002Ash was my best friend. The only friend I had after leaving my father’s house.We met at the park—heartbroken, she sat alone, crying after the man she loved dumped her for another. I consoled her, knowing all too well how it felt to lose someone you love. Ever since that day, we had been inseparable.I never thought she’d be the one to betray me like this. The one to come after my man. My Ryan.My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. Without hesitation, I walked toward her, my footsteps heavy with anger. She sat on the bed, oblivious to what was coming.The slap echoed through the room.Ash’s head snapped to the side, her dark curls shielding her face. Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating."You of all people?" My voice trembled with fury. "You disgust me, Ash! Do you remember the day we met? When I held you as you cried over that jerk who dumped you? And now, you're after my man? Shameless!" My voice rose, thick with betrayal.She didn’t answer. Te
THE NEXT MORNING 003 "It’s Ash I love. The moment I saw her, I lost interest in you. You’re just a good-for-nothing bitch." "No, Ryan. Don’t do this..." ******* I shot upright, gasping for air. My chest heaved, my hands clutching at the sheets beneath me. Cold sweat clung to my skin as I struggled to separate nightmare from reality. "Ryan can’t leave me," I whispered shakily. "He wouldn’t..." I squeezed my arm hard, nails digging into my flesh, hoping to jolt myself awake. The sharp sting spread through my nerves like wildfire. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. It all happened. The betrayal. The fall. The car. A beeping sound filled my ears, its rhythmic pulse anchoring me to the present. Slowly, I turned my head. The sterile white walls, the faint antiseptic scent, the oxygen mask pressing against my face—it all confirmed what I feared. I was in a hospital. A deep chill settled in my bones, making me shudder. The IV tugged at my arm with every small movement. The soft co
004 My breath caught in my throat, the words echoing in my ears. “Excuse me?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. “You heard me,” Stanley said, his tone oozing with confidence, his lips curling into a smirk. “You want to work for me? Then prove your worth. Show me what makes you indispensable.” My hands trembled as I clutched the phone. His words were calculated, laced with arrogance, and it threw me off balance. I had expected something else, not this unnerving proposition. When I didn’t respond, he chuckled—a low, knowing sound. “Cat got your tongue? Or are you rethinking that desperate declaration of ‘anything’? I thought you were serious.” Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back. His composed yet biting words were harder to endure than outright cruelty. I clenched my jaw, humiliation searing through me. “Well?” he prompted, his tone sharp yet disturbingly calm. “The clock’s ticking. If you can’t handle this conversation, you’re already wasting my time.
005 After speaking he slammed the door on my face. Tears stung my eyes as I stood frozen at the door, my heart heavy with doubt and fear. For a brief moment, I wanted to turn around and walk away, but where could I go? I had no place left to turn. No home. No safety. Just the cold streets waiting for me if I left here. I felt a sharp, biting pang in my chest as the thought crossed my mind: Maybe I should beg. But then, I shook my head violently. Begging Stanley again? I couldn’t. My pride, as small as it was, told me it would be too humiliating. But deep down, I knew that if I didn’t, I would have nothing. No future. No way forward. Survival, I reminded myself. To survive, I needed to put my pride aside, to face whatever humiliation came with it. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly, painfully, raised my fist and banged on the door again, louder this time. Knock. Knock. Knock. I waited, but the seconds dragged by in agonizing silence. No answer. A lump formed in my throa
006Stanley turned abruptly, his piercing gaze locking onto me where I still sat on the cold, tiled floor. His voice dripped with disdain as he sneered, “Did you not hear me?” The harshness in his tone snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts, yanking me back into the unforgiving reality of the moment. My heart clenched as I hastily wiped away the tears that had pooled in my eyes, using the back of my palms to erase any evidence of weakness. Shakily, I stood, my legs threatening to give way under the weight of my humiliation. Without another word, Stanley spun on his heel and marched toward the door. I followed silently, my footsteps hesitant as I trailed behind him. Each step felt heavy, the air between us thick with tension. He led me through the grand hallways, past expensive art and pristine furniture that spoke volumes of his wealth and power, until we arrived at the kitchen. The room was nothing short of breathtaking—opulent and pristine, with gleaming marble countertops, g
007“This is your room,” the maid said as we arrived at a door. She twisted the doorknob, and we both walked inside. Once we entered, my mouth dropped in awe, but I quickly closed it. Everything in the room screamed wealth, from the floors to the walls. “Are you sure this is my room?” I asked the maid again. She smiled knowingly, seeing the shock on my face. “Yes, this is your room,” she replied. “Mr. Stanley asked for this room to be prepared especially for you.” “Wow, it’s beautiful,” I said, and the maid couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, it is. Mr. Stanley has great taste. For now, I’ll leave you to settle in. And don’t forget—if you need any help or support, you can always call out to me, okay?” I nodded, still taking in the grandeur of the room. This doesn’t look like a maid’s room, I thought. This looks like a princess’s room. It was way bigger than the house Ryan and I lived in—until I was betrayed and stabbed in the back. I walked toward the bed and brushed my
