The tension in the mansion was palpable as Armando stormed into the living room, his face a mask of rage. His voice cut through the silence like a knife, booming, "I want everyone to get in here now!"The maids and servants scrambled out from every corner of the house, their footsteps echoing through the hall as they rushed to obey. Every single one of them gathered at the center of the living room, heads bowed, hands clasped nervously. All except Eleanor.Armando’s eyes swept the room, narrowing when he realized she wasn’t there. His temper flared instantly, his fist clenching at his side.“I said every fucking person should be here now!" he bellowed, his voice loud enough to make the walls vibrate.A second later, Eleanor came running out from the kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest as she hurried into the room. She barely had time to catch her breath before Armando’s hand lashed out, delivering a hard slap across her face. The force of the blow sent her crashing to the floor,
ELEANOR I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall in front of me. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. How in the world did Armando expect me to clean this entire mansion all by myself? The place was massive—rooms upon rooms, endless hallways, marble floors that stretched on for what felt like miles. It was a task meant for a full team of maids, not just one person. Yet, here I was, stuck in this nightmare with no way out.I buried my face in my hands, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. What did I do to make him so angry? Was it the food? No, it couldn’t have been. I made sure to check the seasoning—twice, even. There was no way it was too salty or bland. But then, why was he so furious? The way he erupted at the dining table, the way he threw the tray to the floor, it was like I had committed some unspeakable crime. None of it made any sense.My thoughts drifted to the possibility of running away. But where would I go? How f
ELEANOR I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The maid’s dress fit awkwardly on my frame, the stiff fabric clinging to me like an unwanted second skin. I sighed, adjusting the apron that felt too tight around my waist. It had been a few days since Isabella brought it to me, and now I was officially one of Armando’s housemaids. The reality of it sank in deeper with each passing second.I had avoided leaving my room up until now, relying on the maids to bring me meals whenever I needed food. But today, that changed. Today, I would be walking through Armando’s mansion, being shown around like I was part of his staff—because, in his eyes, I was.Isabella knocked on my door, her voice soft. “Miss Eleanor, are you ready?”I took a deep breath and nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I was ready for what awaited me. “Yeah… I’m ready.”She opened the door and stepped in, her expression kind as usual. “I’ll show you everything Mr. Armando expects to be cleaned. It’s a lot, bu
ELEANOR There I was outside Armando’s door, my hand hovering just an inch away from knocking. My heart was racing, my body heavy with exhaustion. A deep breath filled my lungs as I tried to brace myself for whatever awaited me on the other side. I didn’t want to be here. Every part of me screamed to turn around, walk away, and hide in my room. But I knew I couldn’t.Just as I was about to knock, I heard his voice from the other side, calm but commanding. "Come in."My hand froze. How the hell did he know I was standing there? I hadn’t even knocked. My chest tightened, and I swallowed hard, feeling a wave of nervousness sweep over me. I turned the knob slowly, pushing the door open, the familiar scent of his expensive cologne washing over me as soon as I stepped inside.The room was dark. I couldn’t see much—just the shadows of the furniture scattered around, but I couldn’t see him. That made me even more nervous. I stayed near the door, not daring to go any further.“Good evening, Mr
ELEANOR I dragged myself across Armando’s room, forcing my body to move as I wiped down the already spotless floor. My arms felt heavy, my back ached, and my mind… my mind was drowning in a sea of thoughts. I couldn’t focus on the exhausting task in front of me. The more I tried, the more my mind wandered, slipping further and further away from the present.I had been enduring Armando’s cruelty for so long that I didn’t even remember what it felt like to be free anymore. Every day was the same—his threats, his anger, the way he watched me like I was nothing more than property. It wore me down, piece by piece, until I barely recognized myself.My sister’s face flashed in my mind, and my heart clenched. She was the reason I was still here, why I was enduring all of this. The money Armando had paid for me… it went to her treatment. But lately, I started to wonder if I was doing the right thing. If I stayed here, I might not make it out alive. What good would I be to her then?It had bee
ELEANOR Armando finally left the house. I waited until the door shut behind him, listening to the sound of the cars driving off. This was the moment I had been waiting for—the opening I needed to get out of here for good. But I couldn’t just run out the door. I needed a distraction, something big enough to get everyone’s attention so they wouldn’t notice me slipping away.But what? How could I pull it off without raising suspicion?I paced back and forth, racking my brain. Then, it hit me—fire. I could set a fire. That would definitely get everyone running. The fire alarms would go off, and all the staff would be gathered in one spot, trying to handle the chaos. It was the perfect plan, but where could I start a fire without getting caught?Then I remembered the fireplace in the living room. I had always thought it was strange that Armando kept a fireplace in this huge mansion, especially since it was hardly ever used. But now, it seemed like it was there for a reason. It was my way
