Nicole Webb took a deep breath and faced her cousin with a determined smile. “I've made up my mind—I'm going to work as a housekeeper for a wealthy family!” She knew exactly how bad things were at home. Her cousin was already stretched thin trying to cover their living expenses, and the weight of it showed in his face. She needed a job. But more than that, she needed to know her kids would be safe and sound.

“That's amazing! As long as you're safe, that's all that matters!” Her cousin pressed a hand to his chest, as if making a vow.

“Thank you. And please, take care of the kids for me while I'm gone.” The responsibility settled over her shoulders like a stone.

“Don't worry about a thing. I've got them. And call me if you need anything—anything at all.”

“All right. I will.”

The next day, Nicole arrived at the estate.

Mathew Rogers stood on the second floor, leaning against the railing, watching her with a cool, assessing gaze.

“Our background check came back clean,” the butler reported, respectful. “Nicole Webb is twenty-two. She lives with her older cousin, Mark—twenty-seven, a farmer. They lost their parents young. No red flags. It seems they grew up in a rural area with very little exposure to the outside world. There's not much else to find.”

“That'll be all,” Mathew said curtly.

“Yes, sir.”

Nicole waited at the entrance until Lee Romero, the butler, came to escort her. He led her to the back garden, where she was introduced to the rest of the staff.

The head maid—a stern-looking Filipina with a ruler clutched in one hand—looked Nicole up and down with open disdain. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” She sneered. “Is this the new recruit you mentioned?”

“Watch your mouth,” Lee snapped. “She's here at the daughter's request. Train her properly—or you'll answer to me.”

“Understood.” The woman's smile was forced.

The staff exchanged whispers.

“What on earth was Miss Brynlee thinking?”

“Right? Why bring someone so plain to work here?”

“Ugh. Just looking at her makes my skin crawl...”

Nicole didn't flinch. She held her composure and smiled calmly.

Once Lee was gone, the head maid fixed Nicole with a hard stare. “Listen up, Nicole Webb. This isn't like any job you've ever had. You'll go through intensive training. Pass the test in two weeks, and maybe you'll be qualified to serve Mr. Rogers and Miss Brynlee.” She shoved a basket of dirty clothes into Nicole's arms. “Wash all of these. Every last piece. And don't forget the dishes in the kitchen!”

Nicole's expression didn't change. She picked up the basket and walked away.

The head maid smirked to herself. Newcomers were always so obedient at first. Give them a day or two—they'd break down and beg to leave...

*

In the bedroom, Brynlee Rogers lay by the window, watching Nicole work tirelessly.

The door swung open. Brynlee jumped down and ran to Mathew, grabbing his hand.

“Daddy, I want...”

“What do you want?” Mathew asked, his icy demeanor softening.

Brynlee tugged him toward the window and pointed outside—at Nicole.

She wanted to play with her.

Following her finger, Mathew saw Nicole in her bright orange wig, busy hanging laundry to dry. His gaze caught on her and held for a beat.

“Sweetheart, Nicole only started today. Give her time to settle in. I’ll ask whether she can spend the afternoon with you,” he assured her, gently patting Brynlee's head.

Brynlee pouted but kept watching Nicole with longing, as if the person she'd been dreaming of was right there—just out of reach.

Outside, in the backyard, the head maid shouted, “Nicole Webb, look what you've done!” She whipped a piece of clothing at Nicole's face.

“What's the matter?” Nicole caught the garment.

“Who taught you to wash clothes like this? If you can't do the job, get out! This is designer—a Gucci exclusive from the spring-summer collection!” the head maid raged, raising her ruler to strike.

Nicole caught the ruler, her eyes cold. “Is there a problem?”

The head maid blinked, taken aback, then yanked her hand back. “Of course there is! You ruined my clothes!”

“That wasn't me,” Nicole said evenly. “Look at the cuts. Someone deliberately took scissors to it—and now they're trying to pin it on me.”

“Nonsense! Who would do such a thing?” The head maid's eyes darted away with guilt.

“Anyone with eyes can see this thing is worn out. It was headed for the trash anyway.” Nicole shrugged. “If you think I'm some clueless newbie you can use as a scapegoat, think again. If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work.”

“What kind of attitude is that? You're paying for this!”

“No, I'm not.”

“Fine! If you won't pay, I'll take it to Mr. Romero and let him decide!” the head maid threatened.

Nicole didn't bother looking back. She just returned to her tasks.

Brynlee couldn't stand it anymore.

Why was that woman being so cruel to her beloved orange-wigged lady?

That was her chosen playmate!

Determined, Brynlee balled her tiny fists and ran out of the room.