008 Just then, I became tense. I could feel the hairs on my hands standing on end. With all the strength I could muster, I pushed the figure in front of me and turned to run away. Once I got outside, I closed the door and ran down the hallway. When I saw that I had reached a safe distance from the room, I paused to catch my breath. “Who was that?” I asked myself. The voice wasn’t Stanley’s—I remembered his voice, and he didn’t sound like that. That voice belonged to someone else, I knew it for sure. Just as I began sprinting again on my way back to my own room, my eyes locked onto a door—I had finally found what I was searching for. The name was boldly displayed at the top of the door: Candy. “Could this be her room?” I thought. Without hesitation, I walked toward the door and knocked. After the first knock, there was no reply on the other side. I knocked again, this time harder; still, no response. Just as I was about to knock for the third time, the door swung open—and beh
009 He picked up the spoon and began eating. I gasped in shock because I was expecting a different reaction from him. A smile pulled at my lips afterward, and I turned to stare at Candy, who was also in shock. She stared back at me, clenched her jaw, and gritted her teeth tightly as she trembled. Her eyes spoke rather than her mouth: I'll make sure you're done for. I smirked at her, folded my arms, and then walked away, heading back to the kitchen. As I arrived at the kitchen, I couldn't help but chuckle. From Candy's expression, it seemed she had given me the wrong information about Mr. Stanley’s favorite dishes. Yet, he had eaten what I made. What a shock that must have been for her, I thought to myself as I leaned against the tiled counter, feeling accomplished. But just as I thought I could enjoy my peace, Candy stormed in. She grabbed my hair and yanked it hard. I let out a slight whimper from the pain, but she didn’t stop—she pulled even harder. "You think you'r
029So, how did your whole plan of telling Stanley go? Did it work out? You see, Chloe, your problem is that you never listen. You never think things through."I don't want to speak to you, Charles. And guess what? Stanley did respond."Charles scoffed, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Yeah, he did. I was there. He sent you out of his goddamn room, Chloe. Can't you see that if you keep up with this behavior, you're not going to go far?""So what's your point, Charles? What is it? You just came here to taunt me? Well, thank you. I really appreciate your efforts. Now, leave my room," she said, her voice hoarse with frustration."Yes, I'm trying to prove a point, Chloe. And that point is—you’re wrong. And everyone else is right."She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Yeah? Are you done? Now go be with your crush, that filthy maid."Charles narrowed his eyes. "Hmm. You call her filthy? Well, that 'filthy' girl is everything—way better than you."Chloe's breath hitche
028Stanley, please just listen to me!" I begged, my voice trembling with desperation. But he didn’t listen."Don’t you listen, Chloe?" he snapped. "I said I don’t want to hear anything from you. Just get out!" His voice thundered through the room, sharp and final.Tears welled in my eyes, burning hot as they spilled down my cheeks. My chest tightened, my heart shattering into a million irreparable pieces. I stood there for a moment, hoping—praying—that he would soften, that he would take it back. But he didn’t. He turned his back on me as if I were nothing.Biting back a sob, I spun on my heels and ran. My feet barely touched the ground as I bolted from his room, my vision blurred by the flood of tears. The walls of the mansion felt suffocating, closing in on me as I hurriedly made my way to my room.As soon as I stepped inside, I collapsed onto the cold, hard floor, my body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. My hands clawed at the fabric of my dress, my breath coming in sharp, ragged
027How dare… She wanted to scream, but she held back, clenching her fists till they turned red."Trust me, I'll make sure you pay for this! I'll make sure you're thrown out of here, filthy maid!"After speaking, she glared at me and walked away, brushing past my shoulder before slamming the door shut as she left.I heaved a heavy sigh. Alora, you really need to work on your temper, I said to myself. I knew I was going to get scolded, but what's done is done.Chloe, on the other hand, stormed her way through the house as she headed for her brother's room.Her heels clicked ominously on the tiles as she walked in anger, her mind reeling back to how Alora had slapped the shit out of her."I'll make sure you pay, Alora. You'll surely get sacked, or my name isn't Chloe," she made a silent vow to herself as she barged into Charles’s room."Charles, we need to talk," she said, pacing back and forth.Charles, who was sitting on the bed, just stared at her, watching. He didn’t respond."Charl
