Chapter 164: Owe an apology Anna’s eyes widened in disbelief, her flushed face turning toward the door. Daniel let out a frustrated sigh, still catching his breath, his hand tightening around her waist as if he could will the interruption away.
"Seriously?" he muttered, voice husky and laced with irritation.
The persistent knocking continued, completely ruining the fragile quiet between them.
Anna buried her face in his chest, groaning. "Can’t people pick a worse time?" she muttered thinking she was whispering to herself.
But then Daniel chuckled, though his expression had already shifted, the warmth fading into a mix of annoyance and reluctant amusement. "Whoever that is," he said under his breath, "they better have a death wish."
Another knock followed, louder this time, making Anna jolt slightly. She moved to pull away, but Daniel’s hand held her still, his lips brushing against her temple.
"Don’t," he murmured, his tone low and possessive. "Let them wait."
Her pulse quickened again not just from the aftermath, but from the weight in his voice.
The moment between them hung in the air, heavy with what just happened and what was left unsaid, until the knocking came yet again, breaking whatever fragile spell they’d managed to hold onto.
Anna sighed and looked up at him, her expression a mix of embarrassment and reluctant amusement.
"What if it’s Mariam?" Anna whispered, her breath still uneven.
Daniel groaned and dropped his head back onto the pillow, one arm draped over his eyes. "Then she’d better have a good reason for interrupting us — because she’s not going to survive the next time she does."
Anna shot him a quick glare, but her lips curved into a faint, flustered smile before she hurriedly slid off the bed. She grabbed the nearest sheet to cover herself, fumbling to smooth her hair and adjust her clothes as she made her way to the door.
Her heart was still pounding — not just from what had happened, but from being caught off guard. She took a deep breath, forcing her expression into something resembling composure before cracking the door open.
"Mariam?" she asked cautiously, peeking her head out.
The young maid stood on the other side, her hands clasped tightly in front of her apron. But it wasn’t her presence that made Anna’s heart sink — it was the look on her face.
Wide eyes. Trembling lips. Fear.
"Madam..." Mariam’s voice quivered, the sound barely above a whisper.
Instantly, the warmth in Anna’s cheeks faded. Her expression hardened, the playfulness from moments ago vanishing in an instant.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Kathrine sat gracefully on the couch, her legs crossed and posture composed as her eyes wandered over the grand interior of the mansion. The faint smile on her lips didn’t quite reach her eyes — there was calculation in the way she observed everything, from the paintings on the walls to the distant sound of hurried footsteps echoing in the hall. A maid approached quietly, setting a glass of water before her. "Thank you," Kathrine said softly, offering a polite smile as she took the glass. The maid nodded quickly and stepped away, but the moment she reached the corner near the kitchen, whispers began to stir.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Kathrine sat gracefully on the couch, her legs crossed and posture composed as her eyes wandered over the grand interior of the mansion. The faint smile on her lips didn’t quite reach her eyes — there was calculation in the way she observed everything, from the paintings on the walls to the distant sound of hurried footsteps echoing in the hall. A maid approached quietly, setting a glass of water before her. "Thank you," Kathrine said softly, offering a polite smile as she took the glass. The maid nodded quickly and stepped away, but the moment she reached the corner near the kitchen, whispers began to stir.
"Is that... Kathrine Bennett?" one whispered, glancing around nervously. "The woman who was supposed to marry Master Daniel?"
Heads turned discreetly. The maids exchanged wary glances, some ducking behind doorframes to steal another look at her.
"I thought she ran away," another murmured, her tone hushed but edged with disbelief. "Why would she come back here now?"
Their unease rippled through the room like a silent current. For the staff, Anna wasn’t just the mistress of the house — she was the heart of it. Since her arrival, Master Daniel had changed. He smiled more, laughed more, and even the cold aura he once carried had begun to fade.
To them, Lady Anna was the reason for that transformation.
And now, seeing Kathrine — the woman who had once been at the center of scandal — sitting in the same space, calm and waiting, made every one of them uneasy.
They could feel the disturbance her presence brought, like the faint scent of smoke before a fire.
When Mariam finally returned, the air grew taut with curiosity. She approached with her usual polite smile, though her eyes were sharp — watchful.
"Miss Kathrine," she said formally, stopping a few feet away. "Master and Madam will be here shortly. Is there anything you’d like while you wait?"
Kathrine looked up, her gaze cool but composed. "No, thank you. I’m fine."
Mariam nodded, though her jaw clenched imperceptibly. Her hands were folded neatly before her, but her eyes... her eyes spoke volumes.
Because Mariam, kind as she was, had one rule she lived by in this household — no one disturbed the peace her madam had built.
And if Kathrine Bennett thought she could walk back into Daniel and Anna’s lives without consequence, Mariam intended to make sure she’d regret it.
The corner of Kathrine’s lips curved faintly as she watched Mariam step politely to the side. There was nothing openly disrespectful in the lady’s manner. Her tone was courteous, her gestures controlled but Kathrine caught the subtle edge beneath it, the quiet disdain carefully masked behind civility.
She didn’t mind. Not really. Mariam’s loyalty was almost admirable. Age had softened her face but not her protective instincts, and Kathrine knew well who she was — the woman who had practically raised Daniel, the one he trusted above most others.
It wasn’t surprising that she’d glare daggers at anyone who threatened the fragile balance of this household. Least of all her.
Kathrine’s gaze drifted over the lavish space again, her expression unreadable. She had heard whispers of how different Daniel had become since his marriage — calmer, more grounded, more... human. The thought made something sharp twist faintly in her chest, though her face remained composed.
As her thoughts wandered, movement near the staircase caught her attention.
Her eyes lifted and there they were. Daniel and Anna, descending side by side.
He looked as composed as ever, but she noticed the tension in his jaw, the faint stiffness in his shoulders. Anna walked beside him with quiet poise, her chin slightly raised, eyes clear despite the faint exhaustion in them. Together, they made an imposing pair a married couple who looked every bit in sync, even if Kathrine suspected their story wasn’t as harmonious as it appeared.
Kathrine’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass before she set it down, schooling her features into an easy smile.
Despite having met Anna just a day before, she had decided to come again — this time, not for confrontation, but for closure. Or at least, that was what she told herself.
After all, she mused, ’I still owe Daniel an apology’
Her gaze lingered on him, calm yet deliberate.
And though her lips curved in politeness, there was a flicker of something else in her eyes — something that promised this meeting wouldn’t end with just words of remorse.