FOREVER YOURS

Just A Maid

Since all the years I’d spent with Mr. Noah, he never once mentioned having a child—certainly not a son. The sad truth hit me like a blow: I was nothing more than a maid to him.

For so long, I’d believed I was different, that I meant something more. He treated me kindly, guided me, even protected me... and I mistook that for love, for family. But now, reality stood before me, cold and unmoving...I was just a servant.

“Even if I’m nothing, I deserve the truth”

Nelson frowned, clearly confused.

“I’ll be back” I said quickly, before he could question me, and rushed up the stairs toward Mr. Noah’s room.

“Mr. Noah, I know you don’t consider me—”

The words died on my lips.

There he was, sitting on his bed, tears streaking down his wrinkled face.

For the first time in my life, I saw Mr. Noah broken. He looked vulnerable and helpless

“Sir!” I gasped, rushing to his side. I knelt beside the bed, clutching his trembling hand. “Mr. Noah, what happened? Talk to me, please.”

He looked at me, eyes clouded with something I couldn’t name, then slowly gestured for me to sit across from him. I obeyed, heart thundering.

“Mia,” he began, his voice low but firm, “from now on, you are dismissed.”

Everything inside me froze.

“You will no longer work here” he continued, the words cutting through the silence like glass.

“Sir—what??!” I shot to my feet, my voice breaking. “Mr. Noah, what have I done? Please… if I’ve offended you somehow, forgive me. Don’t send me away. Please, sir.”

He turned his gaze away. “Mia, you will submit your uniform, your keys, your ID, everything that belongs here before the end of tomorrow.”

“No… no, Mr. Noah!” Tears blurred my sight. “Is it because I came today? Did I forget your medication? Was the food too salty or too sweet? Please, talk to me!”

My voice cracked. “I’ve been here since I was sixteen. You can’t just end this without telling me why.”

I reached for his hand again, desperate. “I know you, Mr. Noah. I know you too well to believe this is what you truly want.”

He turned to face me, his eyes heavy with words he couldn’t seem to say.

“You will now work for him henceforth,” he said quietly.

My hands dropped.

“I… I don’t understand, sir. Work for him? Who is him?” I asked, my voice trembling, tears already burning behind my eyes.

“Mason” he said.

The name hit me like a slap. My heart skipped as I slowly rose to my feet.

“M–Mason? And who exactly is Mason?” I stammered, shaking my head as if the motion could erase what I’d just heard.

“After ten years of serving you, Mr. Noah… you’re dismissing me? And not just dismissing me, but sending me to work for someone I don’t even know?” My voice cracked under the weight of disbelief and rising anger.

“That’s all you need to know, Mia,” he said, his tone final. “After tomorrow, you’ll report to him.”

And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, quietly and deliberately, leaving my world shattered in silence.

My heart ached in my chest. This place had been my home. Mr. Noah had been like a father to me.

How could everything change so suddenly? What had I done wrong?

I ran out of the room, desperate to find him. By the time I reached the front door, he was already getting into his car. “Mr. Noah!” I screamed, sprinting down the steps. But the convoy pulled away before I could reach it.

“Mr. Noah!” I yelled again, my voice breaking.

“At least tell me what I did wrong!”

The only answer was the fading sound of engines disappearing into the night.

Hours passed. I couldn’t bring myself to take a cab; I walked the whole way home, the city lights blurring through my tears. My body moved on its own, my mind trapped in a storm of confusion and disbelief.

I didn’t even realize I’d reached home until I found myself at the door. It wasn’t locked. I stepped inside. Jere’s room was closed, he probably wasn’t home. I went straight to my own room and locked the door behind me.

The night crept by slowly, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, replaying every moment in my head.

What happened to Mr. Noah?

Why did his voice sound like goodbye?

And who on earth… was Mason?

I spent hours thinking about everything that happened until sleep finally claimed me, my phone still on Do Not Disturb.

~~~~~

Yawns.

My eyes were puffed from tears and lack of rest. I dragged myself to the bathroom, washed my face, and wiped it with a towel before returning to bed. I lay flat on my back, staring blankly at the ceiling, making no effort to move.

Knock, knock.

"Open" I mumbled into the pillow.

The door creaked, and Jere’s familiar voice broke through. "Whoa! What happened here?" He looked around my messy room, eyes wide.

"Haaaeew" he mocked, placing a tray on my table.

"You’re back, finally. I thought you wouldn’t come home, so I already planned to sell the house," he teased.

"Not funny" I whispered.

On the tray sat toasted bread and a cup of coffee, Mr. Noah’s favorite. My chest tightened. A tear slipped down before I could stop it.

"I’d ask if it’s heartbreak," Jere said, smirking, "but then I remembered…you have no boyfriend."

"One more word, Jere, and I’ll..." I pointed a fork at him.

"Okay, okay!" He raised his hands in surrender. "But really, Mia, what happened? You don’t look so good. Well, not that you ever do, but—"

I leaped from the bed, chasing him as he burst into laughter and bolted out the door. I slammed it behind him, smiling despite myself.

I sat back down, picking up a slice of bread just as my thoughts hit me like a wave.

~~~~~~

You saw a guy?

Yes, earlier when I was on the floor, uhm...he wore a mask though.

“Oh, the man in the mask? You mean Sir Mason… Mr. Noah’s son?”

~~~~~~

My heart skipped. Mason.

Nelson’s words echoed in my head. Mr. Noah’s son.

I snatched my phone; only thirty minutes before I’d be late. I jumped into the shower, threw on my uniform, and rushed downstairs. Jere stared at me, startled, as I dashed out the door to flag down a cab.

When I arrived at Mr. Noah’s mansion, the tension in the air was unmistakable. I ran straight to his room.

"Mr. Noah?" I called. No answer. His room was empty.

I searched the halls, careful not to draw attention as some of the guards eyed me curiously. After a few minutes, I went down to the kitchen and froze.

The maids were cooking.

"Mia!"

Chelsea’s voice rang out as she hurried toward me.

"Where were you? I called so many times…your line didn’t go through! What happened?" She noticed my swollen eyes.

"I’m fine, Chelsea. I just… went home" I replied.

She sighed, then gestured toward the kitchen staff. "Well, look around. Why are they making his food?"

I frowned. "That’s what I was about to ask you."

"Mr. Noah said not to let you cook for him anymore" she said quietly. "He told everyone you quit."

My heart sank.

"Quit? No...I didn’t quit! Why would he—"

"Chelsea, do you know where he is?" I asked urgently.

"At the rooftop" she said.

I didn’t wait another second.

"Mr. Noah?"

I called softly as I reached the rooftop. He was there, trying to pick up his fallen staff. I hurried over, helping him sit down before offering him a glass of water.

"I didn’t quit, Mr. Noah. So why did you…"

I paused as he finished drinking. I set the glass aside, watching him.

"Mia" he began gently, "are you here to submit the items?"

My heart tightened.

"Yes, sir… I am" I swallowed hard.

He looked at me in surprise.

"I’ll do as you say, Mr. Noah" I said, forcing the words out. "But I deserve to know who Mason is."

"I’ve told you all you need to know, Mia" he replied, standing to leave.

I rose too. "And the fact that he’s your son?"

He stopped right in his tracks.

"Mason is your son, isn’t he?" I asked again, stepping closer, my voice trembling.

He turned to face me, his eyes filled with things he couldn’t bring himself to say.