Lara awoke to the pale morning light peeking through the curtains. Her body still ached from the day before, as if fatigue had taken root in her. She stretched slowly, rose from the worn-out mattress, and hurriedly tied her hair into a bun. She put on the simple blouse and skirt she always wore to work before slipping on the old shoes she had left by the bedside.

  In the kitchen, the sound of her father snoring echoed.

  The house smelled of stale coffee and damp wood. Her mother was not there, probably out early at the market, as often happened. Lara helped herself to a piece of bread and a glass of milk. As she chewed, a shiver ran through her chest remembering the previous night, the mysterious man's image, memories of something that disturbed her peace but she preferred to bury deep in her mind. She swallowed the last bite and left.

  The way to work was the same as always, the road lined with fields and a few simple houses, people hurrying by, children running with backpacks, old women sitting by the door commenting on the weather. Lara observed everything in silence, feeling the cool morning breeze caress her face.

  The Ferraz mansion stood imposing at the end of the main street, white walls, iron gate, and a meticulously kept garden. When Lara rang the bell, she was greeted by the mistress, Eugenia, a tall woman with a stern expression and ever-watchful eyes.

  "Good morning, Miss Lara. Today I want all the silver polished and the guest room ready before noon", she said in an inflexible tone, handing her a list of tasks.

  "Yes, ma'am", Lara replied, slightly bowing her head before heading into the house.

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  She worked silently for hours. The sound of her footsteps mixed with the cloth rubbing the metal and the slight creak of the floorboards. When she moved to the living room, she heard a male voice behind her.

  "Always so dedicated, Lara", murmured Mr. August, Eugenia's husband, leaning against the doorframe, a suggestive smile on his face.

  Lara straightened up, feeling immediate discomfort.

  "Mr. August, excuse me, I have a lot of work...", she tried to move away, but he approached.

  "Just a minute... It always seemed unfair to me to leave a pretty girl like you alone cleaning a house", His tone became softer, more dangerous.

  Lara stepped back and raised a firm gaze.

  "Please step away" Her voice was firm, almost cold.

  But August took a step forward and reached out, about to touch her, when suddenly Eugenia's voice rang from the hallway:

  "August? What's going on here?"

  He jumped back, adjusting his collar.

  "Nothing, dear, I was just telling Lara to clean the office before noon", Panting, Lara lowered her gaze and muttered.

  "I was just about to take care of that, Mrs. Eugenia... if you allow me, I'll start in the kitchen now."

  Without waiting for a response, she hurried out and took refuge in the kitchen. She leaned against the counter and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

  "He's still the same... he's been trying to get closer for months. The whole village talks about his mistresses, and Eugenia pretends not to care."

  She drowned the thought in work. She spent the rest of the day cleaning, washing, and ironing clothes. When she finished, the sun was already hiding behind the rooftops. Eugenia handed her a small envelope with the payment.

  "Here you go, Miss Lara. See you tomorrow",The dry tone left no room for conversation.

  Lara thanked her, put away the money, and left, feeling the weight of another day. The afternoon breeze brought the murmur of cicadas and the uneasy thought that in the Ferraz house, there were secrets that couldn't be swept away with a simple broom.