A week passes and things don't change – at all. Milena has been helping me looking for a new place to stay at. I won't tell her where I'm going, though. Because when I go, I don't want anyone to find me.

I'm now even more convinced that I have to leave than before. I understand now. I didn't before, but I do now. I understand why Adrian said my job would be safe and that all the previous housekeepers left on their own. They probably fell in love with him as well and he did this.

I don't know what's going on in his mind, but I can't stay here anymore. If he decided it's over ... I can't do this. I don't even know how I could be so foolish to even think this could work out between us, no matter in which direction things would lead us.

I complicated my life more than I should. Having an affair with a married man has never been on my 'to-do list', but here I am, being heartbroken because I expected and wanted too much.

Affairs aren't for romantic people like me. We fall in love too easily, we get expectations too high and read their signs completely wrong.

Maybe it was my fault this time and I messed it up and maybe it was even a wake-up call for me that I can't continue this. I can't continue living like this. I don't want to be a dirty secret anymore. And I don't want to be in a place where I'm not accepted anymore.

I saved a lot of money working here and I know I can get myself some decent place and find another job until I'm ready to go back to college to finish the last year that I have left.

I haven't seen Adrian since that night. I haven't even seen Mrs Welch much. I think Adrian was very serious with that divorce, but I don't know what that means for him. I know he didn't marry Mrs Welch out of love, but more like an obligation, which actually sounds so medival it would be funny in any other situation. I didn't know these things are still happening.

I make some calls, asking about the new places. I decided to stay in London, but I don't want to be in the centre anymore. Close enough so it's convenient for me studying here, but far enough from here. I don't want any chances to run into these people anymore.

I know I'll miss them all, even Mrs Welch – despite her being nothing but a stuck-up bitch most of the time. I'll miss Milena. She's like a mother I've never had and she made living here easier for me. I'll even miss Roswald, although I haven't seen that much of him, only occasionally.

And Adrian ... I'll leave a part of my soul here when I'll leave. Adrian has grown very close to my heart and I fell deep and hard for him, with no holding back at all, even though I didn't want this to happen. It was impossible not to.

But despite everything that happened, we could never be. There are too many things standing between us and we're both just too different for each other.

I don't know if Adrian took it seriously that I'm going to go. I didn't specify when, but I plan on stopping by his office today to tell him. I dread that moment. I've been preparing myself for it, but it's still hard. It's hard to leave it all behind, but I know it's what I have to do. I can't keep hoping and wishing for something that I'll never have.

I want to focus on finishing college, anyway. I can't afford any distractions.

I'm feeling down the whole day. I want to get the conversation with Adrian over as soon as I can, but he doesn't come home until eight in the evening and he brings a company.

My heart stops beating in my chest when I hear a soft, pleasing female's laughter. I don't even want to go see how she looks like. I lean against the counter and close my eyes as a stabbing pain shoots through me. This is why I can't stay here.

Milena suddenly appears next to me, putting her hand over mine in silent comfort. "I'll serve them."

I nod. As if there's any other option. Adrian specifically requested Milena should be the one in charge of bringing him things he desires for from now on, with which he proved that he really doesn't want to have to do anything with me anymore.

I can't work like that. And now bringing women here so soon? No puedo. I can't.

I wait until I don't hear them anymore. They went upstairs. I get a sinking feeling into my stomach. So that's how much I actually meant to him ... I'm really easily replaceable, it seems.

I don't know what I even expected. Milena warned me about what kind of a man he is, but I turned deaf to her warnings. And now I have my heart broken because of me being dumb and naive.

I should've never been so stupid to fall into his trap. Díos, soy estúpida. God, I'm stupid.

Milena goes right after them and when she returns she informs me they're in his office. As if that should calm me down. It makes me remember what we did there. In front of someone. I wince. It's not my proudest moment, but thinking that there's a possibility he could be doing this with someone else ...

"I'm so sorry, Cassie," Milena says softly. She shouldn't be apologising to me, she didn't do anything wrong.

Technically, Adrian didn't do anything wrong, either. The way I'm seeing it, he doesn't want to be involved with me anymore and I'm only here getting hurt for being a fool who fell in love. You stupid, stupid girl.

"It's alright, Milena. Maybe I'm at fault for falling in love with an unavailable man. Maybe this is just my Karma now." I smile sadly. I've always believed in karma, but I've always believed I'm doing good so she won't come and bite me in my ass.

But every good person does something bad once in a while and it never escapes Karma's notice. Sooner or later, you get what you deserve.

Or maybe this is just fate telling me that this is just not meant to be. It's going to hurt now, but it'll be a lesson learned, I'm sure.

Milena gives me such a sad smile, it would break my heart if it weren't broken into pieces already.

I tell myself it's okay. I tell myself it's completely alright. I mean, it isn't alright, but I know it will be alright.

"It's alright. Go take them what they need, I'll do the rest of work downstairs." And to think I wanted to talk to Adrian about leaving as soon as he came home ... It's like fate is playing tricks with me, but he just made my decision way easier.

I want to talk to him as soon as possible.

Milena looks at me. "I'm really sad you decided to leave, Cassie. I really like you and I thought you were good to him and for him."

"What other choice do I even have ..." I mutter to myself. Why should I torture myself any further?