Mathew frowned and followed quickly, his long strides catching up with ease. “Brynlee, where are you going? Slow down!”

But Brynlee didn't care. She raced down the stairs as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Her anger boiled over at the sight of her wigged friend being bullied.

It was the first time Mathew had ever seen his daughter show such a strong emotion.

“Stop right there!”

Brynlee spread her arms wide, blocking the head maid's path, and glared up at her fiercely.

“Miss Brynlee, do you need something?” The head maid flinched.

Then she saw the tall, imposing figure of Mathew behind the child and immediately bent into a hasty bow. “Good day, Mr. Rogers!”

Hearing the commotion, Nicole turned and bowed as well. “Good day, Mr. Rogers! Good day, Miss Brynlee!” She wondered what had brought them to the backyard.

“Apologize!” Brynlee commanded the head maid, her voice firm.

Mathew's cold eyes flickered with surprise.

His daughter... had actually spoken to a servant.

The head maid was just as shocked.

Wasn't Miss Brynlee supposed to have selective mutism?

And apologize? For what?

Then realization dawned on her.

“Did you hear that, Nicole Webb? Even Miss Brynlee is appalled by your actions! Aren't you going to listen and apologize?”

Nicole blinked, puzzled. “Huh?”

“You apologize to her!” Brynlee insisted, using sign language to emphasize her point.

Nicole's heart melted. Her eyes sparkled with admiration.

Miss Brynlee was standing up for her?

Oh my goodness, she was adorable.

She absolutely adored this beautiful, spirited little girl.

“Miss Brynlee, you must be mistaken. Mr. Rogers, please, I implore you to resolve this!” The head maid dropped to her knees, holding up the damaged garment. “Nicole's duty on her first day was to handle everyone's laundry. It's clear she did this on purpose! I refuse to apologize...”

“Then leave!” Mathew's voice was as cold as ice, his gaze commanding and absolute. “If you're disobedient to the daughter, what use do we have for a servant like you?”

“But I...” The head maid panicked.

Nicole was taken aback by how protective Mathew was of his daughter.

Clearly, he was utterly devoted to her.

“Are you still here?” Mathew's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Guards, take her away and make sure she doesn't cause any more trouble!”

“You fired her on the spot?” Nicole Webb asked, her eyes going wide with disbelief.

Karina, the head maid, scrambled back. “I’m so sorry! I’ll leave right away! Please, Mr. Rogers, show mercy!”

“Take her away!” Lee Romero ordered without missing a beat.

The butler moved quickly—he wasn’t about to let a scandal this distasteful stain Mr. Rogers’s reputation or his daughter’s.

The staff watching exchanged uneasy glances, then cut Nicole resentful looks.

“This is all her fault!”

“Karina got fired because of that woman!”

“She’s nothing but bad luck for the rest of us!”

“She lost her salary and her references. No one wants to be next!”

“Exactly! It’s awful—and it’s all Nicole’s fault!”

Nicole was thrown by the hostile stares. She hadn’t meant any harm. She just hadn’t warned Karina that her designer clothes were knockoffs. Losing a well-paid job over a counterfeit would’ve been a shame. But... Karina wouldn’t even get that chance now.

Uneasy, Nicole crossed gracefully to the little girl.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She crouched to the little girl’s eye level. “I appreciate your help.”

The little girl stared up at her, cheeks turning pink.

...They were standing so close!

The woman with the wild hair was smiling right at her.

Ah... her little heart was fluttering with excitement!

Covering her face, the girl ran off shyly, her lace dress billowing out like a flower in bloom.

Nicole blinked, surprised to feel her own cheeks warm.

Was she... shy?

God, she was adorable! Nicole wanted to scoop her up and ruffle her hair.

Serving a child this charming made Nicole determined to ace her training.

Mathew Rogers watched it all, his eyes narrowing as they moved from his daughter to Nicole’s heavily made-up face.

What kind of spell did this woman have?

How had she won over his precious daughter so completely?

Nicole shifted under his scrutiny.

“Do you have any other instructions, sir?”

“You’re difficult to figure out.”

“What?” Nicole blinked, caught off guard.

“I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

...If you think I’m ugly, then don’t stare at me!

Nobody asked you to look!

Nicole clenched her teeth against the urge to punch his stupid, ridiculously handsome face.

What good was a pretty face when he was this shallow? Judging people by their looks, never showing anyone an ounce of respect—

Back in the kitchen, Nicole threw herself into work, fast and thorough.

Her sincerity only seemed to irritate the other servants.

“What a fake. So annoying!”

“She got Karina thrown out, and now she’s acting like she did nothing wrong!”

“She’s so fast, she’s making the rest of us look lazy...”

