FOREVER YOURS

The Cut That Always Bleeds

"Sir, Mason is your son, isn’t he?" I asked as silence filled the air.

"You… you know?" he asked softly.

"Yes, Mr. Noah. I saw him yesterda," I said, letting out a shaky sigh.

"Sit," he ordered gently. We both walked toward the chairs and sat. He drew in a deep breath, his eyes distant, before he began to speak.

"Mia, the first time I saw you trembling in the kitchen because of the food you burnt, you reminded me of my Hailey—my wife" he said, his voice tinged with sadness.

"You have a wife?" I asked, surprised. He let out a small chuckle.

"Her hair was long, and her blue eyes…the brightest I’ve ever seen," he said with a faint smile, lost in memory. "We met in college. I confessed my feelings to her, not knowing she’d loved me far longer than I knew. And who wouldn’t?" he smiled faintly, nostalgia softening his tone.

"We travelled the world together, celebrated birthdays, and eventually, I proposed. She said yes. Life was perfect, Mia. Everything I ever dreamed of, I had it. She bore me a son, and I couldn’t have been happier. My family was complete, and Hailey… she was the most beautiful woman on earth."

A small smile crossed his lips. "I still remember the day she looked down at our son and said, ‘Noah, look...he has your nose.’" He laughed quietly, shaking his head.

"‘Mason,’ she said. ‘That will be his name.’" His voice softened. "All I could do was nod, admiring my entire world right before me. Mason loved cakes, we filled the house with them, as if every day was his birthday. He’d jump on my legs and call me Papa."

Mr. Noah chuckled sadly.

"But work got intense. I began coming home late, travelling for months, leaving Hailey and Mason alone. Hailey grew angry. She’d yell, saying I’d abandoned our family, but I thought I was doing it for them. I’d apologize with gold, jewelry, cars—but I didn’t understand then that love isn’t bought."

Tears began welling in his eyes.

"One day, after another argument, I snapped. I packed my suitcase and left, slamming the door behind me. If only I’d known that was the last time I’d see the sun, the last time my world would have meaning, the last time I’d ever see Hailey."

Tears streamed down his cheeks. I quickly reached for his hands, holding them tightly.

"I was in a meeting when Hailey called me. Still angry, I turned off my phone, thinking I’d call her later. When I finally turned it back on, I saw ten missed calls. I remember laughing bitterly…Now she knows how important I am’ I said to myself." He let out a broken chuckle through tears.

"I called back, but no one answered. When someone finally did, a voice told me to come to the hospital…Hailey was there. I took the next flight home. When I got to the hospital…" His voice broke. "She was gone, Mia. The fire… the house burned down. Mason survived, but Hailey… she didn’t make it."

His voice trembled. "If only I had picked up that first call, maybe… maybe I could’ve saved her. When I saw her covered with a white cloth, my whole world collapsed. The woman whose smile lit up the world, whose voice could calm the storm...was gone. Burnt. Just… gone."

Tears spilled down my face as I held his trembling hands.

"I rushed to Mason’s ward. He had a huge scar on his chest but was awake. I felt both pain and relief. I tried to hold his hand, but he pulled away. ‘Go away,’ he said. His eyes, once full of love, were now filled with hate and grief. I lost everything in one day…my wife, my son’s love, my home."

He wiped his tears.

"I became wealthier, more successful but never happy. That’s when I learned that money means nothing without love. I’d trade all my riches, Mia, just to see Hailey smile once more."

He let out a long sigh. "To the world, I’m the richest man alive. But to myself, I’m the unluckiest."

He looked at me with tired eyes. "Mason was only ten. He hated me. He never wanted to see my face. ‘Go away like you always do’ that’s all he’d ever say to me. I failed him. He grew up wild, reckless and arrogant but I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t have the right to correct him. I had failed as a father."

His voice steadied. "So I decided, if I couldn’t be the father he wanted, I’d at least be the man who could guide him. I became strict, cold, and distant. Even if it broke me, I had to make him understand that money isn’t everything."

Mr. Noah stood, resting his hand on his staff. "That’s why I want you to go to him, Mia."

"Me?" I asked in disbelief. "Mr. Noah, how is that possible? I’m just a maid."

He looked at me and smiled faintly.

"No, Mia. You are my daughter."

The words hit me like thunder. My eyes instantly welled up.

"I need you to be there," he continued. "Make sure he eats, guide him, influence him. Mason is a tough nut to crack…but if anyone can reach him, it’s you."

"Mr. Noah…" I whispered, my heart pounding from the weight of his words. "But how can I serve him, when I’ve spent a decade of my life serving you?"

He turned to me with a faint, fatherly smile.

"Because, Mia…" he said softly, "...sometimes love means letting go."

"Mia, you can" Mr. Noah said softly.

"And I’m giving you this responsibility because I’ve watched you. Of all the maids, you stand out. You don’t care about the money I give you; you always make sure things are right. You sneak in on your days off just to check on me, bring my medications, and make the best coffee, just like my Hailey." He chuckled, the sound weighed with nostalgia as he stepped closer.

"Mr. Noah, this is huge... I might not…" I began, but he cut me off mid-sentence.

"You can, and you will. I believe in you, Mia. I beg you... as a failed and hopeless father," he said, his voice trembling as tears gathered in his eyes.

"Sir, please don’t," I quickly replied, not wanting to see him cry again. Taking a deep breath, I said, "If serving him will make you happy... then I will."

Mr. Noah’s face brightened with relief and joy. "Bless you, my child," he whispered, folding his hands together in gratitude.

"Please don’t, sir" I said with a small smile. "This is the least I can do for you. After all, you’re like a father to me. You gave my brother and me shelter when we had nowhere else to go. If I can’t do this for you... then what good am I?"

He smiled warmly, the kind of smile that carried both pride and pain.

After our conversation, we headed downstairs together. I told him to go back to his room while I brought his food. When I returned, I set the tray gently on his bed.

"Sir, I’ll be back tomorrow morning with my things," I said, turning to leave. But before I could take a step, he held my hand.

"Promise me, Mia, that you’ll do this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I promise, Mr. Noah. I’ll do my best. I’ll be here early tomorrow, I’ll hand over my things... and I’ll await your order, boss," I said with a small salute and a tired smile.

He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Go now, my dear."

I smiled, waving goodbye as I gently closed the door behind me.

That night, as I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, I whispered to myself,

Mason…

Mason Cyrus.

The name rolled off my tongue like a mystery I wasn’t ready to face.

Never did I know this was just the beginning of a new chapter in my life.