ELEANOR I woke up with a pounding headache, my body stiff and sore. My wrists and ankles were tied tight, the ropes cutting into my skin. I tried to move, but the chair creaked beneath me, the bonds holding me in place. The room was pitch black, and for a second, I couldn't remember how I'd gotten here. Everything felt like a fog. But then, it hit me all at once—my escape, the alley, the two men. My heart started racing again as the memories all came flooding back.I panicked, pulling at the ropes that kept me trapped in the chair. "Please, let me go!" My voice came out shaky, almost pleading. "I swear, I don't have anything! You've got the wrong person!"I could hear footsteps coming toward me, and my breath caught in my throat. One of the men, his face still masked, crouched down in front of me. "Don't start screaming again," he said, his voice low, threatening. "Remember what happened the last time? I'm sure you must be smarter by now."I nodded quickly, too terrified to speak. My
ELEANORArmando dragged me out of the car, gripping my wrist so tightly I thought my bones would snap. The pain shot up my arm, but I was too exhausted to fight back. My ankle throbbed, my wrists burned from the ropes, and every part of me ached from the blows I had taken. I tried to pull away, but it was useless. His grip only tightened."Please, Armando, let me go! You're hurting me!" I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.But my words seemed to fuel his anger. He yanked me harder, dragging me across the gravelled floor like I was nothing but dead weight. I stumbled behind him, trying to keep up, but every step felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my ankle. I cried out in pain, but he didn't even glance back. He didn't care. He kicked the door open and flung me inside like I weighed nothing, sending me crashing to the floor. The pain that shot through my body was unbearable, and I curled up, clutching my ankle, my wrists, everything that hurt.I couldn't stop crying. It wa
ELEANOR“You’re lucky I’m not the kind of man who doesn’t ask for consent,” Armando continued, his tone low but cutting. “Or I’d have had you right here and now without a second thought.”My heart skipped, and my pulse spiked at the subtle threat laced in his voice. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to breathe. I wouldn’t let him see how his words rattled me, how much they cut straight to the core of my fear.I swallowed hard as he lifted my chin. “You’d end up in jail.“ I shot back, my voice sharper than I felt inside. “And honestly… that doesn’t sound so bad for someone like you.” I added, letting spite creep into my tone.For a second, there was silence. Then Armando let out a low, dangerous laugh—a sound that sent chills down my spine. He tilted his head, his smirk sharp and mocking.“Well,” he said, dragging the word out, “if you want me to go to jail so badly, I might as well use you as my free pass.”He then moved his arm suddenly, bringing it close to my chest in
ELEANORAs I stepped further—still clutching the tray in my hands, the only light in the room was the dim glow of the skyline seeping through the large glass window, and the faint orange ember of Armando’s cigarette.I hesitated for a second after I managed to find the light switch—wondering if turning on the lights would push him over the edge, but I flicked the switch anyway.The room lit up instantly, revealing the disarray I’d expected. Empty glasses cluttered the side table and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts sat beside them. Armando was on a large rounded chair by the window, staring out at the city as if he was trying to count every building in sight. He didn’t even flinch when the lights came on, not a single movement.His face was rigid and blank from where I stood and the way his jaw set and his hand held the cigarette so tightly sent a clear message; he wasn’t in the mood for company.When his voice finally broke the silence, it was cold and threatening.“Who th
ELEANORArmando had been acting strange for the past few days and I couldn’t help but notice it. It had been three days now since he took me to the hospital and ever since then he hadn’t left the mansion, not even to step outside the front door into the compound. It was really so strange for someone like him—who always moved around with purpose—to suddenly become so stationary.The mansion was unbearably quiet and it wasn’t the peaceful kind of silence either. This silence was suffocating, heavy, and stretched across every corner of the house like a thick, invisible fog.Yesterday I had accidentally dropped a spoon while I was in the kitchen and the clattering sound that came from it echoed so loudly throughout the mansion—making the stillness even more pronounced—to the extent that it startled me as though I’d disturbed some fragile balance. That was how quiet everything had become.I had always wanted space—some peace and quiet—away from Armando, yet now that I had it, I wasn’t as r
