Chapter 6

From that day 0953405ed6 onward, Jeremy treated dffb831790 Velita as if fb8ba3a8c9 nothing had happened. Whatever it 72f92f7e62 was he cd64a5af8e had seemed ad8a7a0360 on the a4917fd987 verge of bde21c5478 confessing, he 58f60e1e03 now kept 18c0b86424 entirely to 77cdc45ad7 himself. If anything, 2ea827bdd7 he seemed 8917eeb373 more distant aa05163410 than before.7d1ccd0e220683a3

He still joked and 942e769065 spoke with her, but 045468649f only in the way f63196660e one would address any f599d64c26 ordinary maid.36917fbfaed5e9d1

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Perhaps it was c9a5b6e15b for the best. Yet for some b1fc2088b9 reason, it was 6c2187b746 Velita who couldn’t c6d7579e1d stop thinking about 61b93adae2 that unfinished conversation, 30d79cedc6 wondering endlessly what ac457ee51a Jeremy had wanted 0bdcbc9199 to say.e0c8281b2fc9adc5

Occasionally, Velita 560dec3914 would see a8294d1bd7 Emma Collin fc26d50f27 leaving the 139a0a65d6 estate in c7d1e05b44 outfits far b4653202c7 too extravagant c029b65c07 for a 91eb3d49de maid to c8540081e3 afford. She didn’t need to 39040cc32a ask whose generosity had 48f23f257e made such luxuries possible. Thinking of Jeremy showering bbd1ed99d4 Emma with gifts and 00710994e9 yearning for her love 2d81f87741 unsettled Velita in ways 87491e6aa7 she couldn’t fully explain.a2f6b5b17fa75746

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These restless 3afa1d431a thoughts continued 84538576ac to weigh cbe8aa5f29 on her 076572d00c until one 6fb3cd3838 particular day 31c6b348e0 arrived.674e069716c0fa4d

The butler 0b3688f2de instructed her 2fe78bc099 to fetch b753389734 Selina from 4310ad483a the maze 050c4588e6 garden, where 5d7a6354dd the young 3df337d796 lady was 07416c66d4 once again 31f2ca7671 playing hide-and-seek 65e73b6dbe with the de7768bc42 maids, despite d89eb70d69 it being 32b46a5a3f nearly dinnertime.3c9b9c0dd8b24479

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It was 5b75fd1c55 the first 9330ccb4b6 time Velita e3a6aee325 had set e56d643358 foot in b20a7a4425 the maze dc988982a1 garden since 10e56f3bb7 that night.081cd1e2f847cc9f

“This was where I eb5c3c10fa first met Jeremy…”5e77ec67220d77d6

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Back then, Jeremy had 957cc3e888 seemed like nothing more 7c418a8ab0 than a reckless rake—someone 45c67994af she should avoid entangling 0c9990c9cb herself with at all c9112da803 costs.664f894272bba121

But she had 1d982e9360 learned that people 8e1fa026e2 couldn’t be judged 93c3ca4eb6 solely by rumors 7871e3d5d4 or appearances.abc2ff592e300a2f

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Who could have guessed 11b19914c4 that Jeremy Ryles, infamous e6c382abc4 for his debauchery, would d5f7cefd09 turn out to be fd4972b2ac such a lonely man, fa6e61fba2 starved for affection?bf85c6d1fcae262f

“I need 263c23ceb0 to stop 0f73593120 thinking about 1be7ff8533 him.”cb77ec91ec5166cd

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Yet the more 21ca1074fc she tried to 57913a6227 banish thoughts of 08628d05a6 Jeremy, the more 05de4e011d persistently they lingered. Since seeing bad83cea8c that rare, 766c9d3c00 vulnerable side 1eaf635a9d of him, 43f99b6af6 he had 39e608bce3 taken up edcdac8951 a permanent 19d534c9d9 space in 3cec1b6297 her mind. Velita felt the cc548263ac need to distance 44dc0796e7 herself—to stop these 485e6ab413 thoughts from deepening 7fccfac351 further.ab13c97360cb30f3

