Deceit Behind Her Marriage [English]

CHAPTER 6

"Lauren, dear! You're up early," Mrs. Burnham greeted warmly.

Lauren felt heat rise to her cheeks as she caught sight of the lady who had just emerged from the opposite room. Seeing her exit from Finn's room, she dreaded the thought of being judged, fearing that others might wrongly assume something untoward had occurred between her and Finn. Lost in her discomfort, she absentmindedly scratched her head.

"Mrs. Burnham, thank you for having me, but I should head home. They might be worried," Lauren stammered.

"I can't just let you leave like that. Look at you. I wouldn't want people to think I neglected you while you were here. Remember how you used to call me 'Mom'? Come," Mrs. Burnham said, gently taking her by the arm and leading her away.

As they walked, they encountered a housemaid carrying bundles of laundry.

"Where's Elsa?" Mrs. Burnham inquired.

"She was in the kitchen earlier, Madam. I'll look for her," the maid replied.

"Good. Please ask her to go to the room we prepared last night," Mrs. Burnham instructed.

Feeling increasingly embarrassed, Lauren stood beside Mrs. Burnham.

Despite no longer being Finn's girlfriend, it seemed she was still treated like family. They entered a room where a dark blue sleeveless dress was laid out on the bed. It appeared to be tailored perfectly for her, further fueling her embarrassment.

"I prepared this room for you last night. But when I saw you embracing Finn, I chose not to wake you," Mrs. Burnham explained, deepening the flush in Lauren's cheeks.

Her cheeks could have been mistaken for ripe tomatoes. Mrs. Burnham even entertained the idea that she was embracing Finn on the bed. Lauren believed Mrs. Burnham had misunderstood; such a scenario seemed impossible.

"Come on, admit it, dear! Are you and my son getting back together?"

"Mrs. Burnham, no. What you're suggesting is impossible."

"Why is that? My son hasn't been romantically involved with anyone else but you. You're the only one he's ever had feelings for."

Lauren winced as Mrs. Burnham suggested something implausible. From Lauren's perspective, Finn's apparent lack of interest in pursuing a relationship with anyone else stemmed from his waiting for Kori. Complicating matters, Kori happened to be dating Lauren's friend, Brett, effectively closing off any chance for Finn.

A soft rap echoed through the room, prompting Elsa to glide in, trailed by another maid. "Ma'am?"

"Could you assist Lauren in freshening up? I'll whip up a delightful breakfast; it's been too long since I've seen this child," Mrs. Burnham said before departing, leaving Elsa with her instructions.

A gentle smile graced Elsa's lips in response. As the other maid entered the bathroom, she checked the water temperature in the tub, adding bath salts and soap with practiced ease.

Meanwhile, Lauren patiently awaited her turn for a bath, feeling obliged to accept the gracious hospitality extended to her by the household. The thought of returning home in her current state, still clad in the previous night's attire, was enough to dissuade her from refusing.

After a brief interval, Elsa caught Lauren's attention. "The bath is ready, Miss Lauren."

"Thank you," Lauren replied gratefully.

Before Lauren could do anything, Elsa helped her unzip the back of her long dress. This was a common practice in the household, where servants tended to their masters. Lauren was used to this, having grown up in a wealthy family where tasks like this were typical. As her dress came off, she noticed how calm the maid was, not bothered by seeing her undressed.

However. they both looked worried when they saw something strange around Lauren's neck.

Clearing her throat, Elsa instructed her companion, "Assist Miss Lauren with her bath."

The other woman quickly refocused and led Lauren into the bathroom, helping her into the tub and gently washing her skin. Lauren couldn't help but feel a bit helpless like a baby being bathed.

'Being a part of this family truly is a luxury,' she thought to herself.

"Miss Lauren, please don't hesitate to ask if you require anything further. Diana will be here to assist you," Elsa said

"Thank you, Elsa," Lauren replied softly.

Lauren felt Diana's careful ministrations as she closed her eyes, cleansing every inch of her body. The soothing touch of the massage on her head was particularly pleasant, easing away tension.

- - -

"Is it really you, Lauren? Have you truly returned?" Finn's voice broke through the silence, carrying a tender vulnerability under the moon's faint glow.

His gentle caress traced her features, his eyes filled with an intensity she hadn't seen before. It felt surreal as if this moment existed outside of time. Finn had never been one for articulate expression, yet now he seemed compelled to bridge the gap between them. His thumb brushed against her lips, drawing them closer together.

"Lauren," he whispered before kissing her lips tenderly.

Emotions surged within her as she tasted the familiarity of his lips, mingled with a longing that seemed to transcend the present moment. Tears welled in her eyes, carrying the weight of years of separation and yearning.

"Don't cry, my love. Everything will be alright," Finn murmured, his lips trailing soft kisses along her neck, eliciting gasps and soft moans from Lauren.

With each touch, each caress, the distance between them seemed to dissolve, replaced by an intimate connection that pulsed through her veins. Finally, Finn pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before enfolding her in a warm embrace, a sensation of belonging and comfort enveloping her in his arms.