“Let’s teach her a lesson.”

One of them—Lily—pretended to collapse in front of Nicole.

“Careful! What happened?”

Nicole rushed to catch her.

“Sorry to be a bother. I just got so dizzy... I couldn’t stand,” Lily said weakly, clutching her head.

“Do you need a break?” Nicole asked.

“But then my work won’t get done.” Lily looked torn. “I still have to clean the first room on the third floor. Could you help me, Nicole?”

“Okay. Just a quick tidy-up?”

“Yes—you’re so kind! Thank you!” Lily clasped her hands together gratefully.

Nicole grabbed the bucket and cloth and headed out.

Lily watched her go, then crossed her arms with a smug smile.

The other servants crowded around.

“Seriously? You sent her to clean the third floor?”

“That’s Mr. Rogers’s room! It’s strictly off-limits!”

“She’s done for!”

“Can’t wait to see Nicole get booted out... Ha ha ha. Lily, you’re brilliant. With Karina gone, you’re definitely the next head maid!”

Lily basked in the praise, practically glowing with triumph.

Meanwhile, Nicole climbed to the third floor with her cleaning supplies.

The door was slightly ajar.

She knocked out of courtesy.

Then she pushed it open and stopped short at the room’s stark, minimalist decor.

Everything was black and white—understated, but expensive as hell.

“Rich people really live differently... every last thing in here is an antique!” Her eyes sparkled as she looked around.

“The room’s actually pretty clean. It barely needs tidying.”

But since she was already there...

Nicole filled the bucket in the bathroom and started wiping down the cabinets.

Then an oil painting caught her eye.

“Isn’t that...?” She opened the cabinet in surprise. “It really is ‘The Back of Carnia’!”

The woman in the painting had her face turned slightly away, delicate lashes lowered.

Loose golden braids fell over her shoulders. Below her waist, only a white blanket covered her, leaving the smooth, pale curve of her back bare—enough to spark endless imagination.

Most importantly...

Nicole had painted this when she was fourteen. Her English signature was right at the bottom.

She’d sketched it for fun from her reflection in the mirror, head tilted as she drew.

After her family went bankrupt, everything had been auctioned off by the bank.

Nicole had never imagined her careless little painting would be treasured like this.

Carefully placed inside a cabinet.

A wave of nostalgia hit her. An indescribable warmth spread through her chest, and she reached out to touch the painted image of herself...

She didn’t notice Mathew standing in the doorway.

He pushed the door open.

His icy expression turned savage, his voice cutting sharp. “What are you doing in here?”

“Mr. Rogers!”

Nicole yanked her hand back and stood up straight. “I’m here to clean!”

Mathew strode toward her, seized her wrist, pushed her aside, and shut the cabinet. Then he glared at her like she was something foul.

“No one enters this room without my permission! Sneaking around—were you planning to steal something?”

“What? No!”

Nicole ignored the ache in her wrist, scrambling upright. She turned out her pockets and spread her hands. “I didn’t take anything, I swear! See?”

As for the room being off-limits—well, she’d just found that out.

“Why did you open the cabinet?”

Mathew stepped closer, his presence suffocating.

His cold eyes narrowed, piercing straight through her.

“I... I thought the painting was beautiful and wanted a closer look...” Nicole stammered, retreating step by step.

“Do you seriously think admiring a painting means you get to touch it? Don’t lie to me, you thief!” Mathew Rogers’s sharp gaze cut straight through Nicole Webb, as if every move she made screamed guilt. The disdain in his eyes was unmistakable as he turned toward the door. “Guards! Get her out of here—”

“No! Mr. Rogers, please!” Nicole begged. She couldn’t lose this job. Not with five sons waiting for her at home. Panic overrode reason—she lunged forward, threw her whole weight against the door, and braced it shut with her back.

“I didn’t steal anything. I’ll prove it!”

“And just how do you plan to do that?” Mathew shot back, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched her like she was a circus act.

Nicole hesitated. Her fingers hovered over the buttons of her blouse.

Too late, Mathew realized what she meant to do. His eyes went wide. “Stop that!”

But the buttons were already slipping free. Her maid’s uniform slid to the floor, leaving her standing there in nothing but her undergarments.

Mathew blinked, stunned—then his gaze went dark and hard. “You’ve got some nerve!”

His words came out sharp and cold. “First you steal, and now you try to seduce me?”

“Can you be reasonable?” Nicole was mortified, practically exposed in front of him. His accusation made her blood boil. “You accused me of theft, so I took off my clothes to prove you wrong! How does that add up to seduction? I’d rather flirt with a brick wall than try to seduce you!”

