The next morning, Elena woke up before sunrise.
Soft darkness still covered most parts of the Cole mansion while the workers' quarters remained completely silent. For a few seconds, she sat quietly on the narrow bed while staring at the small window nearby.
Then her expression slowly hardened again.
She did not come here to relax.
She came for revenge.
The memory of her mother's face quietly flashed through her mind again.
The pain.
The suffering.
The helplessness.
Everything connected back to Vanessa's family.
Elena slowly stood before changing into her maid uniform.
Not long later, she entered the mansion kitchen where several workers were already preparing breakfast quietly.
The atmosphere inside the kitchen felt tense despite the early hour.
Nobody wasted time talking too much.
Everybody worked carefully.
Martha stood near the counter checking instructions while supervising the servants closely.
The moment she noticed Elena, she spoke immediately.
"You're helping upstairs today."
Elena nodded politely.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Take breakfast to Madam Vanessa's room once it's ready."
Elena lowered her gaze calmly.
"I understand."
Almost an hour later, breakfast was finally prepared.
Elena carefully pushed the silver cart toward the second floor.
The upper hallway remained silent and elegant. Expensive paintings decorated the walls while soft morning sunlight entered through the tall windows.
Everything inside the mansion looked beautiful.
But somehow, the beauty felt empty.
Cold.
Elena finally stopped outside the master bedroom before knocking softly.
"Come in."
Vanessa's voice sounded impatient already.
Elena entered quietly.
The room was massive and luxurious. Shopping bags rested carelessly across the couches while expensive perfume bottles decorated the vanity table.
Vanessa sat near the mirror wearing a silk robe while scrolling through her phone lazily.
She barely looked up.
"Set it there."
"Yes, Madam."
Elena carefully placed the breakfast tray onto the table.
Just as she turned to leave, Vanessa suddenly spoke again.
"You're the new maid, right?"
Elena stopped immediately.
"Yes, Madam."
Vanessa slowly lifted her eyes toward her.
For a few silent seconds, she carefully studied Elena's face.
Then her lips curved slightly.
"You're pretty."
The statement carried no warmth.
Only warning.
Elena remained calm.
"Thank you, Madam."
Vanessa leaned back lazily against her chair.
"Pretty women usually become problems inside wealthy homes."
Elena instantly understood the hidden meaning.
Vanessa clearly disliked attractive women around Adrian.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"I'm only here to work," Elena replied respectfully.
Vanessa gave a soft dry laugh.
"That's what they all say."
The atmosphere inside the room immediately became colder.
For one brief moment, Elena imagined exposing every ugly secret connected to Vanessa's family.
But not yet.
Everything needed patience.
Vanessa finally waved her hand dismissively.
"You can leave now."
"Yes, Madam."
Elena quietly walked out of the room before closing the door behind her.
The moment she entered the hallway again, her expression darkened slightly.
Vanessa truly was arrogant.
The type of woman who believed money placed her above everyone else.
Elena quietly clenched her fists.
One day, that pride would disappear completely.
Later that afternoon, Elena helped clean the large living room downstairs.
Several workers moved around quietly while arranging flowers and polishing expensive furniture.
The mansion looked peaceful on the surface.
But underneath…
tension existed everywhere.
Suddenly, sharp footsteps echoed loudly from the staircase.
Vanessa appeared again dressed elegantly in white while speaking angrily on her phone.
"I don't care what excuse they gave you," she snapped coldly. "I want the dress ready before Saturday."
The servants immediately lowered their heads further.
Nobody dared look directly at her.
Vanessa ended the call angrily before throwing her phone onto the couch carelessly.
"Where's Adrian?" she demanded sharply.
One of the older workers answered carefully.
"Mr. Cole already left for work earlier this morning, Madam."
Vanessa's face instantly hardened.
"He left without telling me?"
Nobody answered.
Vanessa scoffed bitterly.
"Unbelievable."
She grabbed her handbag roughly before storming toward the entrance.
Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor until the front doors finally slammed shut behind her.
The atmosphere inside the mansion relaxed immediately.
One younger maid quietly released a breath.
"She's angry again."
Another servant sighed softly.
"She's always angry lately."
"Careful," another worker warned quickly. "If Madam hears you gossiping, you'll lose your job."
Everybody immediately became quiet again.
Elena silently continued cleaning while observing everything carefully.
Interesting.
So even the workers noticed problems inside the marriage.
The perfect wealthy couple shown to the public was completely different behind closed doors.
A few hours later, Elena carried fresh towels upstairs toward the guest rooms.
As she passed one of the office rooms, voices suddenly reached her ears.
She slowed slightly.
The office door remained partly open.
Vanessa stood inside speaking angrily on the phone again.
"I'm tired of this marriage," Vanessa snapped bitterly. "Adrian barely even talks to me anymore."
Elena quietly remained near the hallway corner.
Vanessa continued pacing around the room irritably.
"He cares more about work than his own wife."
Silence followed briefly before Vanessa spoke again.
"No. I'm serious this time."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Sometimes I regret marrying him."
A cold smile slowly appeared on Elena's face.
Good.
Very good.
The unhappier Vanessa became inside this marriage…
the easier revenge would become.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from behind.
"Elena."
She turned quickly.
Martha stood nearby with a slight frown.
"What are you doing here?"
Elena lowered her gaze immediately.
"I came to deliver towels."
Martha looked at her carefully for a second before sighing.
"Finish your duties properly and avoid unnecessary trouble."
"Yes, ma'am."
Elena quickly walked away down the hallway.
But inwardly, her thoughts remained restless.
The Cole mansion was already filled with cracks.
Bitterness.
Distance.
Resentment.
And Elena planned to use every weakness carefully.
Because she did not enter this mansion to live peacefully.
She entered to destroy it from the inside.