Chapter 1 The secret.

Delia POV.

"Scrub properly!"

The sharp voice made me flinch.

Tonia, the highest ranked maid, stood at the entrance of the kitchen with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her cold eyes moved over me with disgust.

"You missed a spot."

I scrambled back to the spot I'd missed, scrubbing hard, one hand pressed to my chest in silent apology.

"Be sorry for your existence." Her voice was flat, almost bored.Important guests are arriving tonight. If the boss sees this mansion dirty, I'll make sure your life becomes even more miserable than it already is."

I lowered my gaze immediately and nodded.

She scoffed in irritation and walked away.

The moment she disappeared around the corner, I let out the breath I'd been holding.

My knees ached. My back ached. Everything ached.

Two years inside the De Morgan mansion had taught me one thing clearly: invisible people survived longer. And I was invisible. The lowest maid. The unwanted one. The girl nobody defended when the others blamed me for missing items or unfinished chores.

I'd come here at seventeen, dropped off like something left behind  hoping for a fresh start, hoping to survive long enough to leave. So far, luck hasn't found me.

Thunder shook the mansion, sudden and violent.

---

Lazarus De Morgan and his men entered the mansion with a dark presence that hovered around the building. A devilish, ominous aura swallowed the halls  like a ticking bomb waiting to go off. His men moved like shadows behind him, ruthless in their silence, deadlier for how they stared and signaled to each other.

He was known to be an impatient man, he liked things done quickly, neatly, exactly as he ordered. So the mansion stayed orderly at all times whenever he was around. No mistakes. No dust. No dirt. No noise.

I was in the garden, cutting rose stems, lost in thought about my own sad life, when I heard footsteps I didn't recognize. By the time I came to my senses, it was already too late. He came earlier than I expected so I'd lost track of time.

Lazarus burst into the garden, his men trailing a careful distance behind him, close enough to obey, far enough to avoid his temper. A phone was pressed hard to his ear, his knuckles pale around it.

"Say that again, he said. His voice was thick and husky, his accent smooth despite the danger under it  dominant, strong. Strong enough that the men behind him went still and looked away. All except one  his right-hand man black, who stayed fixed at his side.

I froze near the rose bushes, a basket of clipped stems forgotten at my feet. I hadn't heard him coming the rain had covered his footsteps. I knew I wasn't supposed to be there. Now it was too late to disappear.

"Two months,  Lazarus continued, and Vittorio still hasn't signed the transfer.  A pause. "He'd better pray I don't have to come there myself because if I do, it won't end in a conversation."

He paused again, listening.

"Pass the phone to Vittorio."

A moment later, his voice sharpened. "Two months, and the estate files are yet to be signed. Was that part of our arrangement?

Even from where I stood, I could hear the man on the other end  pleading, breaking.

"Please, Don De Morgan." His voice cracked audibly. "I'll pay you back  every cent, I swear it on my wife and daughter's lives. That estate is all my family has left. Just give me time. I'm begging you."

Lazarus let the silence drag out a bit, Long enough that the man's breathing turned torn on the other end. Then he laughed , low, humorless.I don't need your wife. I need something more precious to you.

You swore on your daughters, Lazarus said sinisterly. His tone was calm, almost laughable, which made it infinitely scarier. "Interesting choice. Most men swear on things they're not actually afraid to lose."

He paused, Smirking.

"Sarah and Mia, isn't it?" Lazarus murmured, a cruel smirk touching his lips. "I hear they're both very close by these days. It would be a shame if something happened to such beautiful girls. Especially the busty one Sarah I'm sure my men would find them... very entertaining to play with.

"Please!! Don't touch them, please!!" the man screamed.

"I haven't touched a hair on either of them yet, Vittorio." Lazarus's voice hardened. Though I did have to deal with one of your men last week. Found him sneaking around my property, taking pictures of every man who walked through my gates photographing my meetings, my associates, anyone he thought you'd pay well to know about. Unfortunately. "He won't be reporting back to you. Not anymore."

My blood ran entirely cold. What a monster, I thought, my heart beating violently against my ribs.

I'll be keeping a close eyes on your daughters.

He laughs devilishly.

"Noo..please, I..."

Lazarus cut him off. You have until Friday to pay up or sign the papers. I want you to spend every hour until then understanding exactly what you're about to lose.

He didn't wait for a response. He hung up.

My whole body had gone rigid somewhere around "Busty" "i'm sure my men would find them entertaining" and the killing of his associate!  What a Monster I thought to myself, I didn't remember deciding to step backward. My feet just moved on their own, the way they might if I'd touched something too hot or cold to keep holding.

Move move now! Before he turns around

A step, then another. Slow. Careful. My eyes never left Lazarus's back.

I just needed to reach the hedge line. Disappear back into my invisible existence before he or his right-hand man saw me.

My heels were a bit noisy so I bent quickly, fumbling to slip off my heels so my footsteps wouldn't give me away  and that was when my hand mistakenly pushed the edge of a stone planter.

The terracotta wobbled, I prayed silently and fearfully that it would settle back in place

But I guess my luck ran out, cause it didn't.

BOOM!

It tipped and shattered against the floor, spilling the soil and broken stem of white roses across the wet path.

The sound was intense. In the dead quiet Lazarus had left behind him after ending the call, it might as well have been a gunshot or bomb.

I froze in place, still holding one shoe dangling from my finger, my breath caught up and I couldn't breathe or move. In that instant I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

Lazarus turned around in fury and our eyes locked in...