The last tray clinked into the sink as Angela's arms trembled from the day's labor. Her breath came shallow, the pressure in her chest heavier than ever. She had ignored it for weeks, hoping it would fade, but tonight her body left her no choice.
The Kane mansion glowed as grand as ever—oil paintings, velvet drapes, chandeliers that never seemed to dim. Angela had given years to this house, yet her strength had run out. Her thoughts turned to Liana, her daughter, the only reason she had endured this long. It was time to let go.
Steeling herself, she climbed the staircase to the bar. The room shimmered with amber light, crystal shelves lined with liquor, and the faint haze of cigar smoke. Behind the counter sat the man she had served for more than a decade, glass in hand.
"Sir," she said, her voice calm though her heart pounded.
"Yes, Angela. How may I help you?"
She folded her hands, finding courage in her years of loyalty. "I've given this house all I could. But my health no longer allows me to keep up. I must take my leave, starting tomorrow."
The words settled heavy in the room. The master's gaze lingered on her, not with reproach, but with something like understanding. Angela lowered her eyes, knowing this decision would change everything—for her, and for Liana.
---
The next day, the car stopped before the Kane estate. Liana sat frozen for a moment, staring at the towering mansion. The iron gates closed behind her, shutting her into a world she didn't belong to.
Inside, whispers followed her across the marble floors.
"She's the one going upstairs."
"Poor thing."
"No one wants the master's suite."
Their pity cut sharper than cruelty. Liana kept her chin high, her palms damp against her bag. Invisible—that was her plan. Work in silence, endure, survive.
At the staircase, the housekeeper said, "The master's suite is at the top."
Liana bowed her head and climbed. Every step pulled her deeper into Adrian Kane's shadow.
---
The library smelled of leather and smoke. Liana worked quietly, cloth in hand, touching nothing more than necessary. The silence told her what the other maids hadn't—this wasn't just a library. It was his.
The door opened. Adrian Kane stepped in. His gaze lingered on her, unreadable.
"You missed a spot," he said evenly.
"Yes, sir."
Her calm surprised him. Most scrambled for words in his presence; she gave him nothing but quiet acknowledgment.
"You're not very talkative," he pressed.
"I prefer to work in silence, sir."
Something flickered in his eyes—interest, faint but sharp. For the first time, she had unsettled him.
---
Across the city, Lyra sat by her window, wine in hand, the lights below forgotten. Rumors had reached her: Adrian Kane was changing. And a name had surfaced with those whispers.
Liana.
Fury tightened her jaw. She had erased that girl once. She would not let her return now. Picking up her phone, she spoke coldly into the receiver.
"Keep an eye on the Kane household. Quietly. I want results fast."
Her reflection in the glass stared back, flawless yet hard with jealousy. "History won't repeat itself," she whispered. "Not if I can help it."
---
That night, Liana returned home, weary. Angela sat at the kitchen table, tea in hand.
"Long day?" her mother asked.
"It was fine," Liana said, though the word felt hollow.
Angela studied her. "Be careful. Men like Adrian Kane don't notice women like us unless they want something. And when they do, it's rarely in our favor."
"I'm just a maid, Mama. Invisible. That's how I'll stay."
Angela touched her hand gently. "Invisible is safe. Remember that."
Later, in her room, Liana stared at the night sky. She told herself she could remain unseen, untouched. But unease coiled in her chest. She didn't know Adrian's curiosity had already found her—or that Lyra's eyes were fixed on her once more.
~~~~~~~
Lyra sat poised at her window, the city lights spilling across her reflection. She held her glass of wine with the elegance of habit, though her grip was tighter than usual. Whispers had reached her—Adrian Kane was different these days. Softer, they said. Distracted.
The reason, she already knew.
Liana.
Lyra's jaw clenched. That girl had no place near the Kanes, not then, not now. Years ago, Lyra had made sure of it. A few well-placed lies, a seed of doubt in Adrian's ear, and Liana had vanished from his world like smoke. It had been easy. Necessary.
But shadows had a way of returning, and this time, they threatened everything.
She rose, heels clicking against marble, every step controlled. She would not let the past unravel her future. Not when she had worked so carefully to build it.
Lifting her phone, she dialed without hesitation. "Keep watch on the Kane estate," she instructed smoothly when the line connected. "Discreetly. I want to know everything."
Her reflection in the glass stared back at her, sharp and flawless. History would not repeat itself. Not if she had anything to say about it.
~~~~~~~
The door creaked as Liana stepped inside, shoulders heavy, steps dragging. The scent of chamomile lingered in the air—Angela was still awake.
"Long day?" her mother asked from the table, a half-finished cup of tea in her hands.
Liana managed a tired smile. "Something like that." She dropped her bag by the chair and sank down, hoping the smile would cover the weight pressing on her chest.
Angela's gaze lingered, calm but piercing. "You don't have to say it. I can see it on your face."
Liana looked down at her hands. "It's just work, Mama. Nothing more."
Her mother sighed, leaning forward slightly. "Work doesn't leave you looking like that. Listen, men like Adrian Kane don't notice girls like us unless they want something. And when they do…" She shook her head. "Be careful, my girl."
The words were quiet, but they carried the weight of warning, of experience.
Liana gave a faint smile, brushing it off. "I'll be fine. No one notices me there."
But later, lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, her heart restless. Angela was right—something had shifted, and unease followed her even into her dreams.