Chapter 6 Retrieve Her Documents

Maeve's POV

The following morning, before the household had fully awakened, I found myself skulking in the hallway. Judging by the faint aroma of breakfast, the servants had already begun their chores. Trying to blend into the shadows, my steps were as silent as a thief's as I made my way to Herman's room. I needed those documents. My documents.

I almost reached for the doorknob when Maria appeared around the corner, her arms full of fresh linens. "Good morning, Miss Maeve," she greeted me with her usual warmth.

"Good morning, Maria," I replied softly, my hand frozen mid-air. My heart raced as I tried to think of an excuse, but she was already reaching past me to knock on the door.

"Mr. Herman? May we come in?"

There was a rustling sound from within, followed by Herman's deep voice. "Come in."

The morning sun streaming through the half-drawn curtains cast long shadows across his room. Herman was standing by his wardrobe, his tall frame outlined by the morning light. He was already dressed in pressed slacks, but his crisp white shirt was only half-buttoned, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his olive skin and toned chest. His dark hair was still damp from the shower, a few drops of water trailing down his neck. The sight made my breath catch—memories of last night flooding back unbidden: his hands gripping my waist in my bathroom, his hot breath against my neck, the way his body pressed mine...

I forced my eyes away.

"Maria, you can leave those on the chair," he said without looking up from his cufflinks. Then his dark eyes flickered to me, and I felt that familiar chill run down my spine. "Maeve. What brings you here so early?"

I clasped my hands together to stop them from trembling. "I need my documents for the medical check-up..." I trailed off, aware of Maria busying herself with the linens nearby.

Herman's expression didn't change, but I saw the slight tightening around his eyes. "Your documents? Why would they be here?"

The casual dismissal in his tone made my chest tighten. He knows exactly where they are. "You know—" I started, then stopped myself. What could I say with Maria in the room? That he had confiscated them when he locked me away? That he had never returned them even after I gave in to his demands?

"I must have been mistaken," I said quietly, backing toward the door. "I'll look somewhere else."

His lips curved into the faintest smile. "Sure."

As soon as I was back in my room, I pulled out my phone with shaking hands. The thought of the life in my belly, the bleeding, and now this—it was too much. I needed help, and I only had one person I could trust.

Maddy picked up on the second ring. "Hey, what's up?"

"Maddy," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I need your help. I think... I think I might be pregnant, and I am bleeding, but I can't—" I swallowed hard. "I can't go to just any hospital. I don't have my insurance card with me."

There was a long pause on the other end. When Maddy spoke again, her voice was carefully controlled. "Pregnant? Maeve, what's going on?"

"Please," I said, hating how desperate I sounded. "Can I come to Holden Medical Center? I need to know what is happening before the family check-up, and I don't have much time."

"Sure, come today," Maddy said firmly. "We'll talk when you get here. And Maeve?"

"Yes?"

"Whatever is going on, we'll figure it out together, okay?"

I ended the call and pressed my forehead against the cool wall, trying to steady my breathing. I had to get this sorted out before the check-up. Before Herman found out. Before anyone found out.

Please, I thought, pressing my hand against my stomach, please let me handle this in time.

At breakfast, I kept my eyes on my barely touched plate of eggs, but I could feel Kayla's gaze boring into me from across the table.

"You are not eating again," she announced loudly, making everyone look up. "Is my mother's cooking not good enough for you? Or are you trying to steal attention with another one of your delicate conditions?"

The spite in her voice made my hands shake. Last week, when I had a migraine during a family dinner, she had accused me of faking it to ruin her speech. After everything since yesterday—the bleeding, the pregnancy, Herman's dismissal this morning—something in me snapped.

"Not everyone needs attention as desperately as you do," I said quietly, my voice trembling. "Some of us can exist without making everything about ourselves."

The table fell silent. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't dare look up.

"Herman," Kayla's voice turned shrill. "Are you going to let her talk to me like that?"

"Maeve." Herman's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Apologize to my sister."

My sister. Not your sister—MY sister. The distinction wasn't lost on me. To the world, we were both his sisters, yet he never failed to remind me of the difference. The same man who had his hands all over me last night was now playing the role of protective older brother to Kayla, while treating me with cold disdain. I lifted my gaze to meet his, seeing nothing but stern disapproval in those dark eyes that had burned with such different emotions just hours ago.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. Sorry that I wasn't the cherished sister. Sorry that I was the one he used in secret while he publicly doted on Kayla. Sorry that I couldn't stop wanting him despite it all.

Later, as I headed for the door, Denis wasn't waiting with the car as usual. Instead, Herman's personal driver, Todd, stood by a sleek black sedan.

"Denis has been reassigned," Herman's voice came from behind me. "He proved... inadequate at preventing certain unauthorized meetings."

My heart sank. The coffee shop. Eugene. Of course Herman wouldn't have let it go.

"Get in," Herman said, gesturing to the car. "Todd will drive us both."

I slid into the backseat with reluctance. As soon as Herman joined me, Todd raised the privacy partition without being asked. The click almost made me jump.

I was once again in an enclose space with Herman.