Chapter 3
I’d planned to tell David ahead of time, but he mocked me instead.
“Cora, don’t make me laugh! Marriage? Are you marrying a ghost? I’m telling you, when it comes to Helena, you better keep your jealousy in check!”
Then, he added, “Stop standing around–go take care of the things I asked you to handle. I don’t trust anyone else with this.”
Watching his back as he walked away, I finally understood that his care for me over the past ten years was nothing more than a way to distract himself when he missed Helena. But it didn’t matter. Just one more month, and I’d be out of his life for good.
Pushing through my exhaustion, I left to buy everything David had requested for Helena’s arrival. I spent the whole day running around. In the afternoon, I got a call from Erik.
“Cora, I… I already have the engagement ring ready,” he said. “I’ll have my assistant bring it over right now. Just send him your location, and I’ll be back in Seattle as soon as possible. Don’t worry, anything you need, just ask him–he’ll handle it all.”
Hearing Erik’s comforting words made my eyes sting, and my voice caught as I replied, “I’ll wait for you to come back.”
“Are you alright, Cora?”
“I’m fine, just didn’t sleep well.”
“Sweetheart, get some rest. You don’t need to worry about anything–I’ll take care of everything.”
Erik’s gentle care always made me want to cry and reminded me of those ten long years I’d waited up for David night after night. Even though he knew I was waiting, he still never cared to come home early.
Soon, Erik’s assistant delivered the ring, and without hesitation, I slipped it onto my ring
finger.
20.09
Chapter 3
At the same time, Helena was preparing to move into the Johnson household. David couldn’t sleep all night, and at one in the morning, he was still making me help him. decorate the room. Just before Helena arrived, he made a point of warning me.
“I suggest you drop any thoughts you shouldn’t be having and focus on your job,” he said. “If I notice anything against Helena… hmph!” He didn’t finish his sentence, just let out a cold snort for me to interpret.
But did I really need to? No one understood it better than I did. By now, though, I’d already
let go.
Helena arrived with little luggage–just a backpack–and a noticeable baby bump, suggesting she was in the late stages of pregnancy. David didn’t mind in the slightest; he rushed forward to welcome her warmly.
This was my first time seeing her, and she was truly beautiful, just as her name implied–stunning beyond words. As soon as she stepped inside, David started asking about her life abroad and shared countless fond memories. He held her pregnant belly with the tender care of a father.
Helena was pleased with the room I’d prepared for her, commenting, “Thank you, David. This is exactly my style, and you even thought of baby supplies!”
David gave me an approving look and then smiled at Helena. “It’s the least I could do. You’re probably still adjusting to being back, so I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“Oh, and who is this?” Helena asked, following David’s gaze to me.
I was about to introduce myself when David cut in, “She’s the daughter of our family’s maid. Her mother passed away early, and since her mother served our family for decades, my father took her in. After she graduated, she stayed on to serve here.”
Helena looked at me with a hint of surprise in her eyes, then walked over and picked up my hand. “A maid? Are you married?”
“Not yet. I’m getting married/next month.” I instinctively pulled my hand back and covered the ring with my palm.
nd Did
25.00
Chapter 4