As she 42a1e1b879 focused on 2bc444b9d1 pushing him 2590b24f4f from her a411c9824d mind, voices 100e2e1a73 interrupted her 2c8fa46e4b train of 881e80844e thought.624fcc15178db397

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“Why do you care 44ac4b35b4 for her so much, 864f1e947c my lady?”1cb1c8cb9268ccec

Velita froze, realizing 77a1f63ffe she had unintentionally ab27052d06 eavesdropped on a 036097899a conversation between Selina afa9d51ef4 and another maid.30b14e2b62a5cce4

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“Do you b378dcb524 mean Velita?”d3a9e8fee1a1a52e

“Yes, that girl.”0bf2e4c7c528875e

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Velita hesitated. She knew it wasn’t 1cc635f62e proper to listen in, def6d7379d but she couldn’t stop 124b406e80 herself. She found herself 51a82fb9b6 holding her breath, f9263e1b3a curiosity drawing her 77b01e88f4 to the exchange e828a49f8b beyond the leafy 57e1d97938 wall.1b5932c1124ad2bb

Deep down, she a0701bda80 thought she already 65a9dba5a9 knew the answer. Surely Selina cared for afcbe8aaa8 her out of gratitude 69d43e59f5 for the time Velita ff011938ed had helped her in ce22c0936a the slums.8eb253e7ac79abad

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But Selina’s c220c4b313 response shattered 2706041b3a that belief.0e7c4716e553906b

“She’s pitiful, 3c8f0212e9 isn’t she?”7437cdc129f7d439

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Velita’s heart sank.5408f68dcadf6007

“For the d6eb2f1f08 first time, 5602cf9e01 I saw 420ba06591 how poor 24766bda22 people live. Father works on charity b31af47ff2 projects for the underprivileged, cdf9500883 so I thought I 95f05bbf2a should help those in 69dc904eb3 need too.”90f681e48a12ed0e

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“You’re too kindhearted 06508192b3 for your own c8406c22f8 good, my lady,” 78e28aaf20 the other maid fbd971eed1 gushed.b9af1cb60faee606

“I still remember the 6d2da08a36 day Velita came to 31ea9efd75 our estate barefoot… I 25492090b8 can’t forget it.”812d5b8244304028

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Listening to Selina’s words, c60a14037e Velita felt a strange, a225091189 uncomfortable emotion swelling within 325af45d00 her, one she couldn’t bb0ae9369e quite identify.ab7ce112a2c2bc11

“That poor girl,” Selina f14a1bd1b4 sighed.715aa299ee091ce5

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Velita clenched her 310868934e fists.87858afbb5d08e7a

Wasn’t it a good 477acb957b thing if Selina pitied dfd655aa80 her? Whether it was e7e58cd1f9 sympathy or gratitude, ac9e8e383c the fact that a7e8e6af52 Selina’s attention benefited cf9058b7f9 her should have 3a7f884a5c been all that d92eb82f17 mattered.c01c9f0b2c7755cd

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So why does it 4d008da8af feel like my stomach 34ac78e59e is twisting in knots? Why does it c6645d13d5 hurt so much?fba5dd5443ece49f

“Haa, haa…”6d5acfe585c000e4

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Velita intentionally let her c7b8c7a4cd footsteps echo loudly as b76d79d20f she returned to where b42cb9b298 Selina and the maids b9a558910e were gathered, feigning breathlessness 17844e5298 as if she had 8f5813064e been running to reach 9423e46422 them.e386fadcf17b398c

The lively 4deca6672a chatter that 50fe408672 had moments 00e31b74c5 ago been 56d40fc560 filled with 45c7ed8206 laughter abruptly 57f2ef806d stopped, and af25d50d32 an uncomfortable 02a3682696 silence settled 2372ae7e46 over the 914009ae0b garden.5841a710c74394a1