026 My mouth dried up as Mrs. Richardson’s gaze locked onto me. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across her features. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, her tone laced with confusion. A nervous laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. “Oh, Mrs. Richardson, I didn’t mean it that way!” I hurriedly waved a dismissive hand. “It’s just...Stanley loves teasing me. He always calls me his ‘maid’ to remind me of how clumsy I was when we first met.” I nudged Stanley with my elbow, forcing a strained grin. “Right, darling?” Stanley caught on quickly, letting out a low chuckle. “Yes, she almost ruined my shirt at our first meeting. Called her my personal maid ever since.” Mrs. Richardson’s face relaxed, a warm smile stretching across her lips. “Oh, you two are adorable,” she cooed. Relief washed over me, though Stanley’s grip on my waist tightened, a silent warning. “I need to grab something from my room,” I announced, offering a quick smile. “Won’t be long.” Mrs. Richard
025 ALORA’S POV My eyes flew wide open. Had I heard him right? Stanley Richardson—cold, ruthless, and annoyingly arrogant—had just called me his fiancée. My gaze darted to him, and then to the elegant woman beside him. She was pale, her frail figure wrapped in a classy dress that looked a size too big for her. Despite her condition, a gentle, approving smile graced her lips. I shot Stanley a look, eyebrows arching in disbelief. His jaw was tight, desperation flickering in his eyes. He leaned slightly forward, lips parting as he mouthed a single word: Please. Stanley Richardson was begging. The same man who ordered me around like a servant and regarded me as an inconvenience was now pleading. The absurdity of it nearly made me laugh. But then I caught sight of Chloe. She stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase, eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her hands were curled into trembling fists, and she glared at me like I’d snatched her world away. The satisfaction that surg
024I stared at her, my chest aching with anger and regret. Words tangled in my throat, refusing to come out. Without a second glance, I turned and walked away.The hallways felt narrower as I stormed back to my room. Lost in thought, I collided with Charles. I was too furious to speak, my expression hardening. I tried to brush past him, but he grabbed my hand.“Hey, I’m sorry,” he said, eyes earnest. “I know my sister said some harsh things. Don’t listen to her—she’s just jealous you’re prettier than she’ll ever be.”I didn’t smile. “Thank you,” I muttered. “But I have to go.”He released my hand reluctantly. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, but I ignored it. I couldn’t afford to get closer to him, not when he was starting to make advances. If I let him think I felt the same, it would only make things worse.I didn’t look back. My footsteps echoed in the silence until I reached my room.STANLEY’S POVI sank into the couch, trying to bury the anxious knot in my chest. The b
023TWO DAYS LATER[ALORA’S POV]Earlier today, all the maids were given strict instructions. We were expecting two visitors—Stanley’s mother and Charles’s sister. We worked tirelessly, cooking and cleaning as if royalty was visiting, even though it was just two people.It was frustrating. I had better things to do, like updating the chapters of my book. But here I was, preparing meals for people who wouldn’t even appreciate my effort. As if that wasn’t enough, I was told I’d be the one to show Charles’s sister to her room and cater to anything she needed. The thought alone made me sick.“It’s just a matter of weeks, Alora, and you’ll be out of here,” I reassured myself as I walked out of the kitchen, my chores finally done.I strode to my room, locked the door behind me, and went straight to the shower. Stanley had made it clear—he wanted no issues or complaints during the visit. He even claimed he didn’t want anything that could worsen his mother’s health. That man was impossible. D
021Clark’s words were a punch to the gut—an agonizing, paralyzing blow that left me gasping. My legs felt weak, and my grip on the cold metal bars tightened until my knuckles turned white. I stared at him, disbelief and desperation twisting inside me. He was the one person I thought I could count on, and now he was leaving me to rot.“No,” I choked out, my voice breaking. The lump in my throat felt like it was choking me. “You can’t just walk away. You can’t leave me here!”Clark’s eyes met mine, regret flickering across his face before he forced a mask of resolve. “Ryan, my hands are tied. This is above me now, I can only help you get a lawyer.”“That’s not good enough!” I shouted, panic creeping into my voice. “What if the lawyer doesn’t defend me well? What if he’s paid off or doesn’t care? I’ll be screwed!”Clark sighed heavily, running a frustrated hand through his hair. The deep lines etched into his face made him look older than usual, and for a moment, he seemed as tired as I
020The cell was cold, the kind of chill that burrows deep into your bones. I shifted on the hard bench, feeling the weight of the morning sun pressing heavily on my shoulders. My head throbbed from hours of restless thoughts—Ash’s betrayal, the blood on my hands, Lucas’s lifeless eyes staring back at me. The image wouldn’t leave.The metallic clang of a door echoed through the narrow hallway. I looked up, weary eyes narrowing as Detective Clark strode in. His expression was unreadable, the kind of mask I’d come to associate with men in his line of work. Cautious. Calculating. Relentless. He stopped just outside my cell, crossing his arms.“Morning, Ryan,” he greeted, tone clipped.“Detective,” I rasped, my throat dry. I hadn’t slept, and it showed. “Back to accuse me of more crimes I didn’t commit?”He smirked, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “Not today. I’m here because I believe you.”A laugh bubbled up, bitter and humorless. “You believe me? That’s rich. Yet, here I am.”