Andrew's gaze fixed upon his brother, sensing the palpable tension enveloping the room. Determined to break through whatever thoughts plagued Albert, he spoke up, "Why are you looking like that? It's just the housekeeper."Albert snapped out of his reverie, his mind refocusing on the present. "You can come in," Andrew called out, granting permission for the housekeeper, Annabel, to enter.Upon hearing Andrew's approval, Annabel cautiously stepped into the room, her gaze lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with the brothers. "Madam asked me to call both of you for breakfast," she calmly stated, still avoiding their gaze."That's alright, we'll be down in a minute," Albert replied with a warm smile. "And there's no need for you to keep your gaze down when talking to us," he added, earning a sidelong glance from Andrew."It's okay if she wants to maintain her gaze down; it simply shows respect," Andrew said, chuckling softly as he observed Annabel, still with her eyes fixed on the floor
Albert, feeling the weight of the situation, desperately searched for the right words to extricate himself."Ohh, your housekeeper, right?" Tracy asked, seeking confirmation of her assumption."Yes, my housekeeper," Albert stuttered, his words stumbling out. "She always makes mistakes with my breakfast, and that's why I called her name," he explained, feeling awkward.Tracy smiled and said, "That's alright then. No crabs for you, I suppose." However, Albert couldn't shake off a sense of discomfort at Tracy's response."Doesn't it bother you that I called you someone else?" he asked, attempting to understand her reaction."It was a mistake, and I understand," she replied, offering a reassuring smile. "What do you think about steaks, then?" she asked, trying to redirect the conversation."That would be fine," Albert replied, grateful for the change of subject."Alright, then," she said. Tracy promptly informed the waiter of their order, and within a few minutes, their food arrived. As t
Annabel's POV:As I listened to my friend excitedly suggest double dates with our husbands, I couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Personal space seemed to be a foreign concept to her. Did I look like someone who would enjoy spending my free time with others, especially if I had a husband?"Thanks for the kind gestures, but I don't think I would love to spend my free time with someone other than my husband," I politely declined her offer, wearing a smile on my face."That's too bad then. We would have had a lot of fun," she responded, sounding a little disappointed with my reply."Maybe next time," I said, trying to lift her spirits a bit. She gave me a slight smile in return.Leaving the kitchen, I made my way back to my room, still holding the money in my hands. As I stared at it, I couldn't help but think of how proud my parents would be that I had earned my first paycheck, all thanks to Juliet. Speaking of Juliet, I should give her a call to let her know about my day off so w
"There will be a promotion," Annabel exclaimed excitedly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation."Anna, what the hell! For a moment, I was scared it was something really serious," Juliet said, a mixture of relief and slight annoyance evident in her voice."It is something serious," Annabel replied, feeling a tinge of disappointment at Juliet's reaction to the news."I knew about the promotion already, I just never really said anything about it," Juliet admitted, noticing the disappointment on Annabel's face.Annabel's smile returned, albeit slightly subdued. "I'm just a little excited about it, and that means I'll have to put in even more effort.""That's the spirit, Anna! You'll be able to save up enough money from it," Juliet encouraged, her eyes filled with genuine support."That's the plan, and when I do, I'll quit and start my very own café," Annabel excitedly declared, her dream taking shape in her mind."That sounds like a fantastic plan, and I'll always be here to give you my un
The revelation about Annabel's alleged marriage left Andrew in a state of confusion. He found himself questioning everything, unsure of what to believe anymore. Determined to uncover the truth, he made a decision to clandestinely follow Annabel wherever she went, hoping to confirm his recent discovery.Unbeknownst to Annabel, she had an unexpected companion on this particular day. Andrew discreetly trailed behind her, keeping a watchful eye on her every move. "I will get to the bottom of this today," he muttered to himself, his determination unwavering.Annabel, blissfully unaware of Andrew's presence, was excited to spend the day indulging in her own company. However, little did she know that someone was shadowing her steps, observing her every move.She decided to visit Vanity Fare, a place she had always wanted to go. It held sentimental value for her, as she used to frequent it with her mother during their rare moments together. Annabel arrived at the amusement park, ready to imme
Andrew's POVI knew I had to intervene before things spiraled out of control. Annabel was clearly intoxicated, her judgment impaired, and it was never my style to take advantage of someone in that state."Why did you stop? I really like it," she whined, her words slurring."You're drunk, Annabel, and you need to get home now," I said firmly, my tone commanding."No, I don't want to go home. This is my day off, and I choose to have as much fun as possible," she insisted, her words a jumbled mess. Despite her drunken state, I couldn't help but find her cute in a vulnerable sort of way."Stand still. You're going to hurt yourself," I said, reaching out to steady her as she teetered dangerously."Oops, sorry," she giggled without any apparent reason. "I want to tell you something," she added, moving closer to me. Intrigued, I braced myself for whatever foolishness she was about to utter, given her level of intoxication."What do you want to say?" I asked, genuinely curious."Just come clo
Annabel's heart was still fluttering as she touched her lips, unable to believe that she had shared her first kiss with a complete stranger. "What were you thinking, Anna?" she scolded herself, lightly tapping her head with embarrassment. The worst part was that she had no recollection of who had kissed her. She tried to recall the moment, but all that came to her was a painful headache. It was hard to believe that her first kiss had been with someone unknown to her. Nevertheless, she decided to set aside her confusion for the time being and focus on her work.As Annabel diligently went about her duties, she couldn't help but notice the strange glares coming from Mrs. Jones, one of the other staff members. Tempted to ask her why she was staring, Annabel thought better of it and decided to concentrate on her tasks instead.Just then, Mrs. Torres entered the kitchen, catching everyone's attention. "Mrs. Jones!" called the ma'am, addressing her with authority."Yes, ma'am," Mrs. Jones pr
Annabel found herself standing in place, an unshakable stillness gripping her as a sea of thoughts surged within her mind, rendering her momentarily mute.Across the ornate dining table, Tracy's expression took on a sly curve as she delicately sliced into a piece of meat on her fine china plate. Her voice sliced through the tense atmosphere. "What's troubling you, Annabel?" Tracy inquired, struggling to cut the meat, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, including Annabel, who was visibly perplexed.Attempting to regain her composure, Annabel stood up straight, determined not to let her voice falter. "Uh, nothing," she stammered, her attempt to sound collected.Tracy leaned in, her gaze drilling into Annabel's eyes as she repeated her question. "Then answer me this – shouldn't you be wearing your wedding ring?"Andrew's sharp, piercing eyes remained fixed on Annabel. He couldn't help but notice her discomfort, and he muttered a curse under his breath, aimed squarely at Tracy