That day, Anna's belongings were moved from the main house to Harry's lake house. A phenomenal that shocked all the servants in the mansion. This is the first time a woman is allowed to move into the lake house. Not even the heir's wife has such a privilege. But this woman with a questionable status has managed to get in.
Ana felt like she has sold her entire life away because she has no control to decide anything for herself. She was contemplating her life decisions when a knock distracted her.
A group of servants entered her room. "The heir wants to meet you and we're assigned to assist you in looking presentable". One of them explained.
Ana sighed.
She has to face this sooner or later. She nodded to agree. This family is so rich that they live like royals. They live so extravagant and lavishly. Everything that money can buy can be probably found in this place.
The gentle moonlight shimmered over the lake as Harry stared at the woman standing before him. Ana looked breathtaking, her delicate features bathed in soft light, her eyes wide with disbelief and wonder. Harry looked at the beautiful lady standing before him and was momentarily mesmerized. Ana stared back at him, dazed and breathless
Harry took a step closer, his voice low and smooth.
"You've grown even more beautiful," he said, offering his hand.
Ana hesitated for a moment, still dazed. This was the man who had haunted her thoughts for days. The man she never expected to see again. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly placed her hand in his.
Without a word, Harry led her to the candlelit table nestled beneath the stars. After seating her gently, he reached for something behind him, a bouquet of fresh red roses. He handed them to her with a slight smile.
"Are you really Mr. Harry Fairchild?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Harry gave a warm smile and nodded. "Yes l am"
Sitting across from her, his gaze never leaving hers, he leaned forward slightly. "Are you happy to see me?"
Ana blushed and nodded
Their eyes met across the table, and the world around them seemed to vanish. The quiet symphony of a violin floated through the garden, setting the tone for a moment suspended in time.
Harry reached for her hand again. "Care to dance?"
Beneath the starlit sky, the two of them swayed to the music, lost in each other. Ana trembled as his hands brushed her waist. Her heart was no longer hers, it beat to the rhythm of his touch.
She slowly inched closer, burying her face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of sandalwood.
When the music ended, Harry led her back toward the lake house. The garden lights glowed softly, mirroring the warmth blooming in Ana's heart.
They stopped outside her door.
"Well… good night, Mr. Fairchild," Ana said, her cheeks tinged pink.
Harry didn't move. Harry stared at her with an intense, unreadable gaze that made her heart pound wildly in her chest.
"Harry. You can just call me Harry," he replied in a low voice.
Ana blinked,taken aback by the sudden intimacy of the moment. His stare remained fixed on her, and she looked down, nodding shyly. "Harry...." she murmured.
She turned to open the door when he suddenly caught her hand, pulling her gently back toward him. Ana's heart raced so violently she feared he could hear it. Seeing her flustered expression, Harry's own softened, his gaze filled with warmth.
As she turned to open her door, he caught her wrist gently and pulled her back. She stumbled slightly into his chest, her eyes darting up to meet his.
"You forgot something," he said, his voice husky.
Her breath hitched. "W–What is that?"
Harry stared at her with an intense, unreadable gaze that made her heart pound wildly in her chest.
He didn't answer. Instead, he slowly leaned closer, eyes flicking to her lips. Ana froze. Her pulse was thundering now. His hand brushed her cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Smack!
Ana planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Harry froze, stunned.
"Sleep tight," she whispered with a nervous smile, and before he could react, she slipped inside her room and shut the door.
Harry stood there, dazed. Slowly, he touched the spot on his cheek where she'd kissed him. A rare smile curled his lips.
That night, neither of them slept. Inside her room, Ana lay wide awake, heart soaring. Her thoughts replayed the moment again and again. It was her first love. Beautiful, overwhelming, and intoxicating.
What she didn't know was that this man...Harry, would soon become both her heaven and her hell.
Lyle House
Adonis sat alone on the rooftop, a steaming jug of coffee beside him. This had been their place, his and Ana's. Whenever she needed a quiet moment to study or vent, this was where she came. He always brought her coffee, knowing how much she loved it.
In the silence of the night, Adonis could almost see her—her small figure, hunched over her notes, strands of hair falling into her face. She'd brush them aside impatiently, grumbling to herself. Then she would turn to him and flash that bright, innocent smile.
"Big brother, pour me some coffee," she would say, sweet as always.
Adonis's expression softened as he poured into the cup… only to find the image gone. He stared at the space she had just occupied, now empty once more.
The smile faded from his face. Left alone under the vast, silent sky, Adonis took a slow sip from the cup. The night felt colder than usual.
Ten years ago, the Lyle family had rescued him from a car wreckage. He had no memory of who he was. It was young Ana who had cried and begged her parents to take him in. From that day, he had been her big brother, watching over her as she grew.
He drank in silence, his heart weighed down by memory.
Lake House
The next morning, the lake house was tense. The servants walked lightly, careful not to disturb the storm brewing in the form of Miss Kimberly. Her tongue was venomous and her mood worse than ever.
Ana, confused by the hushed whispers and hurried footsteps, turned to Nina.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Nina leaned in with a sigh. "Miss Kimberly is in a bad mood again. The maids are terrified. She's already made two cry this morning."
Just then, one of the maids burst out of the room in tears, ignoring the concerned voices of her peers. Ana watched with wide eyes as the girl disappeared down the hall.
Moments later, the hall quieted as Sasha approached, perfectly poised as always. She wore a fashionable silk dress and a carefully curated smile. Ana stiffened instinctively, but Sasha seemed unaffected.
"Hello, Ana. How are you today?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm well, thank you," Ana replied, uneasy.
"Good, good. Let me show you around," Sasha said, slipping an arm through Ana's without waiting for her consent. "You'll want to know who not to offend around here."
Her tone was pleasant, but her eyes held a sharp glint.
"My husband and my sister-in-law, they don't like strangers. People come and go here all the time. Like that maid you just saw, gone. Hired today, gone tomorrow. Disposable, just like the rest of the staff."
She glanced sideways at Ana with a smile. "Don't you agree?"
Sasha's words were coated in honey, but the venom was clear. Though she smiled, she was putting Ana in her place, reminding her that she was nothing more than a surrogate, no different from the help.
Ana hesitated, then nodded stiffly. She wasn't sure what to say.
Satisfied, Sasha patted her hand with false warmth. "Since you'll be staying here for a while, it's only right that you meet my sister-in-law. Let's go."
Before Ana could protest, Sasha was already dragging her down the hall, straight toward Kimberly's room.
Meanwhile, at the company headquarters, Harry was working late when Leo strolled into his office uninvited.
"Aren't you supposed to call and let me know you're back home?" Leo pouted dramatically, clutching his chest. "If you keep being cold to me like this, it'll break my fragile little heart."
Harry didn't even look up from his desk. "Don't you have work to do?"
"Come on, man, I helped you orchestrate the whole plan. You should at least share some juicy details. How was last night with your little beauty?" Leo wiggled his brows, grinning.
Harry shot him a cold glare. "Don't you have better things to do than pry into another man's bedroom matters?"
Leo shrugged, unfazed. "Hey, I did help convince Old Madame to play right into your hands. I deserve something for all that effort."
"You miss Africa that much?" Harry muttered, deadpan.
Leo's eyes widened in horror. "Bro, no! Please! I surrender. Don't say scary things like that!" he whined, throwing his hands up in mock fear.
"Hope you're prepared for the meeting " Leo asked, his expression serious. Harry stood from his chair and nodded. He walked out. "Don't worry I'll wait for you here" Leo said.