The Bride Under Her Facade

05

Chapter 05

3rd Person's POV

In the depths of the night, Sonia heard a bump against the door. She got up from bed and went down.

"France?" Sonia called out. She approached the door, adjacent to France's room.

She opened it. France stumbled onto her lap. Sonia immediately lifted her and checked her carefully. The child was still asleep.

"Mommy," France whispered. Sonia hugged her and whispered that mommy was there.

Sonia walked to France's bed and laid her back down. She noticed the child's forehead was red.

"I shouldn't have closed the door," Sonia whispered. She sat on the edge of the bed. France continued to hold Sonia's hand.

"You must be missing your mommy too, right?" Sonia whispered. Suddenly, Vladimir, her own son, came to Sonia's mind. It felt like her heart was being torn apart after remembering her son.

"Your mommy must be sad too, especially seeing you like this," Sonia whispered. She stroked France's hair.

Sonia didn't leave. She watched over France until she fell asleep beside her.

At exactly 3 a.m.— Fabian headed to the room because that was the time France usually woke up. It slipped his mind that Sonia was there and that there was a new nanny for France.

He opened France's door. Fabian stopped upon seeing Sonia. Her feet were on the floor, lying beside France. France held Sonia's hand.

They were both asleep. Fabian slowly approached the bed. He adjusted France's blanket. Fabian also took another blanket and covered Sonia with it.

Sonia seemed exhausted and didn't wake up. Fabian looked at Sonia and the child.

Fabian reached for Sonia's cheek. He quickly withdrew his hand and clenched his fist.

"What are you doing, Fabian? Are you going crazy?" Fabian whispered with a grim expression as he turned away. He walked away without looking back, heading to the door.

As the door closed, Sonia opened her eyes slightly. She slowly got up and looked at the blanket Fabian placed over her.

"Why are you so kind to me?"

---

The next weekend, France had no classes. In the morning, Fabian called for the four maids and two butlers.

"There's a quarter for the maids and butlers in the other building. When we're not here with France, they're here to clean. When I'm not around, they cook for France, which will be part of your duties since you're France's nanny," Fabian said. They each introduced themselves.

"I'm Sonia. The new maid—nice to meet you," Sonia said. Fabian instructed the butler to accompany Sonia around the mansion and answer any questions she might have.

"Late for work. Sonia, if you have any questions, just call Ariel," Fabian said, checking his wristwatch.

"I'll leave now. I'll call before noon to check on France," Fabian said and quickly headed to the living room door, leaving the mansion.

"Sonia, right? I'm Teressa, you can call me Tere. I've been working here for almost 4 years. I'm also a Martinez scholar," the woman said. She looked like a student.

The four women surrounded Sonia and asked how she met their boss.

"Why do you seem close to the young master?"

Sonia grinned. How could she explain that France mistook her for his mother?

"Teressa and Vivian, stop with the questions—clean the kitchen. The young master will wake up soon," the old butler interrupted. He looked like he was in his 60s.

"Do you know how to cook?" the butler asked. Sonia nodded. She usually cooked for their father and son.

She never expected to use her housewife skills for work.

Sonia started cooking. Bacon, hotdog, eggs, she also made sandwiches for the child, cookies, and milk.

"Mommy? Where's mommy!"

Sonia paused in placing the plate on the table. She saw France running.

"France!"

"Young master!"

Sonia quickly went out. The butler stopped the little boy from leaving the living room.

"Mommy!"

France ran to Sonia and hugged her. He thought Sonia had left.

Sonia lifted the child and said she prepared lots of yummy foods.

France stopped and looked at the kitchen. His eyes sparkled.

"Mommy, did you prepare this?" France asked. Sonia smiled and lowered the child. She said she cooked it.

Sonia knew France already knew she wasn't his mommy. But he still called her mommy. She let it be because she felt sorry for the child— he seemed to miss his mother.

Sonia prepared food for France, and he seemed to enjoy what she cooked.

"Daddy is good at cooking, but not with dry foods. I don't like it when he cooks dry foods even though it's my favorite because the last time he cooked it— it was either super burnt or raw," France said while eating. Sonia laughed after hearing France's complaints.

The cleaning maids smiled. That day, there was a change in the Martinez mansion. They could hear the young master's voice laughing and telling stories.

"When daddy hears that, I'm sure he'll be upset," Sonia said. France giggled and said even his mommy would make fun of daddy's cooking when daddy burnt the bacon.

Sonia's expression softened after hearing that. She asked France if he missed his mommy. France stopped. Sonia sat up straight.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Sonia said. The sadness in France's expression suddenly appeared.

"I miss my mom but— I'm so thankful because she chose to give up so she wouldn't get hurt anymore," France said. Sonia was surprised. She wanted to ask more, but she felt it wasn't right to ask anymore. France was still a child.