Like every other day before, Sarah Miller woke up early in the servant quarters. Her eyelids were heavy yet she forced herself off the bed and into the bathroom. Bent over the sink, she splashed some water from the running faucet on her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes were wider than a few seconds ago. Her gaze trailed her facial features. Her pale skin is a contrast to her messy black hair.

Before she could slip into a pool of her thoughts, Sarah looked away from her reflection and reached for her toothbrush. The rest of her routine followed without a hitch. Soon, she left the room in her grey uniform and a pair of flats. Her straight, shoulder-length hair was neatly tied to the back with a band.

"Good morning, Mika." She met the cook in the kitchen already hard at preparing breakfast.

Mika, a young natural red-headed woman with a bob hairstyle smiled warmly at her. She was in her mid-forties and effortlessly appeared younger than that.

"Morning Sarah. How was your night?"

Sarah nodded with a humble smile as she poured herself a half-cup of water. "Fine and yours?"

Mika shrugged. "So and so... I just know I need a vacation."

Sarah chuckled lightly as she headed for the exit. "But you just returned from one."

Mika shook her head. "It wasn't enough. It's never enough, especially when you're getting older."

Sarah softly raised both brows with her head tilted a little to the side. "Oh, but you're so young."

Mika smiled wider.

"Thank you. I feel so much better."

Sarah smiled.

"Have you seen Mrs. Blackwell? She's usually in the study room by now." Mika queried before Sarah could walk away.

"I haven't seen her. She went in late last night. Perhaps, she's still asleep." Sarah replied, standing at the threshold of the entrance.

Mika's eyes held a softer gaze. "Poor woman, she waited long enough for her son's return."

Sarah could not help it. Her thoughts wandered back to the first time she saw Ramsey Blackwell. For the past two months, she has been working for the Blackwells and a week ago was the first time she saw him. That late evening, Sarah had opened the door for him. He smiled at her with a certain warmth and glint in his eyes. It made it hard for her to look him in the eyes for the next few moments. She did her best not to show it. The man in front of her was indeed attractive, appearance-wise. Ramsey wore a warm blue buttoned-down shirt with slightly folded sleeves and a pair of dark blue trousers. His hair was a short and hot mess of wavy strands. On one hand, he held a small traveling bag.

"Hello, I haven't seen you before," Ramsey stated before he stretched a hand out to her. "My name is Ramsey Blackwell."

Sarah was momentarily surprised by the offer to shake her hand. None of the guests or family members who walked through this door ever looked at her as an equal. Despite feeling conflicted, she found herself sliding her hand into his. Although his hand was bigger and firmer, he held hers delicately, leaving her more enamored.

"Blackwell?" She thought as the word flew out of her mouth and she simultaneously withdrew her hand from his.

He smiled rather than find her action offensive.

"Is mum in?"

"Uh, Mrs. Blackwell stepped out an hour ago."

He nodded and commented. "Good." Then he was on his way up the stairs. She stared at him a little longer than she was supposed to, before she closed the door. Sarah made a mental note to keep on her toes and not to get distracted.

"Sarah."

Finally, she lifted her eyes to Mika.

"I lost you there for a minute. Are you okay?"

Sarah nodded right away. She felt somewhat foolish for revisiting that memory as if it held some significance. As she walked away, she shook her head to rid herself of any further thought about that. Before resuming work, she left her father a check-in text like she always did every morning since she started living away from him.

Sarah began her work of cleaning and tidying up. The house was a large mansion of six rooms, two living rooms, a garden, a poolside, and various other spaces that required daily check-in. Thank God she was not the only maid handling it. Sometimes, she plugged her ears with earbuds and listened to any random playlist. Mostly upbeat songs. Anything to keep her going.

Freya Blackwell sipped some tea from her cup. She was seated in the living room. She looked up from her cup and noticed her son descending the final staircase.

"Ramsey," Freya called before he could leave her sight.

Ramsey turned to the direction of her voice and walked into the living room where she was.

"Good morning, mum."

"Morning." She gently set her cup back on the saucer on the center table. "It's a Saturday. Where are you going early in the morning without having breakfast?"

He wore a weak smile and sat on the sofa opposite her. "Well, here and there."

Freya's lips formed a thin line.

"We haven't had a good conversation since you came home."

His brows formed a light crease. "Really? I thought we did."

"This is serious, Ramsey. You can't avoid this topic forever. You've used work and travel as your excuse. I've been lenient because of that."

Ramsey chuckled. "Come on mum, you haven't been lenient with your demands."

She paused. Her gaze fixated on her son.

"You're not getting any younger..."

"There it is."

"...There are a few women that I've found that would be a good match for you. Most are willing to meet you right away."

His gaze wandered away from her and fell on the maid who had her back to them. He tilted his head a little to the side to get a side glimpse of her face. She was busy setting up the dining table for breakfast. He recognised her from the few times he had seen her around, and a strange thought came to his mind.

"Ramsey, I'm doing this for your good. You need to appear together so your father and the board members do not have a reason to choose your brother over you..." Her words trailed away as she watched her son walking towards the maid.

He put an arm over her shoulder and gently turned her. She was ready to fight back and push the stranger away until she looked upon his face. The young woman froze in that state. Her eyes were wider than usual. It felt like this was a dream. A dream she didn't entirely consent to having.

Her scent filled his nostrils, heavier than the first time they met. Ramsey wore a soft smile across his face.

"What's your name cherry?"

She blinked a few times, breaking free of her frozen state. Her throat felt oddly dry, and she couldn't find her voice on time. "Sarah. S-Sarah Miller."

Ramsay softly held her hand. "Well, Sarah Miller, will you marry me?"

Sarah's gaze wandered from her hand in his to his face. She couldn't believe her ears. Her lashes battered more often than normal.

"What?"

"Will you marry me?" Ramsey repeated, his gaze unshaken from hers. A light smile remained planted on his face. This disrupted her chain of thoughts. She couldn't think at all. If there was ever a doubt before, this somehow certified that she had to be dreaming. Dream or not, her speechlessness reminded her of how inexperienced she was.

Sarah didn't know how to react or what to say to him. Surely, a resounding no was the right choice given that he's a stranger and they're like the sky and earth. Yet, she didn't say that one word. Perhaps, she felt too shaken by the sudden proposal. Was it even right to call it that? After all, he was her employer's son. Her boss.

"Miss Miller, please excuse us." Freya's words were like a saving grace for her.

Sarah forced herself to snap out of it. She casually withdrew her hand from his and was glad he let her go without a struggle. It took everything to steady her balance as she left their presence.

"Please cease from playing around with the maid. Now, we can get back to business. I've set you up on a date for today. I'll send you the address and time to meet her."

Ramsey put his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "Hmm... It's a pity. I just proposed." He smiled at her before walking away. Freya watched him leave without an expression on her face. She leaned back into her seat, put an arm on the armrest, and gently rubbed the left side of her temple.

Sarah walked into her room and gently closed the door behind her. She sat down on her bed.

All her life, Sarah has never felt the main character's energy. Most of the time, she was convinced she was merely a side character in someone else's story, so the author didn't bother to make anything special about her life. And oddly enough, she was okay with it. But now, something has changed. This was the most extraordinary thing that had happened to her... even though it wasn't real.