Her frustration boiled over, and the words lashed out before she could stop them.

“You really have no intention of flattering me, do you?” Mathew’s energy crackled around him. For half a second, he looked like he’d love nothing more than to toss her out the window.

“I—I didn’t mean it like that!” Nicole bit her lip and tried to cover her chest, but the motion only made her figure more noticeable.

Mathew’s eyes flicked down before he caught himself, his expression darkening. “Get out!”

Nicole seized her chance. She snatched up her clothes, yanked them on, and darted out.

On the stairs, she nearly barreled into a group of curious maids.

They stared at her in disbelief. How had Nicole walked out of that room in one piece? Hadn’t Mathew made her into a cautionary tale?

“N-Nicole, are you okay?” Leslie Hamilton, a fellow maid, noticed her disheveled state and asked hesitantly.

Slap!

Leslie staggered back, cradling her cheek.

“That’s for you!” Nicole glared at her, standing her ground.

“You—Nicole, you hit me?!” Leslie cried, tears welling up.

“So what if I did?” Nicole challenged boldly. “I can’t stand sneaky people like you!”

If she didn’t stand up for herself, these people would walk all over her.

“Sheesh, do you not know Leslie’s uncle is Mr. Romero, the butler?” another maid scoffed. “You’re done for, Nicole!”

What?

Nicole froze, her face going pale.

Was she about to lose her job after barely managing to keep it with Mathew?

Nearby, Mathew’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

It seemed she genuinely didn’t know.

Wait a minute…

Her facial skin was rough and dark, but her body was inexplicably pale and smooth...

Could it be…

Meanwhile, the other maids had fetched Lee Romero, demanding justice.

“Uncle, it’s her! Nicole hit me so hard my face is swollen! You have to fire her!”

“I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Romero, but I only did it because she deceived me first. They knew Mr. Rogers’s room was off-limits, but they tricked me into cleaning it!” Nicole explained.

Lee’s face darkened. He glanced at Leslie, who avoided his gaze guiltily.

“No, it wasn’t like that. Nicole was trying to seduce Mr. Rogers by going there—it had nothing to do with me…”

“Oh? Should we check the security cameras?” Nicole suggested coolly.

“Uncle, I don’t care! She hit me, so she has to be fired!” Leslie insisted.

“I’d like to see anyone try to fire her!” A cold voice cut in.

Nicole froze. She turned to see Mathew striding over, radiating an authority that made everyone flinch.

Lee almost buckled, lowering his head in fear. “Mr. Rogers! Without your orders, I wouldn’t dare fire anyone!”

He wasn’t a fool. He knew Nicole had been arranged by both Mathew and Brynlee. He’d hoped the whole mess would quietly fade away.

But he hadn’t expected Mathew to step in.

Nicole was stunned as Mathew approached her, unsure why he’d bother with something so trivial.

“Why are you staring? Bring some towels to the pool.” Mathew ordered, walking past her without acknowledging anyone else.

“Yes…” Nicole blinked and hurried after him.

From a distance, Leslie fumed silently.

Was this a joke?

Mathew had taken the side of that plain-looking woman!

And now he wanted Nicole to assist him while he swam!

This was an honor the maids usually competed for—a rare chance to see Mathew’s stunning physique in action, and few were ever granted the opportunity.

Yet somehow, this unassuming woman had managed it effortlessly!

“Uncle! How did this happen? Why didn’t Mathew fire her but instead reward her?” Leslie demanded.

“Quiet, you fool! Who told you to play such petty tricks?” Lee scolded her.

“I didn’t mean to!”

“Enough! Don’t call me uncle at work!” Lee didn’t want to be dragged down by his niece’s recklessness. “Now that the supervisor position is open, you’ve been here the longest. If you work diligently, the role is yours. Don’t cause unnecessary trouble!”

“Understood. Thank you, Mr. Romero.” Leslie agreed sweetly, though her heart was full of resentment.

A housekeeping supervisor? She aimed higher.

She thought her uncle was too timid—stuck in his butler position for years without a raise. Luckily, she had already secured another backer.

Leslie narrowed her eyes maliciously and stepped into a corner to text someone:

“Mathew is obsessed with a maid named Nicole Webb, using dirty tricks to get close to him...”

*

At the pool, Mathew emerged in nothing but fitted swim trunks, his chiseled physique catching Nicole’s attention and nearly making her drop the basin she was holding.

“Why did you bring that stuff?” Mathew asked skeptically before diving gracefully into the water and cutting through it effortlessly.

Nicole wiped the water from her face. “Didn’t you ask me to bring towels to the pool? I thought you might want a shower afterward, so I brought towels, a basin, and soap.”