Stephen's Costly Mistake

The iron gates of the Cooper mansion loomed before me, their intricate designs now cold and forbidding instead of welcoming. I clutched my single suitcase—all that remained of my once-vast wardrobe—and took a deep breath. The September wind cut through my thin black uniform, a far cry from the designer clothes that once filled my closet.

"Isabella Nelson," I whispered to myself, "you can do this."

Three months. Just three months of servitude to retrieve Mother's belongings. Then I could leave this nightmare behind.

I approached the servants' entrance at the back of the mansion, my heart hammering against my ribs. The door swung open before I could knock.

"Right on time," Pearl Cooper said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. My former best friend stood in the doorway, resplendent in a crimson dress that hugged her curves. Diamond earrings—my mother's, I realized with a jolt—glinted at her ears.

"Pearl," I managed, my voice barely audible.

"Come in, come in." She stepped aside, gesturing grandly. "Welcome to your new home."

I stepped into the foyer, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. The mansion was even more opulent than I remembered. Fresh flowers adorned every surface, and the scent of expensive perfume hung in the air.

"Oh, before I forget." Pearl thrust a folded paper into my hands. "Your duties. I've highlighted the priority items in red."

I unfolded the list, my eyes scanning the lengthy document. Clean the master bedroom. Polish the silver. Scrub the kitchen floors. Prepare the evening meal.

"I think you'll find everything quite... educational," Pearl continued, her smile widening. "After all, you never learned to do any real work before, did you?"

I bit my tongue and said nothing.

"Oh, and Isabella?" Pearl's voice dropped to a whisper. "The master bedroom is particularly important. Stephen and I sleep there now."

My stomach twisted painfully as I followed her up the grand staircase. At the top, a figure appeared in the doorway of the master suite.

Stephen.

His eyes met mine, cold and unrecognizable. The man who had once looked at me with such tenderness now regarded me as if I were a stranger.

"Ah, there you are," Pearl cooed, running to him. "I was just showing Isabella her duties."

Stephen's gaze lingered on me for a moment before sliding away. "Make sure she understands her place," he said flatly.

---

The crystal glasses clinked as I arranged them on the dining table. Pearl's dinner party was in full swing, the room filled with laughter and the clatter of silverware against fine china.

"More wine, Mrs. Harrington?" I asked, approaching a woman draped in jewels.

"Yes, do fill it up," she replied without looking at me. "I hear your father's company is completely bankrupt now. Such a shame."

I kept my expression neutral as I poured the wine, though my hand trembled slightly.

"Isabella used to be quite the socialite," another guest remarked. "Wasn't she presented at the Royal Ball last year?"

"How the mighty have