Chapter 8 LILY'S POV

A chill ran through me–not from the air conditioning, but from the realization that my worst nightmare was becoming a reality. Victoria –of all people–was not only here but living in the same mansion... and she might soon become the young master's wife.

If I had known she'd be here, that she'd be this close to me again, I would've stayed home. I would've given up this job before it even began.

Everyone was clapping, smiling, and praising the master's future wife. But not me. To them, she was a goddess in heels, glowing with elegance. To me, she was a serpent in designer silk. Maybe I wouldn't hate her this much if not for what she and her mother did. I try to forget, but some things carve too deep.

"Lily, what's wrong?"

"Huh?" I blinked, pulled back to reality.

Emma tilted her head. "I've called you, like, four times now. You didn't even blink. You okay?"

I forced a small smile. "Yeah... I'm fine. Just thinking."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

She looked at me a little longer, then glanced toward Victoria. "She's beautiful, but... I don't know. I feel bad energy coming from her."

"What do you mean?"

She smiled. "I have this gift. I can tell when someone has a good heart. That's why I got close to you. You're kind. Gentle."

I laughed softly. "You're funny."

"I'm serious! But I'm jealous of your talent too. Maybe you're right. Maybe she's not so nice after all."

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Have you met her before?"

"Not really," I lied.

"You sure? You've been staring at her since we got here."

"I just... don't know her like that."

The welcome speech came to an end, and we were told to return to our rooms and get ready for work the next day. But before that, tradition demanded we offer our respects to Victoria with a formal bow as she walked past.

Just as she approached our side, Emma's phone started ringing. In a panic, she fumbled and dropped it. The noise turned heads-and caught Victoria's attention.

She stopped walking. Her eyes landed on me.

She walked forward, slowly, stopping right in front of me. Her smile was soft. Deceptively so.

"Hmm... I feel like I know you," she said. "Haven't we met before?"

My stomach dropped. I forced a calm expression. "No, ma'am. I don't think so."

Her eyes didn't move. "No... I've definitely seen your face before."

"Miss Victoria," Maud, the chief maid, stepped in. "Lily is one of our new staff members."

"Oh?" Victoria looked at her, then back at me. "Where is she assigned?"

"She's under the young master, ma'am," Maud replied. "Handpicked by Madam Katherine herself–for her beauty, intelligence, and cleanliness."

Victoria's smile twitched. "Beauty, of course. My mother never disappoints."

She took a step closer. "Come here, Lily."

I hesitated, but moved forward, heart pounding.

"So beautiful... my dear Lily."

That wasn't a compliment. That was a threat dressed in silk.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she whispered. "Seems no one knows where you're from... or what you are."

I froze.

"Wouldn't it be tragic if people found out you were the daughter of a prostitute? A one-night mistake?" Her voice was low, her smile unchanging. "Do you think anyone would still look at you the same way? Your so-called friends, your admirers? You'd be trash in their eyes. I could make them hate you. I could make them bully you."

Her words hit like cold steel in my chest.

"Please..." My voice trembled. "Please don't."

I wasn't just begging for peace. I was begging for my life.

I couldn't afford to lose this job-not after everything. If I did, my life would crumble again, worse than before. I wouldn't survive it. Not this time.

She stepped back, satisfied with the fear she planted, and walked away, her smirk cutting deeper than her words.

Emma rushed to my side as soon as she left. I exhaled heavily, like I'd been holding my breath for hours.

"What did she say?" she asked.

"Nothing," I lied. "Nothing important."

Emma was good. Kind. But I couldn't trust anyone. Not fully. People change, sometimes faster than we imagine.

That night, we were given a short break to call or visit loved ones before the job officially began. I didn't waste time. I went straight to the hospital.

I collected the nurse's number so I could call and check on my mom's health regularly.

When I entered the room and told her about Victoria, her face turned pale.

"Leave, Lily," she said firmly. "Quit that job."

"Mom–"

"You remember what they did to us? The way they beat me? The way her mother slapped me? That family is dangerous, baby. And now she's not just there–she's the young master's fiancée. They're family friends. They'll make life unbearable for you."

"Mom, I can't quit. I won't run from this. I'm not a coward. I'll face it. I'll win."

She began to cry. "They'll hurt you... They will. I should've never had you. I should've gone to the hospital and ended the pregnancy. Maybe then you wouldn't be suffering like this."

"Mom!" I shouted, tears stinging my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she whispered again and again.

She'd said this before, many times. But it still broke me, every single time.

I wiped my tears and stood to leave. But she grabbed my hand, her grip weak but desperate.

"If it becomes too much, promise me you'll leave. Don't let them destroy you. Come back to me, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay, ma."

I walked out, her words echoing in my mind like a haunting drumbeat.

They'll hurt you.

They'll wound you.

But I couldn't give up. Not now. Not when I'd finally gotten this far.

Still, the question lingered in my heart as I returned to the Kingsley mansion:

If you were me... what would you do?