CH1: The Girl Who Never Looked Up

Three years ago, Siren Dawson arrived at the gates of the Agreste Mansion. She was only sixteen years old back then—young, small, and trembling with fear. Her own parents had handed her over to the head of the household just to settle all the debts they had accumulated over the years. They did not hesitate, did not shed a tear, and did not even ask if she wanted to go. All they cared about was clearing their names and getting rid of the financial problems they created.

Siren did not fight back. She agreed to come here not just because she had no choice, but because of her younger sister, Velle. If she left, she knew very well that the same cruelty, hardship, and suffering she was facing now would be passed on to Velle. She could not let that happen. Even though her parents treated them like objects or tools to be used, Siren loved her sister more than anything. She would endure everything, just to make sure Velle remained safe and far away from their parents’ bad intentions. She still could not understand why the people who were supposed to love and protect them seemed to have so much hatred and anger in their hearts whenever they looked at their daughters.

For four years now, Siren has been working in this huge, cold mansion. She did every task given to her perfectly—cleaning, washing, cooking, and serving the family. She was quiet, obedient, and never complained. But there was one rule she strictly followed: she never looked directly into the eyes of the man who owned this place. Simon Agreste.

Everyone knew who he was. He was the most powerful man in the city, feared by everyone, respected by his allies, and dangerous to his enemies. His aura was always cold, his expression serious, and his presence alone commanded silence and respect. For four years, Siren had seen him pass by the hallways, had heard his voice giving orders, and had even stood near him while serving food. But not once did she dare lift her head to meet his gaze. To her, he was like the sun—bright, powerful, and impossible to look at directly without getting hurt. She knew her place, and she was content just doing her job and keeping herself invisible.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mansion, Simon Agreste was dealing with a different kind of pressure. At thirty years old, he had built an empire with his own hands. He had wealth, power, and authority, but there was one thing he could not control: the decisions of his family. For years, they had been arranging marriages for him, bringing women from rich and influential families, saying that it was needed to strengthen their business and their name. But Simon refused every single one of them. He did not want a marriage based on business or status. He wanted something real, something that was not driven by greed or power.

Now, time was running out. His beloved grandmother, the woman who raised him and whom he respected the most, was coming home soon. She had given him a clear condition: he must be married before she arrived. And she told him something that surprised everyone—she did not care who the woman was, where she came from, or what her status in life was. Whether she was rich or poor, educated or simple, from a good family or not, she would accept her as long as she was the woman Simon truly loved and chose for himself.

“Love does not choose status or bloodline,” his grandmother had said. “It chooses the heart.”

Simon kept those words in his mind. He did not know yet who that woman would be, but he knew that when he found her, he would know immediately. He spent his days working, making decisions, and handling dangerous matters, but deep inside, he was also waiting for that person who would change his world.

One afternoon, a change happened in the mansion. The management decided to move the maids’ quarters to a different wing of the building, providing new rooms and better facilities for all the workers. Siren was given her own small room, and she felt grateful. It was simple, but it was hers.

As the sun began to set, Siren entered her new room. It was still dim because the curtains were closed. She walked slowly toward the window, her hands reaching out to pull the heavy curtains open to let the light and fresh air come inside. She was smiling softly, happy with her new space, completely unaware that someone was watching her from far above.

Inside his office located at the highest floor of the mansion, Simon was standing by the large glass window that overlooked the entire grounds and the rooms below. He was holding a glass of red wine in his hand, his eyes usually cold and empty, but now they were fixed on a certain figure moving inside one of the rooms.

He saw her. He saw Siren Dawson.

He watched as she slowly pulled the curtains open, revealing her face fully for the first time in a way he could clearly see. The light of the setting sun hit her face, making her look so pure, so innocent, and so beautiful. She looked so different from the woman he always saw walking with her head bowed down, looking small and scared. In that moment, as she stood there looking at the sky, she looked like an angel who had accidentally landed in his dark and dangerous world.

Simon stood there motionless, his wine glass forgotten in his hand. He had seen her many times before, but he had never really seen her—not like this. He started to notice things he never paid attention to before: how gentle her movements were, how careful she was with everything she touched, and how even when she was working hard, she still managed to look graceful and kind.

From that day on, something changed in Simon. He found himself looking for her everywhere he went. When he walked down the hallways, his eyes would search for her figure. When he sat in the dining area, he would look for her among the staff. Even when he was busy working late at night, he would find himself standing by his window, looking down at her room, just to catch a glimpse of her.

He knew who she was. He knew her story—how she was sold by her parents, how she worked hard every day, and how she stayed silent despite everything she had gone through. He knew she was just a maid, a girl from a poor background, and that there was a huge difference between their positions in life. There was also a big gap in their ages—he was thirty, and she was only nineteen.

But as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, Simon realized something that scared and excited him at the same time.

His view of her had completely changed.

He did not see her as just a maid anymore. He did not see her as a girl who was sold and had nothing. He saw her as the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. He saw her as the one who could bring light into his dark life.

But the question remained in his mind: Could someone like her ever love someone like me? Could there really be hope for our love, despite everything that separates us?

To be continue....

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