Soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Amelia’s room, washing everything in a warm golden glow.
Sylvia stirred beneath the blanket. A sleepy yawn escaped her lips as she stretched before reaching for the phone on the bedside table.
The screen lit up.
6:00 a.m.
"So early..." she murmured.
She pushed herself upright, and the blanket slid from her waist onto the mattress.
As she stood, a familiar scent drifted into her nose.
Amelia.
It was faint, but it was still there.
Sylvia couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. She lowered her head and took another slow breath, savoring the comforting fragrance.
"It still smells like her..."
The familiar scent made her heart flutter.
She slipped out of bed and padded barefoot across the polished marble floor. The cool surface sent a pleasant chill through her feet.
She reached for the door and quietly pulled it open and stepped into the hallway before closing it behind her with a soft click.
The mansion was quiet. Only the gentle tap of her footsteps echoed through the hallway as she made her way to her own bedroom.
She stopped in front of the door and rested her hand on the doorknob.
For a moment, she simply stood there.
The memories of the previous night washed over her all at once.
Amelia’s embrace.
Her gentle kisses.
The warmth of her arms.
The way she had looked into her eyes and called her, "My girl."
And most importantly, the sex they heard.
Sylvia’s cheeks slowly grew warm. She gently bit her lower lip before letting out a small, embarrassed laugh.
She closed her eyes and drew in a deep, steady breath.
"This feels really good."
Her heart fluttered at the memory.
When she opened her eyes again, they sparkled with happiness.
The familiar scent of her room greeted her, but somehow it no longer felt the same.
Everything reminded her of Amelia.
She walked over to the bedside table and placed her phone on it before walking toward the bathroom.
Still smiling to herself, she walked toward the bathroom, wrapped her fingers around the doorknob, gently pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
Sylvia walked over to the shower and turned the handle.
Warm water poured from the rainfall showerhead, quickly filling the bathroom with soft steam.
She stepped beneath it and closed her eyes.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as the warmth soaked into her skin, washing away the last traces of sleep.
For a few moments, she simply stood there, enjoying the comforting heat.
Then she reached for the bottle of body wash on the marble shelf and squeezed a little into her palm.
The fresh floral scent filled the bathroom as she worked it into a rich lather and slowly washed herself.
After rinsing it away, she shampooed her hair, gently massaging her scalp before washing out the foam. She followed it with conditioner, running her fingers through the silky strands until they felt smooth.
A few minutes later, she turned off the shower.
The steady sound of falling water faded, leaving the bathroom quiet once more.
She reached for a large white towel hanging on the rack and wrapped it around herself before picking up another towel to gently dry her damp hair.
Tiny droplets of water still clung to the ends as she stepped out of the bathroom.
She walked back into her bedroom, where the cool morning air brushed softly against her skin.
She walked over to her dressing table, picked up her skincare, and began her usual morning routine.
A sudden vibration broke the quiet.
Bzz!
Bzz!
Sylvia turned toward the bedside table and frowned when she saw her phone lighting up. She stood up and walked towards it.
Melissa.
She let out a quiet sigh before picking it up.
"Good morning."
"Your Highness!" Melissa’s cheerful voice exploded through the speaker. "Please tell me you’re awake!"
Sylvia immediately pulled the phone away from her ear.
"Melissa," she said flatly, "are you trying to make me deaf this early in the morning?"
Melissa laughed shamelessly. "Nope. Just making sure you don’t go back to sleep."
"I’ll be at your place by nine, so you’d better be ready."
Sylvia sighed as she walked back toward her dressing table and sat down.
"I still don’t want to go. You could’ve gone without dragging me along."
"I honestly don’t have the energy to smile, greet people, or spend hours shaking hands."
There was a brief silence. Then Melissa spoke again, her voice gentler this time.
"Sylvia... you’re eighteen now."
"You can’t keep hiding behind your pseudonym forever. One day, people will have to know who you really are."
