Chapter 7 - THE GILDED CAGE
Rosa sat on the edge of the massive king-sized bed, tracing the intricate patterns of the silk duvet cover with trembling fingers.
The master guest suite was larger than the apartment she and Lily had shared before she took the maid's job.
It featured a private balcony overlooking the rose gardens, a marble bathroom, and a walk-in closet the size of a small boutique.
But to Rosa, it felt like a terrifyingly beautiful cage.
Only yesterday, she had been invisible, scrubbing floors and keeping her head down to survive.
Today, she was the woman the entire world was talking about, the mysterious mother of the billionaire's sudden heir.
A soft knock on the heavy oak door startled her from her anxious thoughts.
"Come in," Rosa called out, nervously smoothing down the fabric of her simple cotton dress.
Ethan opened the door slowly, carrying a large silver tray loaded with fresh fruit, warm pastries, and two cups of steaming coffee.
He was no longer wearing his intimidating armor of tailored suits and expensive ties.
He wore dark sweatpants and a simple gray t-shirt that stretched tightly across his broad shoulders and muscular chest.
He looked incredibly domestic, and it made Rosa's heart flutter in a way she deeply resented.
"I noticed you did not come down for breakfast," Ethan said, setting the heavy tray down on a small glass table near the window.
"Lily is currently in the kitchen showing the executive chef how to properly feed her stuffed rabbit."
Rosa let out a small, breathless laugh, feeling a tiny bit of the tension leave her stiff shoulders.
"I was not sure if I was allowed to just wander around," Rosa admitted, looking down at her hands.
Ethan stopped moving, a look of profound pain briefly crossing his handsome face.
He walked over to the bed and knelt on the thick carpet, forcing Rosa to look him directly in the eyes.
"Rosa, you are not a prisoner here, and you are certainly not my employee anymore."
"This is your home, as much as it is mine, and you can go anywhere you please."
Rosa shook her head slowly, a single tear escaping her dark eyelashes and rolling down her cheek.
"I don't belong in a world like this, Ethan," she whispered, the reality of their massive wealth gap crushing her.
"The staff still looks at me like I am a maid who somehow tricked the master of the house."
Ethan's jaw clenched so tightly that a muscle ticked dangerously in his cheek.
"If anyone on this staff disrespects you, they will be fired before their next shift," he promised darkly.
"But you cannot fire the rest of the world," Rosa argued softly, wiping her cheek.
"They are calling me a gold-digger on the morning news, saying I hid Lily to extort you."
Ethan reached up, gently capturing her trembling hands in his warm, steady grip.
"I do not care what the world says, Rosa."
"I only care about you, and our daughter, and making up for the four years I missed."
May you like
He kissed the back of her hand, a tender, electrifying gesture that sent a jolt of heat straight to her core.
"Let me prove it to you," he whispered.
