Celine was done freshening up in a few minutes. She came out of the bathroom with a towel draped over her chest. She became helpless with thoughts of exposing her identity to Erickson or not.
She snapped out of her thoughts when Erickson's deep voice whispers
“Oh, you are done.” Erickson moved closer to her, he leans towards her, her eyes balls as he pins her to the wall.
Celine heart pounds in her chest as her head leans on his chest, her body burns to be so close to him, she yearns to embrace him but her mind keeps pushing her away.
“What? What are you trying to do?” Celine yelled at him, she flinched to a side.
“Shutting my bathroom door. What else?” Erickson shuts the door behind her, he moved away an points a new dress to her.
Celine stood in Erickson's bathroom doorway, a white towel draped around her body as she stares lovingly at him. She wraps her arms around his neck. As she leans closer to him, reality crashes in like a wave - they are siblings, and she can never tell him.
It's an impossible situation, and she feels the crushing weight of it on her chest. She looks away, her heart full of a deep longing but knowing she must never let her desires be known.
But still, the love she feels is undeniable. She aches to tell him how much his friendship and support mean to her, how she loves every inch of his being, and how she's relieved that life has brought them together as a family. It's a love she can never express, but it's there nonetheless. At that moment, in the bathroom doorway, she realizes that the love she has for Erickson is not something she has control over, “Staying away from him will be a great idea” she said inwardly, pushing Erickson away.
It's something that goes beyond words and feelings, and it's something that will stay with her forever. Whether it's a fantasy or something more, the love between them is real and she can never deny it.
“What's with that look?” Erickson became concerned, he moved away with a smirk. He became excited knowing that his look alone has an impact on her. “She must be drooling for me,” Erickson thought inwardly, he tosses a dress over to her. The dress used to be Hannah's but since the other lady was there instead, he treated her like his fiancee.
“Get dressed” Erickson ordered before he walked away with a headphone on his head.
He met Helen's glare but he decided to ignore he walked out without hesitation.
Helen was glad that her son was alright, she sat so close to his bedroom door for Celine's arrival. “I await She grumbled.
The door to Erickson'sn'sbedroom creaked open slowly, and Celine emerged, looking around frantically as if she were afraid of being caught. Her eyes darted around the living room, searching for any sign of danger.
As she crept down the hallway, her heart raced with fear. She knew that Helen despised her and that she was only tolerated in the house because she worked as a maid. She couldn't bear the thought of being caught leaving her Erickson's bedroom, even though nothing serious happened.
Just as she was about to make it to the front door, a shrill voice cut through the silence, causing her to freeze in her tracks. “Nice”
Helen sneers at Celine from a corner. Celine became scared remembering that Helen is her stepmother just like the wicked stepmother stories she read when she was younger.
“Look who we have here? The little harlot that placed a spell on both my husband and son.” Helen yearns for attention. She flung her hands in the air, walking towards Celine like a lion about to catch its prey.
Celine wasn't bothered about Helen's scoff but about her reaction. She's in haste to get out of their home and visit her mother that's in a coma. She walked faster to avoid Helen's drama, she was scared of getting insulted by that wide mouth, Helen.
"Where do you think you're going?" Helen bellowed from behind her.
Celine turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest as she met n's glare. "I-I'm just...I'm leaving," she stammered, her voice barely audible.
"Leaving?" Helen snorted. "And where do you think you're going, bitch?"
Celine bites her lip, trying to think of an excuse. "I have to go see my mother, she's in a comaomae finally said, her voice trembling.
"Your mother? It's time I get to know that woman that raised you this useless brat. She must be so unlucky!" Helen scoffed. "And what about your duties here? Who will take care of the dirt?"
"I'll be back, I promise," Celine said quickly, backing away towards the door.
Helen became furious, she felt like pulling Celine's red and white dyed hair. With a snarl, she lunged forward, grabbing me by the arm and pulling her back towards the living room.
"You're not going anywhere, I must teach you a tangible lesson" she spat, her grip tightening her arm. "You're nothing but a useless girl! Do you think Erickson let you in his room because he loves you? Nah, girl. You are mistaken. You are only being used, he will dump you when he's done with you and go back to Hannah his real fiancee"
Tears welled up in Celine's eyes as she realized she was enmeshed. She knew she had to get out of the house and visit her mother, but she didn't know how. As she hung her head in defeat, the sound of Helen's laughter echoed through the empty hallway, reminding her mother's cries.

Erickson came out of nowhere pushing Helen off, he stood firmly between his mother and Celine, his icy face betraying no emotion. His mother's hand was raised, poised to strike, but Erickson stood tall, unyielding.
"Mother, will you stop this?" he said firmly, his voice calm but forceful.
His mother's face contorted with rage. "How dare you speak to me like that?" she hissed, her eyes flashing with anger. "This girl is nothing but trouble. She placed a spell on you and Henry."
Erickson didn't flinch. "She's my lover, and I won't let you hurt her," he said, his tone unwavering.