The city lights blinked faintly outside the small window of the maids quarters where Vivienne sat curled on the edge of her narrow bed . Her fingers twisted the hem of her apron , mind churning with confusion, dread, and something she couldn't yet name .
She had come to this mansion to work, to support her family , to stay invisible and useful. But everything had changed since the night ofthat kiss . Since the moment Mrs blackwood had decided to make her more than just a servant. It was unthinkable.she didn't belong to their world- she was only a maid . A good one , quite and dependable, yes, but still just hired help.
A knock on the wooden door startled her. She stood quickly, brushing down her apron.
When she opened it, Soren stood there, hands in his pockets , hair slightly tousled, like he'd been pacing for hours.
"Can I come in?" He asked , his tone quieter than she'd ever heard.
Vivienne blinked , stepping aside reluctantly. He entered, looking around the small space,the walls plain and the air scented faintly with lavender soap.
He didn't sit . He turned to her and said ,"l know you're not going to marry me. And I don't blame you."
Vivienne lowered her gaze , her voice barely audible. "Why would I ? You're ,... Soren Blackwood . And iam a maid" .
He shook his head . "You're not just a maid , especially not to my mother. I've seen that my mother is happy when she is around you . And matters more than I ever expected it to.
She frowned confused. " Why are you telling me this?"
Soren exhaled slowly . " Because she's sick , Vivienne. She doesn't have long . The doctors confirmed it last week. And all she wants is to see me married - to someone she believes in . Someone she trusts . That someone is you".
Vivienne's chest tightened . " I can't pretend to be your wife".
"Iam not asking forever," he said quickly.
Just for a short while . A contract marriage. No obligations, no pressure. We do this for her. Make her happy while she still has time. And when the time comes... We part ways."
She stared at him, stunned . " You want me to fake a marriage with you?"
He nodded . " Yes , and I want to make it worth your while."
From the folder tucked under his arms,he pulled out a set of papers and handed them to her . Her hands trembled as she read through them.
" A new house," she whispered. " In the city.... for my family?"
He nodded again . "I had it built. Fully paid,deed in your father's name . A place where your brother can go to school. Where you won't be a maid anymore, unless you want to be . I wanted you to have security. A future."
Viviennes eyes filled with tears . No one has could choose anyone to fake this with."
" But why me, Soren sir?" She asked softly. " You could choose anyone to fake this with."
He stepped closer , his voice rough. " Because it doesn't feel fake with you. Ven when we were pretending.... Something felt real. And I think you felt it too."
The silence between them cracked with tha truth. She couldn't deny it. She had felt it - the warmth, the closeness the way his gaze lingered when he thought she wasn't looking.
Still, fear gripped her. " What will people say? The staff .... Your friends?"
" They'll say what they want . Let them," he said . " All I care about is my mother's peace . "
Vivienne looked at the papers again . At the promise of freedom . At the kindness hidden behind Soren's brash exterior. Slowly, she nodded.
"I'll do it . For her ."
He smiled - genuinely, like a weight had lifted.
Later that night , when she returned to the room with her things packed , she found him waiting to escort her to her new home . Her parents wept when they saw it, her brother racing through the empty halls like it was a palace .
She stood at the window, looking out, while Soren leaned beside her.
" You did this for your mother," she said .
"And a little for you ," he replied. Maybe a lot".
Their eyes met in the glass reflection. No promises . No lies.
Just two hearts sharing a silent agreement.
And somewhere in that stillness , something unspoken had already begun .
Her mother accepted to give her daughter into the hands of Soren whom she knew very well from childhood.
And soon the engagement would begun....