"Maria!" Jane shrieked, calling for the head housekeeper.
Maria arrived in a hurry, clutching a piece of clothing in her hands. Jane snatched the garment away roughly, as if she couldn't wait to hurl it in Celine's face.
"Starting tonight, your place is no longer in the upstairs bedroom. You will sleep in the servants' quarters, and this will be your uniform every day." Jane threw the maid's outfit directly at Celine's face.
The coarse fabric landed against Celine's skin before fluttering to the floor. Jane's lips curled into a smirk, savoring the humiliation. Leo, who still had his arm wrapped around Jane's waist, did not offer a single word of defense. Instead, he joined in with a cynical smile that cut deeper into Celine's wounded heart.
"Come, Darling. Let me show you our new room," Jane said in a calculated, flirtatious tone, taking Leo's arm to lead him up the stairs.
Celine remained frozen in place. Her sharp gaze burned into the backs of Leo and Jane, harboring embers of resentment and a pain that grew more intense within her silence.
***
"Celine!" Maria called out with a deliberate, harsh edge.
Celine turned and bowed her head slightly in respect, a gesture she now had to relearn.
"Follow me. I'll show you to your room." Maria spoke curtly, turning away without waiting for a reply.
Celine trailed behind Maria, who walked at a brisk pace, acting as though walking beside Celine was a revolting task. They bypassed the grand hallways of the mansion, heading toward the rear area where the corridors grew narrow and dim.
Maria stopped in front of a small wooden door located right next to the room belonging to Bella, one of the other maids.
"This is your room." Maria jerked the door wide open, revealing a cramped space that felt stifling. "Get inside and change. You're much better suited as a servant than a young mistress in this house anyway."
Celine did not argue. "Very well," she answered softly, stepping into her new quarters which held only a small bed and an old wooden wardrobe.
"When you're finished, go straight to the kitchen. I'll explain all your duties then." Maria gave her final instructions in a sharp voice, then marched away, leaving Celine alone.
***
Jane pushed open the door to the room Celine once occupied. As the door swung wide, Leo stood stunned. There was no longer a trace of Celine in the room. All the old furniture had been replaced with ultra-modern pieces that felt cold and alien.
"What do you think, Darling? My choices are much more modern and classy, aren't they?" Jane asked coyly, leaning her head on Leo's shoulder.
Leo swallowed hard, forcing a thin smile so Jane wouldn't notice his unease. "It's... incredible, Jane. You have sophisticated taste," he replied briefly, though in his heart, he felt as if something vital had been stripped from the room.
Seeing Leo's response, Jane began her advance. Her hand moved playfully, roaming with demanding intent. However, before her passion could escalate, Leo caught Jane's wrist gently but firmly.
"Jane... please, not tonight. I'm truly exhausted," Leo said. His voice sounded heavy and weary, reflecting a fatigue that was not just physical, but spiritual.
Jane's expression shifted instantly. Disappointment was written clearly in her sharp eyes. "Fine..." she muttered with suppressed irritation. "I won't force you tonight."
***
Celine stepped out of her cramped room and headed toward the kitchen. The aroma of cooking and the clinking of cutlery greeted her, as did the warm gazes of the staff. Except for Maria, of course.
Bella, with a genuine smile, immediately approached Celine and took her hand. She led Celine into the center of the circle of other servants, as if wanting to shield her from any awkwardness.
"Hi, I'm Celine," she greeted them quietly as they busied themselves with dinner preparations.
"You really are beautiful, Celine. My name is Hilarry," said a plump maid with a pleasant face.
"Thank you, Hilarry," Celine replied, warmly accepting Hilarry's outstretched hand.
"I'm Jade. It's a pleasure to meet you," another maid added, greeting Celine with a friendly handshake.
In the middle of the introductions, a handsome young man in simple work clothes entered the kitchen.
"Billy, come here!" Bella called out to him.
Billy approached them with a relaxed gait. However, he stopped abruptly, his eyes fixed on Celine as she stood there.
"This is the new maid in the house, her name is Celine," Bella introduced him with a teasing lilt.
Billy seemed dazed for a moment, captivated by Celine's beauty, which radiated a classy aura even without makeup. "Hi, Celine. I'm... Billy," he said, shaking her hand and holding it a fraction longer than necessary.
"Celine," she replied briefly, returning the handshake with a faint smile.
"Billy works in the garden. He takes care of all the plants in this house. If you ever need a beautiful flower, just ask him," Bella explained with a meaningful grin.
Billy smiled broadly, his eyes never leaving Celine. "It seems none of the flowers in the garden could surpass your beauty, Celine."
Celine's cheeks flushed a deep red. She felt herself blush at the spontaneous flattery. It had been a very long time since anyone had complimented her in such a sincere way.
"Is the introduction session not over yet?!" Maria's shrill scream suddenly shattered the warm atmosphere.
Instantly, the servants scattered, refocusing on their respective tasks.
"If you have some free time, come by the garden. There are many beautiful flowers there," Billy whispered quickly before hurrying off to avoid Maria's wrath.
Celine gave a small nod, her eyes following Billy as a smile finally returned to her face.
***
After finishing the exhausting pile of kitchen chores, Celine stepped outside to breathe the fresh air in the garden area. Beneath the dim glow of the garden lights, she spotted Billy. He was kneeling on the ground, his hands deftly digging a hole.
Celine approached with light steps. "Billy? What are you doing out here this late?" she asked, crouching down in front of him.
Billy turned slightly, offering a friendly smile that made his tired face look refreshed. "I'm planting new flower seeds," he answered simply.
"In the middle of the night?" Celine frowned in confusion. "Don't plants need the sun?"
Billy chuckled softly, his eyes searching hers with warmth. "Actually, planting at night is much better, Celine. The roots adapt more easily because there's no disturbance from the extreme heat of the sun."
Celine nodded in understanding, feeling as though she had gained a simple yet meaningful lesson. "Oh... I see."
"I have a beautiful flower that just bloomed in that corner. Do you want to see it?" Billy offered, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"Of course!" Celine replied with a spark of spirit she hadn't felt in a long time.
They walked side by side through the quiet garden. Conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by light laughter and spontaneous jokes from Billy. For the first time in forever, Celine was able to laugh freely, a wide smile that made her face radiant under the moonlight.
However, that happiness did not go unobserved.
On the second floor, from behind the office window, a pair of eyes watched them intently. They belonged to Leo. The man stood frozen, witnessing how Celine, the woman who always showed him a face of coldness and hatred, could now smile so sincerely at another man who was merely a gardener.
Leo's jaw tightened. An irrational resentment burned in his chest. Behind the glass pane, Leo's hand clenched into a tight fist until his knuckles turned white, fighting the surge of jealousy that began to weigh heavily on his mind.