The Greenwood Estate garden was vast, filled with rare flowers and plants that exuded a soothing, fragrant aroma. The sprawling lawns, lush and vibrant green, gave off a strong sense of nature's abundance.
Emily Rivers followed the butler with a mix of apprehension and hope as they entered the Greenwood mansion. The grand hall was easily a thousand square feet, with an elegant leather sofa set that barely filled the expansive space.
The staircase railing was made of white marble, carved with intricate patterns that blended classic elegance with a modern touch. Emily lightly touched the railing, feeling its cool, smooth surface. It was spotless, a testament to the house's meticulous upkeep.
How could such a wealthy family be advertising for a live-in maid? It didn’t make sense.
Regardless, she was here now, and she had no other options. If she could get this job, it would be a miracle. Even if it meant a lot of hard work, it was better than the alternatives she was facing.
The butler led Emily to a study on the second floor. “Miss Rivers, please, Mrs. Greenwood is inside.”
“Who are these people coming in here? They dress like they’re going to a nightclub!” Mrs. Greenwood snapped as she stood in the study, glaring at Mrs. Carter, the housekeeper. “Short skirts and bare midriffs—this is not what we need in the Greenwood household! If I see any more women like that, I want them all turned away!”
Mrs. Carter nodded repeatedly in agreement, then glanced at the butler who had brought in another applicant. This one wore simple, faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt—clean, modest, and just what Mrs. Greenwood was looking for.
Then Mrs. Carter looked at Emily’s face: a delicate oval shape, slender features, a high nose bridge, and a pair of bright, expressive eyes. Her lips were thin and a natural shade of rosy pink. Mrs. Carter’s eyes lit up. “Ma’am, this one seems perfect!”
Mrs. Greenwood adjusted her glasses and shot Mrs. Carter a look. “I see that, thank you.” She thought to herself that this girl looked well-behaved, the perfect fit for what she had in mind. But why would a good girl like her apply for a maid position? Surely, anyone willing to take a job posted in the paper must have a reason.
Emily felt the two pairs of eyes scanning her, making her slightly uneasy. This wasn’t like any other job interview she’d ever been to. “Mrs. Greenwood, hello. My name is Emily Rivers.”
Mrs. Greenwood acknowledged her with a nod. “Miss Rivers, is it? Since you’re here, I’ll be upfront with you. My son... he needs special care. His mind is like that of a five-year-old, so we need someone who can be patient and understanding. But I’m not just looking for a maid to look after him. Our family needs someone who can fulfill other roles, someone who can help continue our family legacy. You understand what I’m implying, don’t you?”
Emily certainly understood. If she got this position, it wouldn’t just be a maid job—she would be marrying a man with the mind of a child. Her job would be to be both a caretaker and a wife.
“I understand,” Emily said without hesitation. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to think it through; she simply didn’t have the luxury of overthinking. This was her only option now.
“Good. I’m pleased with your appearance so far,” Mrs. Greenwood continued. “But I must ask, Miss Rivers, why are you really here? Is it for the wealth? I know many would be tempted, but I won’t hand over the Greenwood fortune to a gold-digger.”
“I need the money,” Emily said plainly. “You’re welcome to check my background. My mother has lung cancer, my sister is in her second year of college, and my brother just got into a prestigious university. I have a lot of responsibilities and urgent financial needs. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Very well.” Mrs. Greenwood adjusted her glasses again, appearing satisfied. “I appreciate your honesty. Let me make this clear: if you marry into our family, I’ll give you a million dollars as initial support. If you take good care of my son, we will cover your mother’s medical expenses. When you have a child, if it’s a daughter, you’ll receive another million as a settlement. If it’s a son, you’ll get five million. However, you will have no claim to any of the Greenwood fortune beyond that. Do you agree?”
Emily nodded firmly. “I agree.” She had no other way out; this was her only option now, even if it meant marrying a man with a five-year-old’s mind.
Mrs. Greenwood was about to say more when the butler hurried in. “Ma’am, Miss Lydia has just returned from abroad. She’s in the living room causing a scene. You might want to go calm her down.”
Mrs. Greenwood frowned and stood up in haste. She had anticipated this reaction when her second daughter found out, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon.
As Mrs. Greenwood rushed past Emily, she said, “You can go home for now. We’ll contact you with the wedding date.” With that, she hurried downstairs with Mrs. Carter and the butler.
Emily shrugged, feeling a bit lost. Why did wealthy families always seem so dramatic? “Sigh!” she muttered. She wasn’t sure whether she should feel lucky or unlucky—she hadn’t even experienced love, and now she was about to marry someone she barely knew, a man rumored to have the mind of a child. Life certainly had a sense of humor.
Downstairs in the living room, Lydia Greenwood had already smashed several expensive ornaments and was sobbing. “We have plenty of money! Why do we have to be pushed into this?”
“Mother, I won’t do it! I refuse!” Lydia cried out. “You know Adrian Storm is nothing but a psychopath—a complete maniac! Why are you trying to force me to marry him?”
Seeing her daughter’s anguish, Mrs. Greenwood felt a pang of guilt, but this marriage wasn’t her decision. It had been arranged by her late husband and the Storm family patriarch. Adrian Storm had married others before, but each time the marriage fell apart. No one expected the Storm family would insist on fulfilling the contract now.
“It’s an arrangement made before you were born,” Mrs. Greenwood replied, but even she knew it was a weak excuse.
“He broke the agreement first! He’s already had three wives, and everyone knows he’s messed up—physically and mentally! All three of his wives disappeared without a trace. Mom, do you really want me to be the fourth? How could you be so heartless?”
While Lydia Greenwood was crying out in despair, Emily had already descended the stairs. Standing at the staircase, she watched the elegant young lady sob and heard the rumors about the man she was supposed to marry—a man who was apparently both cruel and dangerous. Emily felt a chill run down her spine.
It seemed it wasn’t only the poor who were forced into unwanted situations; the wealthy had their share of burdens too. Emily had thought she was the most unfortunate person, but compared to the Greenwood heiress, she might actually be lucky—at least her husband wasn’t violent.
“The Storm family holds immense power in Mapleton. You know this, Lydia. Adrian Storm can bring a storm to the city with just a word,” Mrs. Greenwood tried to reason. “He has the influence to make or break anyone. Lydia, I have no choice either.”
Emily couldn’t help but wonder—could Adrian Storm really have such power? She knew nothing of the elite world, just the small struggles of her daily life. The idea of such powerful people seemed foreign to her.
“Oh, you! What are you looking at?” Lydia Greenwood suddenly snapped at Emily. “Are you here to laugh at me? Do you want to die?” She was still crying, but her spoiled demeanor quickly diminished any sympathy Emily might have felt.
Mrs. Greenwood frowned. “Why are you still here?”
“Oh!” Emily quickly headed for the door. The last thing she wanted was to get involved with this volatile young woman. People who were under stress could be unpredictable—better not to provoke them.
“She’s the one your brother will marry. Show some respect; she’ll be your sister-in-law soon. Don’t embarrass us,” Mrs. Greenwood scolded.
Lydia stamped her foot. “Mother, you’re so worried about finding a bride for my brother, yet you’re willing to sacrifice me like this? Do you even care about me?”
Lydia suddenly laughed hysterically. “I have an idea!” She grabbed her mother’s hand and dragged her upstairs, leaving everyone else in the room bewildered. It seemed the second daughter of the Greenwood family had reached her breaking point.