Beneath His Vows

First Impression Burns

Selene’s POV

Selene shut the door behind her and sank onto the bed. Her hands were shaking. Clara’s words still rang in her ears: “Everything here costs more than your paycheck.”

Rosa knocked softly. “Selene? Can I come in?”

“Yeah,” Selene whispered.

Rosa stepped in with a small tray. “Tea. You need it.”

Selene hugged the warm cup. “She… she’s… so mean,” she admitted. “I barely know her, and she already hates me.”

Rosa sat beside her, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Selene’s ear. “Don’t take it to heart. Clara likes to intimidate people. She thinks it makes her… powerful.”

Selene frowned. “Powerful… by making me feel small?”

“Exactly,” Rosa said softly. “Ignore her. Focus on yourself. You’re stronger than you think.”

Selene leaned back against the pillows. “I feel so out of place here. Like I don’t belong at all.”

“You do belong,” Rosa said firmly. “You just haven’t realized it yet. Give yourself time. Learn the rules, learn the house… and most importantly, learn to trust yourself.”

They sat in silence for a while, the only sounds the soft hum of the city outside and the clink of the tea cup. Selene felt the tension in her shoulders slowly ease.

“You really think I can manage all this?” she asked quietly.

Rosa smiled, brushing her hand over Selene’s. “I know you can. You just need to believe it too.”

Selene smiled faintly, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn’t expected. They talked a little more, about small things, about the house, about the city lights outside her window. Rosa’s calm presence made the world feel less sharp, less scary.

By the time they finished the tea, the exhaustion Selene had been ignoring finally caught up with her. Her eyes grew heavy. Rosa stood and tucked the blanket around her.

“Sleep now,” Rosa whispered. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Selene nodded, letting her eyelids fall. She felt safe, for the first time since she’d arrived. And as sleep claimed her, she knew she wasn’t completely alone in this house after all.

Selene’s POV

The sunlight peeked through the curtains, warm and golden. Selene stirred, stretching lazily, and blinked at the familiar sight of her small room. The events from yesterday still felt heavy in her chest, but the quiet morning made her feel… lighter.

Rosa was already up, quietly moving around the room. “Morning, sleepyhead,” she said with a soft smile, placing a tray with breakfast on the edge of Selene’s bed.

“Morning,” Selene mumbled, sitting up. Her hair was a mess, but Rosa didn’t seem to notice—or care.

“Eat first,” Rosa said, nudging the tray closer. “You’ll need your energy today.”

Selene picked at the food, still feeling a bit jittery. “I… I don’t know if I can do this,” she admitted quietly.

Rosa sat beside her, brushing her hand over Selene’s. “Shh. You can. You’ll learn. And I’ll be here to help you every step of the way. You’re not alone in this house.”

Selene’s chest tightened. There was something about Rosa’s calm confidence that made her feel braver than she had in hours. “Thanks,” she whispered, managing a small smile.

They finished breakfast together, talking about small things—how the sun looked this morning, the way the wind stirred the curtains, even gossip about the staff that Selene had overheard. The conversation was simple, but it helped Selene feel… grounded.

After a while, Rosa stood and straightened her apron. “Come on. Let’s get you started on your first tasks. You’ll see—it’s not as scary as it seems.”

Selene nodded, taking a deep breath. With Rosa beside her, the house didn’t feel so intimidating anymore. Not today.