Serena was left speechless with Ethan words. Yes, she finally gave him a piece of her mind, but why does she feel sad inside. Dragging her feet back to her room, she slouched her body on the bed. Even After closing her eyes, sleep didn't come a bit. His words kept ringing in her head. What if she's wrong, he's not what she thinks he is. What if there's something behind his kindness which she mistook as something else. She saw something in his eyes when she said those words to him. He was taken aback. She mentally scolds herself for saying something without full thinking or knowing the real truth. I'll apologize to him tomorrow, she said to herself covering her body with the duvet.

**

Morning came, as usual, she did her required works as Mrs. Beatrice and her husband took the early flight to Scotland. Entering Abby's room which is a bit dark with a small lap illuminating the room. She gently tapped the girl waking her up.

"Wake up Abby it's time for school" she whispered enough for the girl to hear.

"Good Morning Aunt Serena" the girl greeted squeezing her eyes.

"Morning Abby, hope you slept well"

"Yes Anty Serena, I dreamed of my Mummy" There is something about the girl that made her drawn to her. The main reason she doesn't want to stop working in the house. She feels so sad for Abby. The girl has to live without her mother by her side.

"Okay, let's go take a bath, eat breakfast and then Daniel will take you to school"

After bathing her, dressing her up, they descend downstairs where the rest of the maids are working.

"Good morning Serena," Rebecca one of the maid said. She also started working at the house not long ago.

"Good morning Rebecca," Serena answered with a smile "Is Abby's breakfast ready?" she inquired.

"Yes, let me go get it" Rebecca disappear to the kitchen and came back with a glass of milk and a plate of waffles.

"Yay waffles" Abby squeal happily. Waffles are her favorite. The girl wouldn't mind eating it every day. Rebecca placed the plate and the glass cup in front of her and she digs in almost immediately.

"Careful," Serena said seeing as she's on the verge of staining her uniform with the strawberry jam.

"I will" Abby answered with the waffles stuffed in her mouth.

Serena glanced at the stairs wondering if Ethan has left for office already. She knew he would be taking care of his father's business while they're away and the man used to leave for office early. Her thoughts were interrupted by Abby's voice.

"Bye Aunt Serena"

"Bye Abby" she was engrossed with her thoughts not knowing when Abby finished her breakfast. Rebecca is now packing the plates when she decided to ask her, maybe she saw him coming down.

"Um... Rebecca has Mr. Ethan left for work?" she tried not to show any form of concern.

"No, I didn't see him coming down" just then, the man in question beat them to it. Serena's eyes snapped towards the direction. Her eyes coming in contact with his face. All of a sudden, she felt the beating of her heart increase. His brows were knitted together, checking on his watch. Ethan felt like someone was watching him. Raising his face, he was met with a pair of light brown eyes staring back at him. A smirk made it way out of his lips. He thought of last night's events, and his smile changes to that of a frown. To be honest, no one has ever accused him of such things. He admits that he sleeps around but not with any woman and the fact that she thinks he has bad intentions towards her, hurt him. Yes, he wouldn't say he's not angry at her but he doesn't hate her also. Heck that made him even more curious to know her. He will make sure she apologizes to him. Glancing at her once again, her head was cascaded down. while walking pass them, he heard them greeting him.

"Good Morning sir"

"Good Morning Rebecca how are you?" he clearly heard Serena greetings too but decided to ignore her. He watched her through the corner of his eyes seeing something in her eyes. Guilt.

"I'm fine sir" Rebecca replied back with a smile. When she first heard the news about him coming back, she thought he would be some arrogant spoilt man but it turns out that he's the exact opposite. Walking pass them, the corner of his mouth twitch. Serena was left standing like a statue. She didn't blame him, he has the right to treat her the way he did. But why did it hurt her when he didn't reply to her greetings.

"You know, Mr. Ethan is a nice man. If someone sees him they will think he's an arrogant man but as the saying goes don't judge a book by it cover" that made her more guilty for thinking negatively about him.

"Serena" Rebecca called seeing the woman she's talking to completely zoned out.

"Uh.. what did you say?" she asked her brows knitting together.

"I said Mr. Ethan is a nice man" Rebecca repeated.

"Yes, he is" Serena forced out a smile. She was about to leave when she stopped. "Rebecca make sure Mrs. Beatrice and her husband rooms are being cleaned" saying that she sprinted up. Upon reaching her room she found Lily on her bed.

"Hey what are you doing in my room?" she asked moving towards the bed. Lily shakes the black book in her hands. Serena's diary. She snatched it away, hoping the girl didn't read all the content as almost all her life story is written inside.

"I think you've started crossing the limit. I don't like people invading my privacy, now if you can excuse me." Lily was surprised by her outburst. She knows Serena as someone who doesn't get angry easily but the tone she used now isn't a pleasing one.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again" She walked out quietly. Serena heaves out a sigh. She hid the diary where no one will find it.

**

The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur. After Abby came back from school, she changed her out of the uniform to a simple pink dress.

"Aunt Serena, I want to watch cartoon," Abby said.

"Okay but promise me you'll behave" Serena warned knowing what Abby is capable of. She can turn the whole living room into a mess.

"Promise," she said in her girlish voice pulling out her pinky fingers.

"Good girl" moving toward the LCD TV she switched it on to a kids' channel.

"Abby I'll allow you to watch for only an hour got it," she said getting silent in return.

"Abby" she called.

"Are-" the words died down when she came face to face with Ethan, his arms folded together and Abby was also sitting quietly.

"Can I speak to you for a moment" she muttered without looking at him. Ethan stared at her smiling.

"Enjoy your cartoon Abby" Ethan ruffled her hair.

They went towards a corner a few miles away from Abby.

"What does the fierce woman wants to talk to me about" Ethan started folding his arms across his chest once again. Serena fidgets with her fingers not knowing how or where to start.

"Or do you still have more to add to yesterday's conversation," he said with an amused smile. He could feel her nervousness.

"I'm sorry"

Ethan was a bit surprised. He do know that she would apologize, but he didn't expect it to be soon.

"What did you say?" he asked. playing dumb to her words. It was really hard to say it and now he's telling her that he can't hear her.

"I said I'm sorry"

"You're what?"

"Hmm? he asked again hearing silence from her.

"I'm sorry," she said through gritted teeth. He really wants her to shout on top of her lungs and that wouldn't happen.

"I'll accept your apology but on one condition" he whispered taking slow steps towards her.

"And what is your condition?"

"Let's be friends"