Chapter 138
Daisy’s POV
From my vantage point in the garden alcove, I watched with barely contained fury. That ambitious little nobody Cedar had already sunk
her claws into Aiden, and now she was after Aria too!
Did she truly believe that winning over a few children would secure her position as the next Mrs. Sterling? What a laughably pathetic
fantasy!
I forced myself to breathe deeply, composing my features before making my way toward the house. By then, the guests had moved to the dining hall, and Auntie Rachel had gone to her bedroom to
change into something more formal for dinner.
I intercepted her just as she was emerging from her suite.
“Auntie Rachel,” I said with practiced warmth, using the familiar
address I’d employed since childhood.
Our families had moved in the same Gold Coast circles as the
Sterlings. After my family’s financial ruin, I had become the Sterling
children’s dance instructor–essentially a glorified nanny, though I’d
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rather have died than acknowledge that humiliating reality.
I desperately distinguished myself from the other household staff. While they addressed Ridley as “Mr. Sterling,” I called him “Ridley” as Irene once did. While they said “Mrs. Sterling,” I said “Auntie Rachel,” clinging to the pretense that I was still the daughter of her social equal rather than her employee.
This small distinction was my lifeline to my former status.
“Daisy, where’s Aria?” Auntie Rachel glanced around, noting the absence of her granddaughter.
“I’ll bring her down for dinner shortly,” I replied, forcing a smile.
See how it was? Even Auntie Rachel’s first words to me were always
about Aria. I was nothing more than Aria’s caretaker in her eyes!
But being a nanny wasn’t so terrible if it eventually led to becoming their stepmother. If that day came, all these years of sacrifice might
prove worthwhile.
With that thought, my smile faltered, replaced by a carefully crafted expression of distress and vulnerability.
Seeing my troubled expression, she asked with genuine concern,
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“Daisy, what’s wrong?”
“Auntie Rachel, did you… did you notice that woman who arrived with
Ridley?” I bit my lip, allowing my voice to tremble slightly.
Auntie Rachel smoothed a stray hair behind her ear, her expression
turning serious. “What about her? Do you know Miss Wright?“/
“I met her when I took Aria to Sterling headquarters last month,” I
said softly. “He treats this Miss Wright quite… differently. They were
alone in his office for two entire hours before emerging…”
“Is that so?” Auntie Rachel’s eyebrows rose slightly.
She knew her son better than anyone. Since Irene’s death, Ridley had
seemingly withdrawn from romantic entanglements, never allowing
another woman into his life. He had even declared at last year’s
Christmas party that he would never remarry.
Even I, who grew up alongside him, had never received any special
attention despite years of devoted service to his family.
If Ridley hadn’t made that declaration about never remarrying, would Auntie Rachel have resorted to such measures to secure
grandchildren?
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But now, the possibility that Ridley had spent two hours alone with a
woman in his office?
A man and woman, behind closed doors for that long–it was difficult
not to doubt their relationship.
I watched Auntie Rachel’s face transform with shock. Her composed
features, usually a perfect mask of high society indifference, betrayed
a complex mix of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher.
No rage. Just… surprise.
A moment of panic fluttered in my chest. Could she actually accept
this nobody as her son’s partner? As the future Mrs. Sterling? I
steadied myself, carefully recalculating my approach.
“Auntie Rachel,” I sighed dramatically, leaning forward. “Believe me,
I’d be the first to celebrate if Ridley found someone who truly made
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