Chapter 21
1189 Words
Geraldine’s Point of View
My eyes widened as I froze on the spot, staring at Manang. How long had she been standing there?
“M-Manang, since when have you been there?”
She didn’t answer immediately, only looked at me with sharp eyes. I bit my lip and quickly glanced at Mike, nudging him with my elbow. He turned toward me, frowning in confusion.
“This is your fault! You were being too flirty!” I whispered harshly to him.
He blinked in surprise, pointing at himself as if I had just accused him of murder.
“What? Me?”
“Yes, you! You’re the flirt here, tsk. Manang, whatever you heard just now is fake news. It isn’t true at all.”
I lowered my head in embarrassment. How was I going to get out of this mess?
But then, Manang spoke, her tone calm yet full of certainty. “I have known from the beginning, Madame. You are the lady of this mansion.”
Her words made me freeze, my chest tightening as I slowly raised my eyes to meet hers.
“W-What? So from the very first time you saw me, you already knew who I was?”
“At first I had my doubts,” she admitted, “but I see your photo every day—the one from your wedding with Master. It was impossible not to recognize you. And when I asked him directly, he confirmed that it was you.”
My mouth fell open. I looked at Mike, who simply arched a brow at me, as if he was amused by how fate loved to play tricks on me.
Destiny really had a cruel sense of humor. Out of all the people to become a maid-for-hire, why me? But then Manang’s next words struck me even deeper.
“Master planned this from the very start. He knew you would accept the offer because you needed money, Madame.”
“What!” I almost choked.
So it had been planned? From the beginning? And yet… they still didn’t know my real mission here. They believed I was just a desperate woman working to survive. But the truth was, I had walked straight into a trap. And somehow, this man—Mike—was in the middle of it.
I cleared my throat, gathering myself. “If you already knew that I was Master’s wife, then why did you treat me so harshly when I first came here?”
“Because Master ordered me not to reveal anything about your identity, not until the right time.”
I pressed my lips together. Two days. I had only been here two days and so much had already happened. Lord, give me patience.
“Alright, I understand,” I sighed. “But please, don’t tell anyone else about this. Continue treating me the same way you did at the beginning. I don’t want anyone paying unnecessary attention to me.”
“As you wish, Madame.”
Relief flooded me, and I turned toward Mike just as he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.
“Prepare the food. I’m hungry,” he said casually before disappearing down the hall.
I exhaled slowly, grateful he hadn’t made the situation worse.
“Manang, I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble,” I murmured.
“It’s alright, Madame—”
“Girlie. Just call me Girlie,” I interrupted gently.
She hesitated before nodding. “Very well, Girlie. I’ll gather the other helpers to bring the food to the dining hall. Follow Master there.”
“Thank you.”
As I walked away, my mind was spinning. I just prayed no one else would discover the truth. The more people who knew, the more difficult it would be to carry out my mission.
Then another thought hit me. I remembered the woman plotting to poison Mike. It wasn’t me she wanted to kill—it was him. Someone wanted him dead, and they were setting me up as the scapegoat.
The idea made my stomach clench. Whoever she was, she wasn’t ordinary. Perhaps she was another mafia operative, sent to eliminate him.
I smirked faintly to myself as I reached the dining room. This was getting more exciting than I expected.
Inside, I found Mike sitting with Rafayel, deep in conversation. The moment Rafayel looked up, his angelic smile nearly blinded me. My heart gave an unwanted flutter.
Damn. Temptation, stay far away from me.
But then Mike’s sharp gaze cut into me like a knife, the famous death stare that made me want to evaporate.
I ignored it and walked closer, bowing slightly before them. The maids followed behind me, carrying the dishes I had prepared. One by one, they set them on the table and uncovered them.
“For tonight’s meal,” I began, my voice steady though my heart was racing, “I made a Filipino feast. The first dish is Sinigang na Baboy, a savory and tangy pork soup, perfect for a cozy meal.”
I gestured toward the steaming bowl, then toward the next dish.
“And here we have Adobo—both chicken and pork—cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, and spices. I prepared this especially because it’s Mr. Rafayel’s favorite.”
I didn’t miss how Mike’s brows furrowed at that. But honestly, what did he expect? I wasn’t flirting; I was simply cooking.
“And the last dish is Kare-Kare. Oxtail, tripe, and fresh vegetables in a rich peanut sauce, usually paired with shrimp paste. That completes tonight’s dinner.”
Rafayel’s face lit up as he inhaled the aroma, nodding with delight. “Everything smells incredible. I have a feeling I’ll be finding new favorites tonight.”
I smiled politely before sneaking a glance at Mike. His eyes were fixed on the food, his throat working as he swallowed.
“Taste it,” he finally said.
Both men began filling their plates. Rafayel was the first to take a bite, his eyes going wide as flavor exploded in his mouth.
“This is so delicious! You made all of this yourself?”
“Yes, Sire.”
My eyes shifted to Mike. He was quiet, but then he surprised us both by quickly finishing his first plate and serving himself another.
“Eh? Wait a second—you can actually taste it now, bro?” Rafayel blurted, astonished.
Mike nodded.
Rafayel nearly leapt from his chair. “You can taste something delicious—for the first time!”
My lips curved into a small smile. But before I could breathe, Rafayel shot up, grabbed both of my hands, and held them tightly.
“You’re his guardian angel. You’re the only one who could bring flavor back into his life! Congratulations!”
“Uhmm…”
My eyes darted to Mike. The look he gave me wasn’t just a glare—it was fire. If looks could kill, I’d be ash on the floor.
Oh no. This wasn’t my fault! I didn’t ask his best friend to hold my hands.
And yet here I was, caught in another storm.
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LMCD22
- Writer
