Chapter 5 Adjusting to a New Life

Sophie woke up early, the familiar routine ingrained in her mind. She quietly made her way to the kitchen, still half-asleep, but driven by the sense of duty that had been drilled into her for as long as she could remember.

It was barely dawn, the mansion still shrouded in silence, and for a moment, she felt a flicker of peace. But the tranquillity quickly vanished as her thoughts drifted back to the life she had left behind.

Without thinking, she tied her hair into a loose bun, grabbed the apron hanging on the kitchen wall, and started cleaning. She scrubbed the counters, mopped the floor, and wiped every surface until it sparkled. There was something comforting about the rhythmic motions, something that kept her mind busy and away from the harsh memories of Vanessa and Clarissa's daily torment.

By the time the sun peeked over the horizon, Sophie had already finished cleaning the house. She moved on to the dishes and then began preparing breakfast. She worked quickly, instinctively, slicing vegetables, whipping eggs, and frying bacon until the kitchen was filled with the warm, inviting aroma of a home-cooked meal. She set the table meticulously, just as she had done countless times before, and stepped back to survey her work. For a brief moment, she felt a twinge of satisfaction.

It wasn't until she heard the sound of footsteps behind her that she remembered where she was. This wasn't her stepmother's house. She wasn't a maid here; she was Alexander Drake's wife, the young lady of the household. But old habits died hard, and Sophie had spent so long living as a servant that she had almost forgotten her new reality.

Alexander stood in the doorway, watching her with a mix of frustration and something else he couldn't quite place. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable.

What are you doing?"

Sophie froze, the duster slipping from her hand. "I... I was just cleaning."

Ethan's recent findings about Sophie's past weighed heavily on his mind. It wasn't hard to see why she defaulted to cleaning and cooking-habits ingrained in her after years of mistreatment at the hands of her stepmother and stepsister. Alexander knew he shouldn't care, but the thought of Sophie living as a servant in her own home, unappreciated and unloved, sparked an anger he couldn't quite justify.

His jaw clenched. "I told you to leave that to the staff. You don't have to do this anymore."

Sophie swallowed, suddenly aware of how out of place she must have looked. "I made breakfast. I thought... I thought you might like to eat something before you go to work."

Alexander remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the food.

"You don't have to do this," Alexander said coldly, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "The maids are here for a reason. You're not a servant anymore, Sophie. Stop acting like one."

Sophie flinched at his harsh tone, her hands clasping together nervously. "I know," Sophie said quietly, her eyes downcast. "But it's hard to break old habits.

Her words hit Alexander harder than he expected. He saw the pain behind her resilience, the scars from a life that had been anything but kind. And in that moment, he realized that he wasn't the only one fighting demons. Sophie had her own battles, and he was beginning to see that she was stronger than he'd ever given her credit for.

Alexander glanced at the breakfast she had prepared. The smell was intoxicating-warm, savory, and inviting in a way that reminded him of simpler times, times he couldn't afford to dwell on. He was tempted, if only for a moment, to sit down and taste the meal she had worked so hard to make. But the thought of indulging in something Sophie had done out of a misplaced sense of duty irritated him.

Alexander turned away frustrated, running a hand through his hair as he walked away. He didn't know how to handle this-this pull towards her that seemed to defy all logic.

Sophie watched as he walked away, her heart sinking. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, she could make things a little better between them. But Alexander's words felt like a slap to the face, a reminder that no matter how hard she tried, she would never truly belong in his world.

"Please, Alexander," she called out, her voice cracking slightly. "At least eat something before you go."

But he didn't turn back. He simply kept walking, his strides long and determined.

Sophie stood there, feeling foolish and unwanted, as Alexander disappeared down the hallway.

By the time Alexander reached the front door, Ethan was already waiting by the car, the engine idling softly. Alexander slipped into the back seat, barely acknowledging his assistant as he tugged at his tie, loosening it in frustration. He leaned back, staring out the window as the car pulled away from the mansion.

Ethan glanced at Alexander through the rearview mirror, sensing his boss's tension. "Rough morning?" he asked cautiously.

Alexander didn't answer right away. His mind was still on Sophie.

"Just drive," Alexander finally muttered, his voice gruff as he looked out the window, trying to push the image of Sophie from his mind.

Ethan nodded, sensing that his boss wasn't in the mood for conversation. He focused on the road, navigating the sleek black car through the bustling city streets. But even in the quiet, Alexander couldn't escape his thoughts.

He replayed the scene from the dining room in his head, her small frame standing by the table, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance. She was so different from the women he was used to-those who flocked to him for his wealth, power, or just the thrill of being seen on his arm. Sophie didn't want anything from him; she didn't try to seduce or manipulate. If anything, she seemed more intent on keeping her head down and staying out of his way.

And that was exactly what confused him. He had expected a scheming woman, one who would try to worm her way into his good graces to secure her place in his life. But Sophie was the opposite. She was cautious, almost skittish, and every time he lashed out, she shrank back, as though she was used to being treated with disdain.

Alexander ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the strands in frustration. He hated himself for feeling like a jerk, for seeing the hurt in her eyes and knowing he was the cause.

He didn't want to care; he didn't want to feel anything. But Sophie was making it hard to ignore the parts of himself he thought he'd buried long ago.

He glanced at the breakfast tray she had set up in his mind, the aroma still lingering in his senses. It was clear she had put thought and effort into it, and for a brief second, he regretted not sitting down and eating it. But he couldn't show that kind of weakness, not when he was still unsure of her intentions.

Alexander let out a frustrated breath. He didn't want to be this cold, but every time he got close to her, his mind was filled with doubts and the remnants of his past. As much as he wanted to trust her, something held him back-a nagging fear that she could be part of some scheme he hadn't yet uncovered.

He leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and letting out a slow breath. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get the better of him, not now. Not with Sophie.

As they approached his office, Alexander steeled himself, shoving his emotions back into the box he had carefully crafted for years. He had a business to run, an empire to maintain, and no time for the complications Sophie brought into his life.

But as he stepped out of the car and into the busy building, he couldn't deny that for the first time in a long while, his mind wasn't entirely focused on his work.

It was still on the woman he'd left behind in that mansion, and the unsettling realization that she was starting to mean more to him than he wanted to admit.