Every day of the test weighed heavier on Adrien. He saw the truth, but it only left him hurting.

The Quiet Presence
In the middle of his misery stood someone he had barely noticed: Marbel, the new maid. She wasn’t flashy or loud. She wore a simple purple uniform and carried herself with quiet grace.

When Cassandra rolled her eyes at Adrien reaching for a glass, Marbel gently placed it in his hand. When Cassandra refused to push his chair, Marbel guided him patiently through the gardens.

Adrien realized she didn’t look at him with pity or greed. She saw him as a man—wounded, but still worthy of dignity.

And something in his heart began to stir.

Masks Falling

Weeks passed, and Cassandra’s pretense collapsed completely. Her scorn grew bolder. She mocked him in private, calling him “a shadow of who he once was.”

The final blow came one evening at a grand terrace party. Dressed in silk and diamonds, Cassandra laughed loudly among friends. With a cruel grin, she gestured toward Adrien in his chair.

“Look at him now,” she sneered.