Chapter 29BRIANNA’S POVRushing into the kitchen, I reached for a paper towel and tried to wipe the spilt coffee off my apron. Luckily for me, I had an apron over my dress. If not, the hotness could have penetrated through the light fabric of my dress and burned my skin.The coffee stain wasn’t cleaning off. Instead, it smudged some more. It damaged the apron. And there was nothing I could do about it. Even though I knew the stain wasn’t cleaning off, I kept wiping it. Vigorously as tears of frustration stung my vision. Why was Catherine doing this to me? Why was she treating me like this? No matter how hard I tried, it all seemed to hit a brick wall.Amid my frustration, a warm palm rested on my shoulder. I turned to see the large, emerald-eyed maid that had treated my lip bruise the night I came back from that cocktail party. If I remembered correctly, her name was Amelia.“Oh, Brianna,” her eyes softened with sheer empathy as they met mine. “I’m so sorry. I saw everything.”“I jus
Chapter 30BRIANNA’S POVSebastian changed so fast. He wasn’t wearing the morning robe he had on earlier in the dining. But a light t-shirt and shorts that revealed his thick arms and legs that were covered with silky hairs. He was looking different. So different from the Sebastian I knew. I was so used to seeing him in designer suits and formal wear and his silk morning robes, I couldn’t picture what he’ll look like in a t-shirt and shorts.“Hey, Brianna,” he breathed out, his deep-set, olive-black eyes intent on me. “How are you feeling now? I’m so sorry for what happened earlier. Catherine can be…,” he slashed out a quick breath, struggling to find the right word. “I just need you to know it won’t happen again. Okay?”“I’m…I’m feeling better now,” I stuttered. It was so hard to remain coherent with him close. I wondered why he was apologizing for something he didn’t do. Catherine should be the one apologizing. Even though I knew it’ll be over her dead body. “It’s nothing to worry ab
Chapter 31SEBASTIAN’S POVIt was obvious she was lying to me about that mark on her face. I could tell from her stuttering, excessive fidgeting, the way her beautiful, glacial eyes kept dribbling around the building to avoid my gaze. Moreover, no maid had ever engaged in a fight or any kind of squabble in the castle for as long as I have known. Even if they did, the news would have reached me faster than the speed of light.How could she be lying to me? I want to care for her. Protect her like a guard dog protected a building. But she wasn’t giving me the slightest chance. She wasn’t letting me and it was beginning to make me feel like a fool. Feel like she didn’t need me. She even had to call off our reading lesson. Something she so desperately wanted without a solid excuse. There was no way the works in the castle will hinder her. The tons of maids in the castle could do all that. I even offered to grant her spare time. But she refused without a second thought. I never even wante
Chapter 32BRIANNA’S POVAmelia ended up making the coffee for Catherine. When I asked her if Catherine was still angry with me for what happened, she said she was and had given her strict warning never to do my chores in place of me.She made the fourth rule clear to her which stated that I was to continue with my chores and tasks even when the maids got back from their leave. They may lend a helping hand by showing me how to do it or the way to go about it since I was a novice. But I was to do the majority of the work.And with that being said, Amelia couldn’t cover for me. But it was nice of her to be considerate. And she also made me promise to never hesitate in asking her or any of the maids for help when I needed it.Stepping out of the kitchen, I could see Catherine thudding down the stairs angrily, her blue eyes roaming around as she screamed my name.She was wearing a one-shoulder turquoise dress with a little slit just above the side of her waist. The dress was short. So sho
Chapter 33BRIANNA’S POV*****Outside, the downpour was descending heavily. I stood by the window, my breath creating a small mist on the glass as I peered outside. The rhythmic tap-tap of raindrops against the windowpane created a soothing melody that evoked nostalgic memories in me.When I was little, I liked to go out in the rain and play. I loved the sensation of the wet grasses beneath my feet as I danced around in the open space. I loved the fresh scent of the purified air in my nostrils. I loved the way the cool droplets landed on my skin, sending shivers all over me but at the same time washing away my worries and troubles. I loved the joy and freedom. I loved it all.But after all that, I always came down with a cold. My mom will scream at me, ground little me for weeks and threaten not to make pancakes which were my favourite then ever again. Father just laughed it out saying, “Leave her. She’s just a kid.”Anyways, I still went out to play in the rain when Mom wasn’t aroun
Chapter 34BRIANNA’S POV(CONT’D FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTER)I was so startled by Lily’s words, I took a moment to breathe it in. She didn’t turn out to be a snitch like I had thought. But a saviour. A saviour that’ll save me from this hellhole I was stuck in. Thank goodness! Tonight, I'll leave this place.In an instant, I took the breakfast tray from her hands and rushed to drop it on the nightstand. Holding her hands, I guarded her as we sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re sure you didn’t tell him?” I scooted closer to her, my voice husky even though I knew the guards outside my room door couldn’t hear us.“Yes,” she nodded vehemently. “Alpha Hermes is a monster. I have seen what he did to the other girls before you. It was bad. Very bad. And I wouldn’t want to see you continue suffering like you are. I would have resigned and left this castle a long time ago. But I have nowhere to go. So I had to stay back.”Hearing what she said triggered quick, disturbing thoughts in me. Hermes had
Chapter 35BRIANNA’S POV(CONT’D FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTER)“Wake up sleeping beauty,” a hoarse whisper echoed in my head and I felt moist lips stamp tight against my forehead. “Your prince charming needs you awake.”My eyelids slowly unfurled to see the blurry image of Hermes’s devilish features so close to me, his warm breath tinged with a faint scent of alcohol brushing against my face.The moment my vision cleared and his image appeared in full view right in front of me, I recoiled in shock. As I swung slightly, metals clinked and that was when I realized that I was suspended, my body weighed down by heavy chains that bound my wrists and ankles.I freaked out even more when I realized I had no clothes on. That realization alone was enough to shake off the remaining drowsiness in me, making me instantly wide awake.“Where am I?” I muttered with a weak whisper as my head suddenly grew heavy from the struggles and back-and-forth swings I did. “Where are my clothes?...please let me down. U
Chapter 36BRIANNA’S POVMy heavy eyelids fluttered open, my head throbbing with a dull ache. As my vision cleared, I found myself on my bed in my room which was fairly bright with the dipping rays of the sun pouring in from the open window.Sebastian was standing by the bedside, his gaze intent on me. The moment our eyes met, he offered me a smile equal in warmth and brightness as the rays pouring in.A slight wince escaped my lips as I cradled my head, trying to remember how I got here in such a state. The last thing I remembered was crashing into the table where a flower vase was and falling unconscious after Catherine had hit me on the side of my face with her crystal-studded purse, making the headache I was managing spiral out of control.Fuck! I muttered with a raspy breath as I tried but unsuccessfully to sit up on the headboard of my bed. My muscles were so sore and tense from all the sleeping I could barely raise an arm.“Wait,” Sebastian reached out in an instant and stocked