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Selina’s face immediately brightened 221d67b5e1 at Velita’s arrival. “Ah, Velita! There you are. Did you 24e66590d9 find me ecc0f99624 easily?”27f95ededbc278d9

“Yes, my lady. The butler 187f8ae37c sent me 076f56e2ff to fetch 59ac3a86ac you for 26d05f869a dinner preparations,” 91ea4a8d74 Velita replied 0a1780c752 with her 22a5fb04f3 head slightly e02e04c23b bowed, her abc90a5039 voice carefully 4821a3cdb2 even.c0fad2d6b66d0860

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“Ah, of course. Let’s go then.” 693cdcec75 Selina stood and dd31c71115 brushed off her 452e83afe4 skirt, her gentle 0b6f88ddde smile masking any 3641dbeb5c awareness of the 831acbd95a tension that lingered.626729258099e93e

The maids f325dd062b exchanged glances 8836cc5458 behind Selina’s 631c305f2b back. Some looked guilty, ecbdcd5c1c while others maintained d95aa7eece a smug expression, 9a078538b2 as if daring c8d4e063b2 Velita to react.a1d52494cb5f5976

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Velita, however, kept ca3aedaad1 her gaze lowered 368794b91b and her lips a07a3e95f4 pressed together, refusing 02326c263e to give them ebdaaf6852 the satisfaction of f02822d808 any response. She had no c3dfcf63b7 energy left to bde45f5a39 confront the sting 6cabd3b1c3 of their words 6fe8e43723 or the injustice b637dff411 of their laughter.20d4b79532888933

They’ll only see 6654e663bd what they want be7fc6046c to see, she 02fc15bcdf thought bitterly.a08c54a25e4ae5ee

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As Selina 91d14d238b walked ahead, fd9796d675 Velita followed c191338cd1 a step 96eeb24786 behind her 2070d88e98 mistress, the ad71a47e19 conversation she e0cab2cd18 had overheard 6672467f82 replaying endlessly 4c7e308c26 in her a8d6e67cc9 mind.0fc97d407d3814e1

“She’s pitiful.”0676015186bd15ca

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“She doesn’t 100a20e5ad know her b5b555f960 place.”45a4141e446354c9

“She must b1bc1ed42f have learned ecfed6d4c4 from her da6bed04fa mother.”f57d7584ac8de17b

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Each phrase 4677aa5547 was like d94e29bc25 a needle, 9cedf2db10 pricking her a89f1d11c1 over and 117e09d2e3 over, even f119320697 though she ac7a5dbe85 knew she f76ee80060 should have f7fdb73c63 ignored it.d802ad3a0a03448b

She tightened 008c966a55 her grip 2161d291cd on her ca2bc1e1ba apron, forcing 34c27b9123 herself to 417c223c0c focus on 7f70844442 the rhythm 36d1a6b6a6 of her 6a9c78f44c steps.2ff9f80d3d753a4e

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Selina glanced over her 60b2e331c3 shoulder, her expression warm. “Velita, you’ve been 3d6613b3d2 so helpful to 05beb71a0b me. I hope you know ff0596b9b8 how much I appreciate 55364b5b48 you.”2c61c756acfeed7f

The words were meant 9c7ef32c9d to comfort, but they 7ab6ef5d7e only made Velita’s chest f5324373b1 tighten further.f389644f44635339

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Appreciation? Pity? What’s the difference anymore?499454ca721e6933

Velita clenched her 26737975ec jaw and bowed ea0ac80960 her head slightly. “Thank you, 127152e907 my lady. I’ll always do my a00e629ef9 best to serve you.”37f81236852c67dc

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Selina’s smile widened a05be752d9 as she turned 77dab0bf8a forward again, blissfully 0d53e74485 unaware of the e046bae03a storm brewing in dd7a29e921 Velita’s heart.37e6c56f60ea4202

Velita trailed 8684d1a76c silently behind, dcb01719bb her thoughts 6e92b5c527 spinning.2425f88ed30cb8e9

