Chapter 114

ALISHA'S POV.

The knocking continued, sharp and insistent, pulling me out of my frantic thoughts. I froze, staring at the door, hoping that if I stayed silent long enough, whoever it was might just leave.

“Alisha?” Richard’s voice came from the other side, firm and impatient. “Are you alright in there?”

I quickly scrambled to pull myself together. “I’m fine!” I called out, my voice a little higher-pitched than I intended. I cleared my throat, trying to sound calmer. “I’m just… just getting dressed.”

There was a pause, and I could feel his presence lingering just beyond the door. “Dinner is ready,” he said after a moment. “You should come downstairs and eat something.”

“Alright,” I replied, forcing a lightness into my tone. “I’ll be there in a bit.”

“I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said, and I could hear the faint sound of his footsteps retreating down the hallway.

I didn’t move until I was sure he was gone. The tension in my shoulders eased, and I let out a long breath, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “That was close,” I muttered to myself.

But the relief was short-lived. The reality of my situation quickly settled back over me. My face was bare, and the carefully crafted illusion of my injuries was gone. What am I going to do?

I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror, my thoughts spiraling. Richard had seen me earlier with the makeup. If he noticed even the slightest difference now, it would raise questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

And Nadia…oh, Nadia would have my head if she found out I’d slipped up.

Why did I agree to this? I thought bitterly. This entire plan is a disaster waiting to happen. I should’ve never gotten involved with Nadia’s schemes.

But as quickly as the doubt crept in, I shoved it aside. I didn’t have the luxury of second-guessing myself. I was in too deep now, and backing out wasn’t an option.

Think, Alisha. Think.

I tried to recall everything Nadia had told me about keeping up appearances. She’d warned me to always stay vigilant, to never let my guard down, even for a moment. And now, here I was, caught unprepared.

I stood up abruptly, pacing the room. “There has to be something,” I murmured, scanning the space for anything that could help. But the room was bare, save for the furniture and a few decorative pieces.

That’s when I remembered Richard’s words.

“Anything you need, you’ll find in the dresser,” he had said earlier, gesturing toward the large vanity in the corner.

My eyes snapped to the dresser, a flicker of hope sparking in my chest. Could it be possible? Would there be anything in there that could save me?

Without wasting another second, I hurried over to the dresser and pulled open the top drawer.

My hands trembled slightly as I sifted through the contents, hoping against hope that I’d find something…anything…that could help me recreate the injuries.

But even as I searched, doubts lingered in the back of my mind. What if there’s nothing here? What if Richard notices something is off before I can fix it? What if Nadia finds out I messed up?

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. Panic wouldn’t help me now. I needed to stay calm and think clearly.

As I continued to rummage through the drawer, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment toward Richard. Why does he care so much about whether I come down for dinner? Why can’t he just leave me alone?

But deep down, I knew the answer. Richard was a man who thrived on control, on knowing everything that was happening in his orbit. And right now, I was part of that orbit.

Well, not for long, I thought, a determined lookk in my eye. I’ll play along for now, but this is just a stepping stone. Soon, I’ll be the one calling the shots.

For now, though, I needed to focus on the task at hand. My fingers brushed against something soft and powdery, and I pulled it out, holding it up to the light. It was a small container of blush, the color dark enough that it might pass for a bruise if applied carefully.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. This could work.

I continued searching, finding a dark red lipstick that could mimic the look of dried blood and a small eyeliner pencil that could be used to draw faint cuts. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.

I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Richard would be expecting me downstairs soon. I didn’t have much time.

Taking a deep breath, I set to work, using the mirror as my guide. As I carefully applied the makeshift injuries, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Nadia may think she’s the mastermind here, but she has no idea who she’s dealing with.

By the time I finished, my face once again bore the marks of my supposed accident. The bruises and cuts weren’t as convincing as the original makeup, but they were good enough to pass under dim lighting.

I stepped back, examining my reflection. Not bad, I thought, nodding to myself.

Just as I was about to head toward the door, a knock sounded, sharp and sudden, making me jump.

“Alisha?” Richard’s voice called from the other side.

My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. I straightened my posture, smoothing out the creases in my dress.

“I’ll be right out,” I called back, my voice steady.

This time, I will be ready.

RICHARD'S POV.

I sat at the dining table, staring at the polished surface as the aroma of the food wafted through the room. My appetite, however, was nowhere to be found.

My thoughts were elsewhere…upstairs, to be precise, in the room where Alisha was taking far too long to emerge.

She had promised she’d be down in a bit, but how long had it been? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Maybe more. I tapped my fingers against the table, the rhythmic sound doing little to ease my growing unease.