Sylvia smiled faintly as she uncapped her body lotion.
"I had a feeling you’d say that."
She squeezed some into her palm and slowly rubbed it into her skin.
"So I started getting ready before you even called."
Melissa laughed. "Good."
"That saves me the trouble of dragging you out of bed. I’ll see you in a few hours."
"See you," Sylvia said and ended the call.
Sylvia lowered the phone and shook her head with an amused smile.
"That woman..."
She placed the phone back on the dressing table before continuing to apply the scented lotion to her skin.
The faint fragrance of jasmine and vanilla filled the room as the morning sunlight streamed quietly through the windows.
Sylvia stood up after a few minutes and walked toward the wardrobe.
She looked across the neatly arranged clothes before she reached for an oversized white shirt and a pair of beige shorts.
A few minutes later, she stepped out dressed, slipping on a pair of white sneakers before tying her hair into a low ponytail.
She crossed the room to the display cabinet that housed her collection of handbags.
After a brief glance, she picked up a small black designer shoulder bag and walked to the dressing table.
She sat down and applied a light layer of makeup.
When she was finished, she stared at her reflection for a moment.
A satisfied smile slowly curved her lips.
She picked up her phone and slipped it into her bag before opening the drawer of her bedside table.
Inside lay a neatly arranged folder. She took it out, closed the drawer, and tucked the folder into her bag.
Without another delay, she headed for the door.
A soft click echoed behind her as she stepped into the hallway.
She made her way downstairs at an unhurried pace.
The dining room was quiet.
Breakfast had already been laid out on the long dining table.
Freshly baked croissants, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, smoked salmon, bowls of freshly cut fruit, yogurt drizzled with honey, and glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice filled the table.
The comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.
Sylvia pulled out a chair, set her bag beside it, and sat down.
Mrs. Chloe walked in carrying a freshly filled jug of water.
"Good morning, Miss Sylvia."
"Morning, Mrs. Chloe."
Mrs. Chloe poured water into Sylvia’s glass before smiling.
"Are you going to see Miss Amelia this morning?"
Sylvia shook her head. "No."
"I’m attending a book launch."
"I see."
Mrs. Chloe nodded with a warm smile. "I hope everything goes well."
"Thank you."
With that, Mrs. Chloe quietly excused herself.
Sylvia reached for a plate and served herself breakfast.
As she ate, her gaze drifted to the empty chair across from her.
The seat Amelia usually occupied.
A small smile appeared on her lips before she lowered her eyes and continued eating.
Several minutes later, she finished her meal.
She wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin before standing up.
Just as she picked up her bag—
Bzz!
Bzz!
Her phone vibrated inside it.
She smiled. She didn’t even need to check the caller ID. She already knew who it was.
Walking out of the dining room, she slipped her hand into the bag, pulled out her phone, and answered the call.
"Where are you?" Melissa asked immediately.
"I’m coming out."
"Good."
Melissa paused for a beat. "Oh... and we have company."
Sylvia frowned slightly. "Company?"
"Mmm."
A mischievous smile was obvious in Melissa’s voice.
"Your man."
"Hey, Melissa. Don’t joke about things like that," Sylvia said as she stepped out of the mansion.
She pulled the door shut behind her with a soft click.
A laugh came from the other end of the line.
"You’ll find out when you get here."
Before Sylvia could ask another question, the call ended.
She lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen for a moment.
A small frown creased her forehead.
"My man?" She muttered the words under her breath, completely puzzled.
Who was Melissa talking about?
She shook her head, slipped her phone back into her bag, and continued walking toward the front gate.
Her eyes immediately found Melissa’s black Highlander parked just outside the gate.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she walked toward it.
She stopped beside the passenger window and tapped lightly on the tinted glass.
A second later, the window slid down with a soft hum.
Sylvia leaned in and then froze.
The smile vanished from her face the instant she recognized the person sitting beside Melissa.
For a second, she wondered if she was seeing things.
"What... Is he doing here?"
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