12/05/2026
EPISODE 4 — The Coat
The mansion was finally quiet.
Most of the servants had already gone home while the remaining staff cleaned silently downstairs.
Only the sound of rain outside remained.
Inside the laundry area near the kitchen—
Althea carefully washed Damian Laurent’s white blazer beneath warm running water.
The faint red wine stain still remained across the expensive fabric.
Her hands moved slowly.
Carefully.
As if one mistake could destroy everything.
“I ruined it…”
She whispered softly to herself.
No matter how gently she cleaned—
The stain wouldn’t disappear completely.
“You’ll ruin it more if you keep staring at it like that.”
Althea flinched immediately.
Damian stood near the doorway.
One hand inside his pocket.
White dress shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar.
Sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.
For the first time—
He looked less intimidating.
More human.
Althea quickly lowered her gaze.
“I’m sorry…”
“I’ll pay for it somehow.”
Damian slowly walked closer.
“You?”
His eyes moved briefly across her appearance.
The wrinkled maid uniform.
The rolled sleeves.
The exhausted expression on her face.
“With what money?”
The words sounded harsh.
But strangely—
His voice no longer sounded mocking.
Althea quietly clenched the blazer tighter.
“I’ll find a way.”
For a moment—
Damian said nothing.
Then his gaze lowered toward her hands.
His expression changed slightly.
“You’re injured.”
Althea immediately hid her left hand behind her back.
“It’s nothing.”
But Damian stepped closer before she could move away.
Then suddenly—
He grabbed her wrist gently.
Althea froze instantly.
His hand felt warm.
Too warm.
A small cut near her fingers was still bleeding slightly from the broken glass earlier.
Damian stared at the injury silently.
Then—
Without warning—
He pulled a clean white handkerchief from his pocket.
Carefully wrapping it around her injured hand.
Gentle.
Slow.
Unexpectedly careful.
Althea looked up in shock.
Their eyes met beneath the warm kitchen lights.
And for one dangerous second—
Neither of them looked away.
✨ To be continued…