ELEANORThe gentle hum of the limo filled the silence as we drove out of the hospital's compound. I leaned back against the plush seat—the outside world blurring into nothingness—as I stared outside the window, feeling hollow as though a piece of me had just been left behind.What made it worse was the glimpse of that nurse. I was almost certain she was the one but I couldn’t approach her because Matteo just had to be there like a shadow trailing me everywhere.The doctor’s words began to replay—like some sort of whisper—in my head. She seemed to be a kind woman—middle-aged with sharp glasses perched on her nose—and her demeanor was assuring as she’d handed me a prescription list, speaking in a tone that made it sound like she genuinely cared.“You’ll need to take these as directed,” she had said in a tone that was both soft and firm at the same time. “Three times a day after meals. Don’t skip a dose. And also try to get good rest as much as possible.”Then she’d given me a small, enc
ELEANORThe receptionist waved over a male nurse—gesturing toward where we had sat—and he approached quickly, a polite but professional expression on his face. “Right this way, sir,” he said, his voice calm and steady.Armando stood—adjusting his coat with a deliberate motion—and then he glanced at me. His look wasn’t harsh, but it carried a silent command. It was clear he expected me to walk ahead of him.I stood slowly, feeling the weight of the awkwardness I’d been carrying since we arrived. Matteo—ever silent and watchful—followed closely behind as we began to walk. The nurse led the way—his strides steady and purposeful—and I found myself matching his pace, though my gaze kept drifting.The further we moved away from the reception area, the more relieved I felt. The burning stares and muffled whispers of the queue had left an imprint on me, but at least now I could breathe without the judgment of strangers pressing down on me. Armando had a way of making every public moment feel
ELEANORI glanced at Armando cautiously—hoping to catch some clue in his expression—but his eyes were fixed outside his own window, his posture as rigid and composed as always.It just didn’t make sense. Well, sure I wasn't feeling too strong—my body ached, and the fever hadn’t let up since the rainstorm—but this was Armando Luca. He wasn’t the kind of man who cared about whether I was healthy or not. The only thing he cared about was his control, his power, and making sure I knew my place.The car slowed as the chauffeur guided us toward the hospital’s entrance, weaving through the compound to find a parking spot. Armando had brought me all the way here across the city—putting me through the stress of getting all dressed up and everything—just to visit a hospital.But why?“Why are we here?” I asked as I still couldn’t help myself, my voice barely above a whisper. It cracked slightly, but I pushed through, forcing myself to meet his gaze even though I already knew it was a risk.Arma
ELEANORArmando’s words kept playing over and over in my head as I hurriedly rummaged through my wardrobe. The tone he used left no room for argument, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me that if I didn’t act quickly, his temper would explode. The massive mansion—which sometimes felt like a labyrinth—was suddenly suffocating once again, its walls closing in as the weight of the previous evening’s events pressed down on me. My mind flashed to the blood, the screams, the gunshots—all too much that I could barely think straight.I pulled out a sleeveless white gown—simple but neat—and slipped it on. I didn’t have time to fuss over accessories or the perfect look, especially because Armando wasn’t exactly the type to wait and I didn’t want to test his patience today. I quickly applied a light layer of makeup—enough to mask my tired eyes and pale complexion—and glanced at myself in the mirror. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs. Each s
ELEANORI couldn't seem to find any sleep because each time I closed my eyes, the images came rushing back—sharp and unforgiving—like shards of glass cutting through my mind.I sat up on the edge of my bed staring at the shadows dancing across the wall. Sleep wasn't just far, it felt impossible. My body felt too heavy, my mind too restless, and I couldn't even lie down properly all night.After Armando had gone upstairs last night, I forced myself to mop the living room floor just like he'd asked, even though my hands wouldn't stop trembling. The cold seeped into my bones, and my clothes stuck to my skin as I worked, but I still pushed through. When I finally dragged myself upstairs, my room was exactly as I'd left it—cold and silent.Don Salvatore's words haunted me. His threats still hung over me like a storm cloud even though I was now miles away from him—wherever he was.Still, I couldn't dwell on it now. If Armando sensed even the slightest shift in my behavior, he'd know somethi
ARMANDO The ride back to the mansion was silent, but my head wasn’t. I couldn’t shake the image of Enzo’s face—cold and lifeless—in that bag. It played on a loop in my mind, every detail—the stiffness of his features, the unnatural stillness—etching deeper with each passing second. It wasn’t just grief that gripped me. It was anger—burning, unrelenting anger.I sat in the back seat, staring out at the rain-dotted windows with my jaw clenched so tightly that it ached a bit. The thirst for revenge was clawing at me—demanding I act, but I couldn’t afford to be reckless just yet. The police sniffing around my operations was something I just couldn’t afford at the moment.When the limo pulled into the driveway, Matteo jumped out even before the chauffeur had fully parked. He opened the door for me—holding an umbrella in one hand. “It’s starting to pour boss. Let me—”I waved him off and stepped out into the rain, ignoring the drizzle that quickly turned into a steady downpour. The cold wa