I was thinking… how can I test Mara’s faithful heart? How can I know if the kindness she shows is truly for me, or if it’s just out of fear or obligation?

And this is where my unusual plan began.

One night, after dinner and cleaning up the kitchen, I walked to the living room. The house was quiet, and I could feel the air full of curiosity.

“Lorenzo?” she asked softly, as if she sensed something.

I smiled. “Mara… I want to tell you something. To make it easier, let’s assume… I’m dead.”

She stood up, seemingly unable to believe it. “Dead… Sir? What do you mean?”

“I just want to see… how loyal you are. How you would handle the situation.”

She was silent. She didn’t run away, nor did she cry. I tried to act serious and sad, and within a few minutes, I saw her eyes flicker with fear, worry, and a feeling I had never felt before.

She came closer to me. Holding my hand, not to let go, but to assure me that she was there.

“Sir… Lorenzo… please don’t do that to yourself. Don’t leave… I will take care of you,” she said softly, but with determination.

And there, with the simple touch and words of a quiet housemaid, I realized that loyalty and love are not measured by words, appearance, or wealth.

It’s deeper than that… stronger than any wealth or power I could possess.

After the night when Lorenzo pretended to be dead, everything between us changed. He no longer saw me just as a housemaid or employee—but as a person with feelings who could stand by him even in the darkest moments.

In the following weeks, he became more open with me. He no longer had to pretend to be strong or silent. In every little thing—me making coffee for him, caring for him when he was sick, or just listening to his stories from the office—I saw the respect and love he could no longer hide.

It wasn’t long before Lorenzo decided to leave behind all pretenses. He apologized to me for all the moments he didn’t value my sincerity and good heart. We cried, but in our tears, there was a smile—because finally, we both saw true loyalty.

The story didn’t end inside the house either. He took me to his office and introduced me to his friends and family as “Mara, the one who is always there for me.” To the eyes of others, I was just a quiet housemaid. But in his heart, I was a partner, a friend, and above all, loved.

In the end, we both learned: love is not measured by wealth, position, or the words spoken. True love is measured by the goodness done to one another even when no one is watching, by sacrifices, and by being true to the heart.

And Lorenzo? From then on, he never took advantage of anyone’s trust. He became more humble, more thoughtful, and above all, he learned to love without fear of his own feelings.