Lauren drew in a sharp breath while reclining in the bathtub, her senses still reeling from the young maid's thorough ministrations. It felt as though she were caught between wakefulness and dreams, the boundary blurred by the intensity of her imagination.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Does it hurt?" the maid's voice broke through her reverie, filled with genuine concern and surprise.

"I-I'm sorry. I—" Lauren hesitated, biting her lip to stifle any further explanation. She wasn't prepared to entertain being accused of dreaming while wide awake and bathing.

"I thought I had hurt the hickeys on your neck," the maid confessed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Hickey on my neck?" Lauren's hand instinctively rose to her throat, and she turned towards the mirror, confirming the unexpected marks. Suddenly, the odd glances exchanged with Elsa earlier made sense, their eyes lingering on her exposed neck.

"Shoot! Where did this come from?" Lauren turned back to the maid, frustration evident in her tone. "Forget it. I'll take care of the rest. You can go now."

"Alright. I'll comply with your wishes…"

Lauren stole another glance at her neck, dismissing the notion that the marks could be attributed to the vivid dream she had just experienced. She shook her head, attempting to banish the memory of the man from her thoughts. All she knew was that something felt fundamentally wrong about being in that house.

***

Wearing a knee-length dress provided by Mrs. Burnham, Lauren descended gracefully towards the dining area where Finn's family awaited. She politely requested a handkerchief to cover her neck as the neckline of her dress dipped lower than usual.

Though her gaze initially met the man's, she quickly averted her eyes, unable to withstand his seemingly scrutinizing stare. She didn't want to entertain the thought that he might be the cause of the marks she concealed beneath the scarf around her neck.

"Come, dear, sit here," Mrs. Burnham gestured towards the chair opposite Finn. "I won't let you leave without having breakfast."

With a nervous swallow, Lauren sat against Finn, uncertain if she could eat properly. Nonetheless, she felt compelled to oblige Finn's mother because of her warm welcome.

"Coffee or tea?" Mrs. Burnham inquired.

"C-coffee, please," Lauren replied softly.

"Diana, fetch our guest a coffee," Mrs. Burnham instructed, then returned to Lauren, gently taking her hand. "Don't be shy, dear. If you need anything, just let me know."

"I'm fine, Mrs.— I mean, Aunt. This is more than enough. Thank you for breakfast," Lauren replied, her voice tinged with gratitude.

"It's I who should be thanking you. Oh dear, if you hadn't brought Finn here last night, it might have been months before he returned," Mrs. Burnham remarked warmly.

"Ma!" Finn interrupted sharply.

The lady shot him a piercing look. "Why? Isn't it true? When was the last time you slept in your room? The last time was the day Lauren left this house."

"Stop it, or I'll leave right now!" Finn warned, his tone tinged with frustration.

Meanwhile, Lauren received her coffee amidst the escalating tension between mother and son. Feeling the stress, she suppressed a reaction as the scalding liquid grazed her lips, quickly grabbing a tissue to hide any discomfort.

Mrs. Burnham's eyes flashed with resentment, halting her from continuing her line of questioning. Yet, the information Lauren overheard raised a significant question: had Finn not stayed in the house for six years? Perhaps his reluctance to inhabit his room stemmed from painful memories of their past interactions.

For a fleeting moment, Lauren felt a pang of hurt. Was she that filthy?

"How is your mom? I'm sorry, dear, if I haven't visited her in the past few months," Finn's mother's voice softened with a hint of guilt.

Lauren recalled Mrs. Burnham's friendship with her mother, Mrs. Escarrer. It dated back to a fateful incident decades ago, when her mother had rescued Mrs. Burnham from drowning during a vacation by the lake, forging a bond long before their families became connected through marriage.

Mrs. Burnham owed a great deal to her mother, which is why she readily agreed when discussing the prospect of marriage with Finn. For years, Mrs. Burnham had quietly assisted her mother with expenses related to her father's medical bills. However, Finn's father discovered this, leading Mrs. Burnham to withdraw from their family's life momentarily.

In response to Mrs. Burnham's concern, Lauren reassured her, saying, "Don't worry. My mom is managing well."

Mrs. Burnham hesitated before continuing, "I heard about... your father's investment in New York. If you need help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Her grip on the fork tightened as Lauren grappled with her predicament. While she desperately requires a significant sum of money, she won't seek help from Mrs. Burnham. Asking for help from the lady would make her feel as though her face was thick as concrete, particularly with Finn's presence exacerbating the situation.

It's uncertain how he might perceive her actions in the future.

"We're managing, Auntie," Lauren lied, her voice faltering. "We've considered selling the house."

Mrs. Burnham's expression betrayed her pity, prompting her to suggest, "Why not marry Finn? I'd be overjoyed to have you as my daughter-in-law."

"Mom!" he protested immediately, his eyes glaring at Lauren. "Was this your plan all along? Excuse me, I've lost my appetite!" With frustration evident in his demeanor, he rose from the table and left.

'Then go ahead and leave! As if I would ever consider marrying you!'

Feeling similarly disinterested, Lauren also lost her appetite and excused herself from Mrs. Burnham's company, who arranged for a car to take Lauren home.