, he turned back to the baby that was still sleeping peaceful

to us. Do

hand, smiled covertly while looking between everyone. Just like her mother, she was happ

d for Norman's arm. "We'll protect h

y replied. "You're just the

*

OSS E

. It had been a month since she opened her eyes in the unfamiliar room and every day si

was di

s heavy and for the first time since she had been dump

ayal she couldn't forget, and the little one she had lost. But she wante

and left the room. She had been given a tour around the mansion some days ago and although she wasn't fam

e was be

n't watched, ordered around, or looked down on. Everything felt foreig

along the walls, the exquisite furniture, the glass staircas

he remembered the first time she was brought to liv

, and told to be "useful." From morning till night, she ran errands,

and smiled through it all. Because in her heart, i

n was rar

ey never called her by name and never spoke without looking down their noses. She was "The orph

ays or sit on the living room furniture. Also, sh

Mrs Lena would smile at her, Delaney would suddenly be kind and th

always cared. But Calla wasn't stupid. She knew the momen

she wasn'

o one shouting at her for forgetting her place or

t, it didn't feel like a prison. At least... not yet. But she couldn't hel

arm breakfast spread. Standing near the stove was an older woman st

"You're awake! Come, sit,

settling into the high-backed w

o a plate, followed by toast, grilled tomatoes, and a few fresh strawberries. "The doctor s

ted her head, taking

nd hospital meals for the

r. He was somewhat cold and distant, but still, he made sure she was

that's so k

hen he wants to be, though not the affectionate

d paused ov

ck

had been to her. How she mistook every polite word from Nor

ild," She had once believed.

d her in like a prisoner, humiliated her, and used her. And when she nearly died giving birth, all they g

Maybe thi

f

*

ates. Julian had nearly finished his breakfast while occasionall

Calla was

everything she had been through, kindness wasn't something she knew well. People didn't give without wan

er fork. The questions and conversation she'd planned in

Julian asked and stood up, bu

rvously. The sound seemed louder than she e

"I just... I want to thank you. For everything. For taking me in, for the ca

ing. He was running late for an important appointmen

as easy. I'd say everything perfectly," Calla continued and ch

lot of things running through her mind and she knew she needed to heal first before

hat I've been through and I w

eding explanation. He didn't ask questions and didn'

ould ever be treated like

before they could roll down her cheeks. She had sworn ne

than enough and I think... I'm ready to leave. I don't know where I'll go, but I can't s

studi

"I don't need anything from you. You

me. You don't know my name,

was a

he knew the basic things like her name, Calla Ward. He had

ed calmly. "All that matters is t

ood to be true. The type she should probably run away from bec

ive? At that moment, she knew she had to

main a liability to you. I need my own money,

nearly ruined her life, she needed to start working towards it. She need

id and took a deep breath. "But now, I'm ready t

saw the determination in her face and k

re my new personal assistant.

s fast. "Wait... aren't inter

t my in

ave a seat. "Well then... It's going to be a