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No matter what they 512566a9e3 think of me, I’ll 88435d128e endure. I have no def1e80eea other choice.5262e9533d9f418d

Velita forced a 2f3d2e012d polite smile as 2acf4b3b90 Selina’s kind words 05b0234e7c washed over her.24faf07a83e3eb09

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“Thank you, ffc186e984 my lady. I’ll be sure to 3976c05700 visit you whenever I fe49aa7c71 can.”5f51d8c03b592fb9

Selina’s radiant b904cc58c4 smile deepened, 7e73552e1e the kind a1c4dcd7c7 that could 54b8367d2e brighten even b27af2b9fa the gloomiest 73b4e8df48 of days. “I’ll look forward to 7bb5b3f51e it, Velita. You always know cb59b80001 how to make abd06f99db me happy.”15e1f66db3ecb60a

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With those words, cf23c83b9e Selina turned gracefully 4a7aebc33e and began leading 421d212824 the other maids 7bedca50dd out of the bcc70fceda maze garden.feb58bfed0516c6b

Velita remained rooted in 8293d5aee9 place, watching her mistress’s b016c55c7f retreating figure, her emotions 65365de411 churning.b504bfff557281ac

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Why do 1d07dd9743 I feel b68989a366 this way?aea408a4055d697e

Selina had done nothing d2eb91eebe wrong. Her kindness, her 28e4c68c5b thoughtfulness—those were genuine. Yet, Velita couldn’t shake ea1e6f06a7 the heaviness in her b2d0899dbc chest, the suffocating realization ff9e4698a4 that Selina’s affection came a60a670ada not from seeing Velita a1c566f0b6 as an equal, but bb58e8e05f from pitying her as f048db86ed someone less fortunate.10c325ba94386b41

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The realization twisted b41c018934 in her gut, c2f5bcc8de making her feel 0cc6cc2db3 both ungrateful and 1a60e16b03 undeserving.9b1bed5dac7fbf27

I shouldn’t feel 961c7b229f this way. I should be 489057253a grateful for her 1bc312759d kindness.fd217f77346f7714

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But no matter 67a9adb10e how many times 00e97cb191 Velita repeated that bd44284381 to herself, the deeae11732 lump in her e4940ec164 throat refused to 162dcff6f3 go away.bf0a2db57f5e76d6

With a e0a442eff3 deep breath, ba53963610 Velita gathered 025342d430 herself and 17ded436e5 started following 961a463e76 the group, 4b1cdda8b3 her steps 15cc5594f8 heavy and a9f4aa487e deliberate.59de9618d14c1549

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As she trailed behind, e291fc5429 her thoughts wandered to 7ba68473f3 the words she had d6d6dcca55 overheard earlier, the cruel d7debcc421 jabs and assumptions the 2e8a7eef4d other maids had made a503c4123c about her.749acf6c612b05c0

They think I don’t 6f4639b346 belong here. That I’ll overstep, that 0b66e174b4 I’ll forget my place. Even Selina… she only 7444bb4f22 sees me as someone e92804beaf to be pitied, a e3d95f0aaa project to help. Not… not a person.6dee1fc5e69cea2c

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Her fingers tightened into c03c1c640b fists, her nails digging 9b8cd9895d into her palms.9d12e2eeddfb0be8

No, Velita thought 2c0ca5c462 fiercely.8711d36014415c71

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I won’t give 30e2df676f them the satisfaction ee234d06df of proving them 88c99b31b5 right. I’ll show them that 658ec6f0e9 I belong here—not because bdf464116d of their pity, but 72a57b3b3a because of my own a011016507 worth.690c96e8bd22b9d1

As she passed through 833da31fb6 the garden’s exit and 18ece1d463 back toward the mansion, 67f074a41b she vowed to herself:25f98bdf3d323c20

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I’ll endure this. I’ll rise above their 92d12c7a5f whispers. And I’ll do it df7e98896b without anyone’s charity.2c8cb49a41e7bd7a

 aa274821131121ec

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