CHAPTER EIGHT : STRANGE MAN

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"Young madam, your food is ready," a voice called from outside, causing Sophie to jump out of bed. The voice, the exact words, and the style of knocking were all too familiar, but it was not the same as before. It was a new day, and a strange man was now sharing the same floor as her.

'Strange man next door,' Sophie repeated in her mind, her eyes widening as she recalled the events of the previous night. She couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort and uncertainty that lingered since the night's events.

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"Oh dear, please walk gently," Mrs. Sandra said as she saw Sophie hurrying down the stairs.

"Be careful, don't make noise. Mr. Shane does not like noise," one of the maids warned as she passed by Sophie with another maid carrying food trays. They moved swiftly, their expressions tense as they balanced the trays with practiced ease.

Mr. Shane is around, Sophie thought, taking a deep breath and preparing herself for her first confrontation with her husband. She had no idea what to expect. Her stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as she climbed down the grand staircase, her footsteps echoing slightly in the vast, ornate hallway.

She glanced around the mansion, which seemed even more intimidating now that she knew Mr. Shane was present. The opulent décor, luxurious furnishings, and the tense atmosphere made her feel out of place.

Sophie continually glanced at the stairs, half-expecting an old man to be wheeled down at any moment, completely oblivious to the maids' ongoing conversation.

"I heard he came back last night," one of the maids said as she meticulously cleaned the dining table.

"I also heard he fell very ill last night, like he always does. I expected he would be cured by now. He's quite a tough man, after all," another maid responded, her tone hinting at a mixture of concern and resignation.

"Are you not supposed to be working, or do you prefer to sit down gossiping all day? Wait until I tell Master Treyond," a young girl said loudly, startling the maids and jolting Sophie from her thoughts.

The maids scrambled out of the room in a flurry of activity, their faces flushed with embarrassment after being caught indulging in idle chatter.

Sophie observed the young girl walking towards her. The girl's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as she approached, her fair complexion glowing under the light. There was an undeniable air of confidence about her, and Sophie couldn't quite place it. She radiated a charm and ease that seemed almost effortless.

One thing Sophie knew for sure was that the girl was strikingly beautiful.

'Maybe she is one of Mr. Shane's daughters,' Sophie speculated, but she couldn't remember if the contract mentioned he had children. 'Or does he have another wife? Or perhaps he has a kink of marry younger girls?' she concluded in her mind.

"Hi, you must be Sophie," the young girl said, extending her hand with a warm smile.

"Hey," Sophie replied awkwardly, not accustomed to such informal conversations.

"Your eyes are beautiful; they are a unique shade of green," the girl remarked, her gaze lingering with genuine admiration.

"Thanks," Sophie said, feeling a bit flustered by the compliment.

"Well, in case you're wondering, I'm Lucy," the girl introduced herself, her smile remaining kind and approachable. Sophie found herself appreciating Lucy's friendliness despite her unease.

'How could I forget? The first step in a conversation is to ask for the other person's name. Daisy had reminded me of that a thousand times,' Sophie thought, mentally chiding herself.

"You have a pretty name, and you're also quite lovely. Definitely not what I expected when I was told we had a guest," Lucy said, her eyes wandering over Sophie's face with interest.

"Did Shane kidnap you? Because I can't understand why a girl like you would be in this mansion," Lucy said, her casual tone making Sophie stare at her in wide-eyed confusion.

"You know, if he did, I could always help you run. Of course, I know he would probably kill me for that, but I could…"

"Mr. Shane did not kidnap me. I came here of my own free will," Sophie interrupted, eager to return to the comfort of her room. While Lucy was undeniably kind and sweet, Sophie definitely was not accustomed to opening up so easily to strangers.

"Oh, okay, that's nice," Lucy said, her tone light and relieved.

"You know, he came back last night, right?" Lucy asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Sophie turned to face her with a puzzled expression.

"Who?" Sophie asked, unsure of what Lucy was referring to.

"Shane. I heard you arrived here before him, and I also heard you married him," Lucy said, and Sophie's eyes widened at the revelation.

"Oh, yes," Sophie replied, trying to manage a small, awkward smile.

"I know Shane doesn't have any girlfriends or anything like that, so I'm guessing it's a contract marriage. He might not be exactly what you'd want in a husband, but please bear with him. He had a tough time growing up, and I'm also happy to have a new face around the house," Lucy said with a small, encouraging smile. Sophie found comfort in Lucy's words despite her lingering confusion about the situation.

"Lucy, don't disturb her," Madam Sandra said as she entered the room and saw Sophie and Lucy chatting.

"I'm not disturbing her, Mom. Come on, ask her," Lucy said, frowning at Madam Sandra.

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise as she heard Lucy refer to Madam Sandra as 'Mom.'

'Oh no,' Sophie thought, realization dawning on her. 'She's Madam Sandra's daughter, but they look nothing alike.' She observed the two, who seemed like polar opposites.

"She's your mom? I thought you were…" Sophie began, her surprise evident in her voice.

"Who do you think I was?" Lucy asked, her forehead creasing in confusion.

"I thought you were Mr. Shane's daughter," Sophie said softly, feeling embarrassed as Lucy burst out laughing. Sophie's face flushed a deep shade of red.

"How can Shane…" Lucy's laughter trailed off as she tried to regain her composure.

"Quiet now. The young master will be here soon," Madam Sandra said, patting Lucy's back in an attempt to alm down her laughter .

Lucy's eyes were still filled with amusement as she looked at her.

"The young master is here," one of the maids announced, her voice filled with urgency as they hurriedly moved to stand by the side of the steps.

'He is here,'she said in her mind with her heart pounding anxiously as she heard the heavy, deliberate footsteps coming the hall way towards the stairs .

'how could I hear that he is still so far ' she questioned in her mind knowing it was her nerves eating up on her .

Sophie stood at the base of the stairs, her palms sweaty and her mind racing. She glanced at the ornate clock on the wall, which seemed to tick louder with each passing second. The atmosphere in the hallway grew tense as everyone prepared for the young master's entrance.

As the footsteps grew closer, Sophie could see the reflection of the man descending the stairs in the polished marble floor. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing.

The heavy footsteps pounded on the steps .

Each step taken seemed to resonate with authority and power, adding to her growing apprehension,till it stopped just as the figure reached the bottom of the stairs, and a sense of anticipation filled the air and she could feel her heart racing faster than ever.

And her breath caught in her throat as she took in his appearance.