Should we do something about it?

The next morning, Lia woke up early, as she had long since developed an automatic biological clock. No matter how late she stayed up, she always woke up early.

In the past, one of her responsibilities was waking Lucas up and making sure he was on time for work.

Lucas was always grumpy in the mornings, cursing people, sometimes even throwing things. All the servants at Valen's house were terrified of him and avoided calling him up, except for Lia.

She couldn't even remember how many times he had scolded her. But there was no escaping it. Living under someone else's roof meant she had to do her job well.

At first, she lived in Valen's servant room. She managed to move out once she got a job, but she still had to keep working for him. No matter where she was or what time it was, her job was always the same: get Lucas to work on time. If she didn't, it meant she hadn't done her job properly.

"Why did you wake up so early?" a familiar voice asked.

She didn't realize Cassius had woken up when she moved.

His long arms circled her slender waist and pulled her back into his chest. 

"Boss, you have to go to work today. Let me prepare your clothes," Lia said, not daring to stop moving. It was the only way she could feel at ease, by doing something.

"Boss?" he murmured lazily, his grip tightening around her.

He opened his eyes slowly, his gaze soft, almost playful. "You're already in work mode. Has your discomfort passed?"

Lia wasn't expecting him to ask and awkwardly nodded.

Cassius raised the corner of his lips into a smile, then turned over, pressing her gently under him, his eyes dark with intention. "Since you're feeling better so early, should we do something about it?"

Lia's face flushed red, and instinctively, she put her hand between them. "Not yet," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He chuckled softly, rolling back to lie beside her, still keeping her in his arms. 

"Then sleep. I'll tell you my schedule later," he said, his voice soft but teasing.

Cassius' nose brushed against her neck, and the sensation made her shiver slightly, though it seemed he enjoyed it. 

"Sleep," he whispered again, and Lia, unable to resist, allowed herself to relax in his arms. 

Although she wasn't sleepy anymore, she didn't want to disturb him, especially after he had fallen back asleep. She lay still, her face turned to his chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of his breathing.

Cassius wore a two-piece pajama set, and the soft fabric clung to his frame. Lia couldn't help but glance at the faint contours of his muscles beneath the fabric.

It wasn't that Lia hadn't seen naked men before—aside from Cassius, there was also Lucas, who had a hard, muscular body—but she had never been so close to one like this. The sight made her feel uneasy, but she tried to push the thoughts from her mind. 

The man shifted slightly, and the collar of his pajama top pulled open just enough for Lia to get a glimpse of his defined chest. She quickly shut her eyes, trying to block the image, but little did she know, a smile curled at the corner of Cassius' lips.

After a while, Lia fell back asleep, only to wake up later to find that Cassius was already dressed. 

"Sorry," she muttered, embarrassed that she had slept so deeply.

Cassius glanced at the clock and then at her. "You sleep a little longer. I'll have them bring breakfast."

"No need to bother," Lia replied, feeling guilty.

Cassius had already gotten up, so how could she remain in bed?

She quickly got out of bed and saw him tying his tie. She walked over and offered to help.

"Let me do it," she said quietly.

At Valen's house, Lia had learned how to take care of others, how to serve Lucas. She had done it for so long that it had become second nature to her, though Lucas would never let her do anything for him.

Even here, she knew her place very well.

"Okay," Cassius said with a slight nod.

Lia stepped back, but he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, pulling her closer.

"Cassius," she said softly, her heart racing as his hands lingered.

He didn't say anything at first, only pinched her small chin, raising her face so he could look into her eyes.

"My schedule is to wake up at 7:30 in the morning and go to bed at 11 p.m.," he said, his voice business-like but with a warmth that she couldn't quite place.

"Okay," Lia replied, listening quietly.

Cassius paused, then lightly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Does our communication really have to be so formal?"

Lia's lips pursed as she thought about how to respond. "Uh, what should I do?" she asked.

He smiled, almost tenderly. "I don't need a servant, and you're not a servant. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lia nodded slowly. "Okay."

She tried to remind herself of her identity, to keep a clear sense of where she stood, but his words blurred everything. This man wasn't harsh with her, he didn't treat her like a servant, but instead, he was good to her in ways she didn't fully understand. Was it just because of their physical relationship? If that were the case, would he treat all his bed partners this way? Or was this just something unique about him?

It was said that everyone at Ravencroft Group admired him. Within just two years, he had been promoted to general manager. Even though he was the son of the CEO, he had won the approval of the board—something no one had expected. His success at work was undeniable, but it seemed that his ability to connect with others extended beyond just business.

After breakfast, Lia sat with him, receiving far more attention than she had anticipated.

"Don't you like it?" Cassius asked, noticing she hadn't eaten much.

Lia quickly noticed the butler's nervous glance. "No, it's delicious," she said, trying to reassure them.

Her words seemed to ease the tension, and the butler relaxed. It was clear that the household took Cassius' opinion very seriously.

When Lia saw Cassius looking at her, she awkwardly picked up a crystal bun and put it in her bowl.

"Tell the kitchen what you want," Cassius said casually.

"Okay," Lia replied, still unsure of how to handle the sudden attention.

"Max," Cassius called, his tone sharp.

"Please tell me, sir," Max, the butler, replied respectfully.

"Based on Lia's tastes," Cassius added.

"Yes, sir." Max and the other servants looked at Lia with new interest. The only woman Cassius had brought back home was now the subject of their quiet curiosity.

Lia ate the buns slowly, her mind racing. Was he being too kind to her? Was this how he treated everyone, or was there something more to it?

After breakfast, they left the villa together, and soon, whispers began to circulate among the staff.

"Is this lady our future mistress?" Maid 1 whispered excitedly.

"It must be. When has the master ever brought a woman back? Aside from his wife and Miss Stella, no one else," Maid 2 responded confidently.

"The most important thing is, they're living in the same room now," another maid added.

"I even saw Lia's neck…" one of them whispered, barely audible.

"Yes, I saw it too, a lot of marks," another maid said, her voice full of gossip.

The servants gathered together, their excitement growing.

"I never thought the gentleman could be so enthusiastic. " one of the maids said in shock.

"Right? Wow…" another added, wide-eyed.

"What are you all talking about?" Max's voice interrupted as he entered the room, his hands behind his back.

"Nothing," the maids quickly replied, pretending to be busy.

"I'm wiping the table," one maid said hurriedly.

"I'm mopping the floor," another claimed, looking innocent.

The group quickly dispersed, trying to cover up their gossip.

"If I hear any more gossip, you'll be leaving," Max warned sharply.

Immediately, the room fell silent, and the maids returned to their work, quietly aware of the consequences of their curiosity.