Chapter 10. The Game Begins

Maria woke up feeling unusually lively on a Saturday morning. Without much thought, she made her way straight to the kitchen, where Bernard’s mother was cooking. Though there were maids in the house, Bernard’s mother preferred to prepare meals for her family herself. Hearing footsteps behind her, she instinctively turned to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Maria approaching. She froze for a moment, watching the young woman with an unreadable expression, her hands pausing mid-task. Maria walked closer, breaking the silence with an enthusiastic, "Good morning, ma’am!" Bernard’s mother simply nodded in response, still staring at Maria with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. It was clear she was trying to make sense of the sudden change. Maria had never once set foot in the kitchen since she arrived at the house. Taking a deep breath, Maria spoke again. "I know I’ve been arrogant and foolish all this while. Maybe it’s because of what happened to my parents... but I want to apologize for my behavior. Please forgive me, ma’am." Her voice carried a convincing tone of sincerity. Victoria didn’t look convinced yet. Given her nature, she wasn’t the type to fall easily for kind words, so she decided to probe further. "What suddenly changed your mind? And when did I ever complain about your attitude?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Maria suddenly lowered her gaze slightly, as if humbled. "I just realized that I haven’t been acting right. If there’s anything I should be doing, it’s showing gratitude. Your family saved me, and now I am part of it. I’m truly sorry, ma’am. Please forgive me." Bernard’s mother watched Maria closely. Though she wasn’t entirely convinced, something about the girl’s words pleased her. The stern look on her face softened just a little. "Hmm..." she muttered, folding her arms. "Alright. What exactly do you want now?" Maria hesitated, as if gathering her emotions, then looked up with pleading eyes. "I’ve been lonely, ma’am. Ever since my parents passed away, I’ve had no one to talk to. Please... just be the mother I no longer have." Victoria’s expression faltered for a brief moment. She hesitated before a small, almost reluctant smile formed on her lips. "Alright," she finally said. "But only if you promise to be a good girl." "I promise!" Maria exclaimed happily. "Thank you for accepting me!" She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Bernard’s mother in a warm hug. But behind that embrace, her mind was racing. ’This is the first step in getting back what’s mine.’ Maria remained in the kitchen, assisting with the morning meal, playing her part flawlessly. When breakfast was ready, they both carried the dishes to the dining room. The moment Bernard and Beta Gilbert walked in and saw Maria serving alongside Bernard’s mother, their reactions were instant. Beta Gilbert’s face lit up with approval, clearly pleased to see the two women getting along. Bernard, on the other hand, looked completely taken aback. His face twisted in a mix of shock and suspicion, his eyes narrowing as he watched Maria closely. But she ignored him. Throughout breakfast, Maria engaged in cheerful conversation with Bernard’s parents, smiling and speaking as though she had been part of the family all along. Bernard, however, barely touched his food. He kept throwing glances at Maria, but she acted as though she didn’t notice. ’He’s going to confront me after this.’ Maria thought. And she was right. As soon as breakfast ended and she made her way toward her room, Bernard called after her. "Maria. A word. In the garden." Maria smirked internally but kept her expression neutral. Without a word, she followed him outside. The moment they were out of sight, Bernard grabbed her wrist, his grip firm. His eyes burned with frustration. "What exactly are you trying to do?" he demanded. "What are you talking about?" Maria blinked, feigning innocence. "And let go of my hand, you’re hurting me!" She yanked her arm free from his grasp. Bernard stepped closer, his jaw clenched. "You think you’re smart, don’t you? I’m warning you... Stop this little ’good girl’ act with my parents and stay in your lane!" Maria let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "If anyone should stay in their lane, Bernard, it should be you. You said you don’t have any feelings for me, so why are you so bothered by my actions?" She gave him a mischievous smirk. Bernard froze. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. He just stood there, speechless, watching as Maria turned her back on him and walked away. Later that day, Maria sat alone in her room, deep in thought. Her plan was unfolding, but she still had a long way to go. "The documents... I need to get my hands on those documents," she murmured to herself. "Whatever I do, I must make sure I don’t raise suspicion." Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a knock came at the door. "Who could that be?" She sat up quickly, her heart skipping a beat. When the door opened, she was stunned to see Beta Gilbert stepping inside. She immediately jumped out of bed, her body stiff with both surprise and curiosity. "Good evening, sir!" she greeted, trying to keep her voice steady. Beta Gilbert was a difficult man to read. He always wore a calm, smiling expression, no matter the situation. "Hello, Maria," he said warmly. "I hope I’m not disturbing you. I came to have a little chat—if you don’t mind." "No, sir. It’s okay." Maria forced a small smile. He nodded approvingly before settling into a chair. "Since the passing of your parents, I know things haven’t been easy for you. Especially with my wife and son. How have you been coping?" His voice carried a genuine note of concern. Maria inhaled deeply, choosing her words carefully. "It hasn’t been easy at all, sir," she admitted. "Everything happened so fast... It’s been overwhelming. But I’m grateful to have a family like yours to support me." Beta Gilbert watched her closely, then leaned forward. "Tell me, Maria. How do you feel about the fact that everything your parents worked for was given to Bernard?" Maria’s heart pounded. She hadn’t expected him to ask something so direct. For a split second, her breath caught in her throat. She had to stay calm. "I won’t lie, sir," she said slowly. "At first, I felt... cheated. I didn’t understand why it had to be that way. But now, I’ve accepted it. After all, I’ll be marrying Bernard, won’t I?" She forced a small, hesitant smile. Beta Gilbert studied her carefully before nodding. "I appreciate your honesty. And I must commend you for handling this with such grace. You haven’t thrown insults or lashed out. That is admirable." Maria stayed silent, her smile never faltering. "If I had known about your father’s decision earlier, I might have tried to change his mind," Beta Gilbert continued. "I even thought about asking Bernard to return everything to you. But in the end, we must respect your parents’ wishes. They must have had their reasons." Maria gave a small nod, pretending to accept his words. "I was also pleased to see you and my wife getting along today," he added, standing up. "Please, keep it up." "Of course, sir." Maria smiled back. With a satisfied nod, Beta Gilbert exited the room. The moment he was gone, Maria’s expression darkened, the smile fading from her lips. ’They believe I’m on their side now. That means... It’s time to strike.’ A slow, cunning smirk stretched across her face. The game had officially begun...