"You'll find someone, Cassie. One day –"

"If you're two done chit-chatting, I just wanted to inform you, Milena, that we will also have something to eat."

We both jump apart when Adrian interrupts us. My cheeks instantly become red because he must've caught a part of our conversation and got a pretty good idea that we were talking about him, although he doesn't give anything away. His focus is solely on Milena, although I notice a crease between his eyebrows as if there was a thought that bothered him.

"Certainly, Adrian. In the dining room?" Milena recovers quicker than me. She doesn't look embarrassed to be caught talking about him with me at all. She's back to being professional in a second. Well, as professional as things can get in this house.

"In the office, please, Milena."

In the office. In the office. I inhale sharply. If Adrian hears it, he doesn't react to it. I know Milena heard me, because she looks at me from the corners of her eyes. I lower my eyes for a second, looking at the floor to gain the composure again.

"I want to speak to you when you'll be available," I tell Adrian, avoiding using his name because it feels weird to be calling him so formally, addressing him with Mr and continuing with his surname.

"I'm available now," Adrian answers.

I grit my teeth together. I even have a hard time looking him in the eyes, that's how far we've become. This is so painful. "It's a matter that should probably be discussed in private. In your office." I purposely emphasise the last word, although it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Where your company is currently waiting for you to come back to entertain her, Adrian.

I sound so jealous in my head and I have no right to be. I keep these thoughts to myself, thankfully, knowing that I won't have to be in this place for long anymore. The thought isn't very comforting, but it brings me hope that there might be better things waiting for me to find them.

"Can it wait until tomorrow?"

My stomach painfully clenches. Is he expecting to have company for that long?

"It'll have to, it seems," I say tightly, forcing a small smile on my face. I just want to burst into tears. God, it hurts to look at his face.

Adrian searches my face for just a few minutes as if he was looking for something. Whatever it is, I pettily hope he doesn't find it.

He nods. "Good. You can come by in the morning if it's that urgent, I'm staying at home."

I intertwine my hands together over my stomach, feeling so awkward. This is the man I've been intimate with, let him spank me and do many, many perverse things to me and now we can't even hold a conversation.

"I'll keep it in mind," I reply. I hear Milena sigh. Truthfully, I completely forgot she was in the same room with us.

Adrian nods. "Milena?" he shifts his attention on her and I'm completely forgotten.

I turn away from them both and just walk out of the room. I don't let myself cry. I tell myself it's pointless anyway, because it won't help me change the situation. I do the work I'm paid to do with the comforting thought that I won't have to do it for long anymore.

Even though I learned how to like it.

I go to his office right after breakfast. He expected me, I think, because he's not even slightly surprised I show up at his door this early.

"Miss Duarte. Take a seat," he invites.

"Thank you. I'll be very short so I won't take much of your time."

A slight surprise flashes through Adrian's eyes and it looks as if he wants to say anything, but he presses his lips together before he answers, "Very well, then."

I don't take the seat as he offered. I remain in a standing position, placing my hands on the chair. I wonder what he did with his guest yesterday in here. She left shortly after they had their dinner together. In here. I don't even dare to think about the possibilities that could happen.

"I quit."

Adrian blinks. "Pardon?" he can't hide the surprise in his voice this time.

"This job. I quit. I'm leaving."

Adrian sits up straighter and I think a see a shadow of panic. I could just imagine it, too, so I force myself to stop analysing his movements and getting my hopes up, because it wouldn't be the first time I'd be wrong and be left disappointed.

"Where are you going to go?" He sounds distressed.

I press my lips together. It's not any of his business and I don't want him to know. I think he notices it. But that doesn't mean he'll give up that easily.

"Do you have a place where you can stay? I could –"

"I found something, yes," I interrupt him, my hands gripping the back of the chair.

"Where?" he presses.

"Not that near. Don't worry."

He looks confused for a second before he gets my words. And he finally gets that he's not going to get any more information out of me. I see the exact moment he becomes stone cold again. "Alright, Miss Duarte. You'll have to stay for a week, at least."

My eyes widen. "I have to stay here for another week?!"

Adrian looks at me with an unreadable expression. "Will that be a problem?" he says with a tight voice. I grit my teeth together, but stay quiet. Yes, it will be a problem because I'm going to break down one of these days because of you and it's not going to be pretty. "It'll take time to find your replacement."

Your replacement. Do I hear a double meaning? Díos. If I don't get the hell out of here, I'll be on my knees crying and begging him for forgiveness, even though I know I shouldn't. "Alright, then." I want to add, good luck at finding someone else to replace me with, but I'm not that confident. I have no doubt he'll find someone else soon, to cook for him and to warm his bed.

I want to vomit at just the thought.

"This is all. Thank you for your time." I leave without any further words, not even turning to look at him. I wipe the tear that falls down my cheek, the only one I let fall. This man makes me so weak and I hate it.

I'm tired of crying over people who I've lost in my life. I always seem to lose everyone and everything in my life and it's tiring. In one week, I'll go back to being a loner, having nobody to depend on anymore, having no one to love anymore, but also to having no one that could hurt me.

This is the thing about people you love. They have the power to hurt you, intentionally or not. Especially if you love the wrong ones – those will, with no doubt, hurt you and not even feel bad about it.