CHAPTER ONE

SCARLETT

"You missed a spot," Martha's sharp voice pierced through the living room as she strode in, arms crossed and lips twisted in that perpetual sneer.

Ignoring her, I kept scrubbing the already spotless coffee table, focusing on each circular motion as if I could polish away the ache in my chest. I didn't have the energy to fight with her today.

"Are you deaf or just stupid?" she spat, stepping closer. Her heels clicked against the floor, each step an attack. "I said—you missed a spot, dumbass."

My fingers tightened around the cleaning rag, but I kept my gaze fixed on the table's surface. The gleaming wood reflected the overhead light perfectly—there wasn't a single smudge left. Martha wasn't pointing out dirt; she just wanted to see me snap.

Not today.

My thoughts were elsewhere. Jason was supposed to be home by 6 p.m., yet the clock now read 7:15, and there was still no sign of him.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep calm, my nerves fraying with every passing minute. Beneath the waistband of my skirt, the edge of an envelope crinkled—a fragile secret pressed close to my skin. My pregnancy report.

The excitement bubbling inside me clashed with the heavy weight of uncertainty. He needed to hear the news from me first. Maybe this would change everything. Maybe Jason and I could finally talk about marriage, about building a real life together where I wasn't just the maid scrubbing tables.

Maybe.

But that knot of fear? It wouldn't let go.

"Look at you," Martha sneered, yanking me back to reality. Her face twisted with disdain. "What the hell are you grinning at?"

I forced a breath through clenched teeth and bit back the retort burning on my tongue. "Please, Martha. Find someone else to bother."

"You're stuck with me, sweetheart," she said bitterly. "Whatever little fantasy you're cooking up? It's not happening." With one last sneer, she sauntered away, heels clicking against the polished floor.

I exhaled slowly, my shoulders sagging. Peace was hard to come by in this house, and even when I managed to carve out a quiet moment, it never lasted.

There was still work to do. Always.

I spent the next hour finishing up chores, forcing my mind to stay occupied. Folding linens in the laundry room. Wiping down the already-spotless counters in the kitchen. Restocking supplies in the pantry.

But no matter how hard I tried to focus, Jason lingered in the back of my mind. Where was he? What was keeping him?

Every time I glanced at the clock, my heart sank a little more.

By the time I moved on to dusting the shelves in the study, frustration gnawed at my patience. I couldn't take this uncertainty anymore. I needed to see him, to tell him the news and finally get rid of this weight pressing down on my chest.

I wiped sweat from my brow, irritation simmering beneath my skin. My future felt as fragile as the delicate china I dusted on Mrs. Chase's prized shelves. One slip, one wrong move, and everything could shatter.

But sneaking out wasn't easy. Mrs. Chase always seemed to have eyes everywhere, and if she caught me leaving without permission, it wouldn't be pretty.

After changing out of my maid uniform, I wrapped a bandage around my fingers as a cover story. Just in case someone asked.

I made it halfway to the door when Mrs. Chase's icy voice sliced through the silence.

"Where are you going?"

I froze, turning slowly to face her.

"Good evening, ma'am," I said, keeping my voice polite. "I cut myself while cleaning and need to visit the pharmacy before it gets infected."

She narrowed her eyes, scanning me from head to toe with that familiar look of disapproval. "Careless as always. Fine. Go."

"Thank you, ma'am."

I didn't waste another second. I slipped out before she could change her mind.

The cool night air kissed my skin as I walked briskly toward the office. Shadows stretched across the quiet street, and the faint scent of rain lingered in the air. My mind raced with possibilities.

Would Jason be happy? Shocked? Would he pull me close, whispering promises of a future I'd dreamed about?

Or would there be hesitation—uncertainty flickering in his eyes?

I forced the thought away, hugging the envelope closer to my side as if it could protect me from my own doubts.

By the time I reached the building, my heart was pounding. The gateman was nowhere to be seen, but Jason's car was still parked outside. Relief washed over me. He was here.

The glass doors slid open with a soft whoosh as I stepped inside. The lobby was eerily quiet, the usual hum of office life replaced by a heavy stillness. My footsteps echoed against the polished floors as I made my way to the elevator.

Each second in that elevator felt endless, the weight of anticipation pressing down on me. I smoothed my hair nervously, taking deep breaths to steady myself.

This was it.

The elevator chimed softly, signaling my arrival on the top floor. I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, my heels clicking against the tiles.

Jason's office was at the end of the hall, its frosted glass door glowing faintly under the overhead lights.

I quickened my pace, eager to see him—to finally share the news I'd been carrying all day.

Then I heard it.

Laughter. A woman's laughter, soft and breathless.

I froze, my steps faltering. No. I'm imagining things.

But then came the unmistakable sound of Jason's voice, low and intimate, followed by a whispered, "Yes, baby."

My stomach twisted painfully.

Blood roared in my ears, drowning out reason. My vision blurred, but I forced myself forward, each step heavier than the last.

Don't jump to conclusions, Scarlett. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's work-related. Maybe—

I gripped the handle with trembling fingers, my knuckles whitening.

Without thinking, I flung the door open.

And the world tilted on its axis.

The scene before me hit like a freight train. Jason was between a woman's parted, naked legs, his head buried against her throat.

And those legs? I knew them too well.