CHAPTER THREE: AT THE MANSION

PRESENT TIME

I took a deep breath before getting off in the car. There I could see the white mansion from the windshield.

"We are here." Sebastian said as he opened the door.

My heart is pounding so hard. It's been a while since I had felt something like this.

5 hours earlier

I took my phone and answered it. Just who the heck on earth would call me early in this morning, knowing today is Sunday.

"Hello? " I said trying not to fall asleep. Still on my pajamas and lying lazily on my bed.

"Greetings my lady, this is the head butler of the Necron residence," said by a familiar voice whom I haven't heard off for years.

"Sebastian, is this you? What brings your call?" I said trying not to sound cold.

"Yes its me Lady Maia. You're father is requesting your audience for today,"

"Why? Is there anything that happened in there "

"Yes milady, and your father is insisting you to come. It's been 5 years since your last visit in here. You're dad missed you."

" Okay, is there anything else?"

" Yes milady, your father will hold a banquet tonight to celebrate your sister's engagement. Master ordered me to picked you up in there, so please come in here."

End of flashback

"Is there anything wrong milady?"

I could felt the Butler's solicitude in his words. Sebastian was like a father to me. Ever since I was admitted to the household of the Necron. He is always there for me.

I could still remembered well, those small secrets that I'd shared with him and those small talks about the things that we shared interest with when I was still a young. Sebastian always knew my own preferences and not. And aside from my friend Nikshi, he could even tell what I think.

"I'm perfectly fine," I calmly stated.

For once again I took a depth breath on which I always do whenever I'm anxious, before setting a foot outside. Every steps I took feels heavy. As if they are chains being attached from my ankles. If it's not for my stepdad, I wouldn't wanted to be in here at the first place. I don't want to see my sister and Hoven on each others arms. Exchanging honeyed coated words and other stuffs. But it would be coward of me to do such thing. I know I need to face this, and there's nothing I could do about it. And besides few weeks from now, Hoven would become a part of the family so I need to accept and get used to it.

"Maia! You're here!" A young looking maid exclaimed the moment I had reached the front hall. Sebastian cleared his throat. The maid suddenly realized that she was being impolite.

"Greetings Lady Maia, please forgive me for my discourtesy," the maid bow to me. It's so good to see my favorite female servant in this house that it made me comfortable and feel welcomed once again.

"It's okay Nancy," I beamed at her. The maid was delighted because it's rare for me to do such thing.

"If you wouldn't mind may I take my leave? I need to inform the master about your arrival lady Maia," Sebastian said. I nodded in response "Nancy please escort milady," he added before leaving.

I stared at his back for a few seconds before moving.

The aromatic smell of roses filled the air as we passed on the massive garden outside. I paused at the nearest huge arched window and watched the maze like, vibrant hedge roses in white, pink and red displayed in the lawn surrounding the immense ivory gazebo stood at the center.

"So pretty... They reminds me of Lady Rosalind." Nancy blurted out.

I can't help myself and took a glanced on her. Nancy was staring at the garden with a great wonder, yet at the same a hint of longing and sadness. Suddenly the maid realized of what she had said, her face was horrified. I looked away at her and then continued to move. It's been a while since I heard of that name. The name of my mother who had passed away on a plane crash 6 years ago.

"I'm sorry milady, I shouldn't have said that," the maid squeak from behind.

"Come here... Please walk beside me." I said. She hesitated at first but anyways did what I said.

Nancy is already 46 and one of the oldest maid who serve the Necron Family. She started working in here when she was 24 and became my mom's personal maid for exactly 16 years. Aside from Sebastian, she's also the only maid whom I trusted the most and the closest to me.

"Don't hold yourself, it's okay if you talked about her,"

" But..."

" It's okay, it's been already six years since the plane crash. It won't bothered me anymore."

"Okay..."

"Good,"

"Miss Maia! Do you know what are these garden for?— It was your master gift for your mom. The master loves her so deeply that she gave her a majestic garden like this."

"I know, he built this garden as a reminder of my her."

"Your mom is lucky isn't she? You see milady... during your stay in your grandparents. She would always stared at your picture in her room."

"Really?"

"Yes and she wouldn't stop talking about you. That's why she was so happy on that day. The day of your arrival in this house. Your mom really loves you,"

" I can imagine that."

My father died before I was even born. My mom was a famous actress before and after giving birth to me, she left for the sake of her career. As you have known, I used to stayed in my grandparents house for 15 years, but unfortunately they died because of age.

I could still remembered that day, she came into the funeral. At first I didn't recognized her. I didn't knew she was my mom, because I grew up believing I'm an orphan. Of course I was shocked, when I had learned the truth. And all I could asked is why...Why did she left me behind?

She brought me in this house and I'm so scared, when I came here for the first time. What if they won't accept me? What if they'll treat me poorly? And what if, I'll just bring dishonor to this family? Those questions consumed me before but I was proven wrong.

" Um...if you don't mind milady asking me such a question...but... Do you resented her?"

"Resented her? No, not even once."

" Why? After all of those?"

" Most children in my situation would be mad at their parents. Well, I got dismayed at first, but I understand why she did that. That's the only thing I could do as her daughter. And besides, I'm happy. If it's not for her, I wouldn't be able to meet a kind and caring person like you."

"You're so kind Miss Maia, just like your mom and I'm happy meeting you too,"

The maid continued to talk to me about the things that happened inside the mansion during my absence. Though some may think that Nancy was being impolite , I didn't tell her to stopped. In fact I'm enjoying her accompany.

A few turns from left and right, we had reached the gallery. And what I saw made me sad once again. I saw a red hair guy inside and I know it is Hoven.

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