathing. My mother’s voice echoed in my mind, her pleas for me to quit, to leave. Maybe she had been right all along. Maybe I should have listened. But how could I? I still had to pay the hospital bills. I still owed too much.

The memory of Victoria punishing me, beating me, humiliating me, flashed before my eyes. If Sebastian joined hands with her, if he gave her his power to use against me… then what would become of me?

I swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to fall.

“I just hope Sebastian doesn’t change toward me,” I whispered to myself.

But hope was fragile. And in this mansion, it felt like it could break at any moment.