Through her tears, Jessie lamented. “They've all left. It's Like nobody cares about me anymore!"

Her voice trailed off into soft murmurs.

A somber tone replaced Jessie's on the line as someone else took the phone over. "Miss Brown, is this you? It's Elsie Miss Green has had too much to drink, and I'm afraid to call Mr. Watson. What should I do, Miss Brown?"

Elsie?

The same Elsie from Albert's villa-was Jessie there now?

A rush of urgency spurred Melissa into action. “Look after her, I'm on my way," she said quickly before hanging up.

She turned to face Marcus, who was already watching her, wood shavings still clinging to his clothing. “Jessie's not doing well.

She's had too much to drink, and with her engagement tomorrow... I need to go check on her. Would you mind watching Matthew while I'm out?" Melissa's request was timid, edged with guilt.

Marcus brushed the debris from his clothes in a deliberate, unhurried motion. “And why should I do this for you?" he teased, challenging her.

Closing the distance between them, Melissa began to clear the sawdust from his shoulders.

“Please, as a favor to me," she asked softly, her voice a tender nudge.

His gaze locked onto hers, intense and probing.

As Melissa leaned in, hoping to coax him with a kiss, Marcus cut through the tension with a gravelly ultimatum. "Be back by midnight.

My house, my rules. Understood?"

A flush of warmth spread across Melissa's cheeks as she nodded, a mix of embarrassment and relief.

Marcus' gesture was unexpected; he handed Melissa the car keys, declaring the vehicle hers from then on, citing its “too girly" interior as his reason for disuse.

Melissa, caught between surprise and the urgency of her mission, neither accepted nor rejected the offer outright.

Upon arrival, the servant-Elsie-rushed to her, urgency in her voice, "Miss Brown, you're finally here! Miss Green has been in such a state-crying and yelling. We didn't dare call her family. It's best they don't know about this place... They're likely unaware of her and Mr. Watson."

Melissa nodded, a silent understanding passing between them, and headed straight upstairs.

Pushing open the bedroom door, the pungent smell of alcohol hit her immediately. With a concerned frown, she asked, “Exactly how much did she drink?’