Chapter 5

ANNA

The next day, I woke up early and started my day as a servant in the Chad household. The work was never easy, but it was a means to earn my keep. As I made my way to the house, I couldn't help but feel the chill of the morning air. It was then that I saw him - Nico, my childhood friend here in the Black Pearl Pack. He’s the only friend I had.

Nico was always a good-looking guy, with a kind and gentle soul. We were the same age, and I had grown up with him in the pack. He saw me and ran towards me, his arms open wide. He hugged me tight, and I felt my heart skip a beat. It had been so long since I had seen him.

I couldn't help but feel my heart race as Nico hugged me tightly. It had been so long since I'd seen him, and I couldn't deny the fact that I missed him too. But I couldn't let him see the pain that I was going through.

“Hey, pumpkin. How are you? I missed you so much,” He said, there’s a longing in his eyes.

I tried to smile. “I’m fine, Nico. I missed you too. I can’t remember the last time we see each other,”

He scanned my face, and his eyebrows drew together. Nico saw the bruises on my cheeks, I felt my heart sink.

“They did this again to you, right?” He said, clenching his teeth.

“Nico…”

“They never get tired of hurting you, Anna. You had already given them everything, but still they had the guts to hurt you. What kind of parents are they?” 

I knew he would be angry, but I didn't want him to worry about me. I had learned to live with the abuse from my parents, and I didn't want to be a burden to anyone else.

“We can’t do anything about that, Nico… they will be like that until they’re old and gray. We can’t do anything,” I said helplessly.

“No, you’re wrong! We can do something! I told you a lot of times that I would accept my help. If you live with me and my family, you won’t experience these hardships,” He is on the verge of crying.

I sighed. “Nico, we both came from poor families. I don’t want to be a burden. If I live with you, I will have another mouth to feed. You are also still studying,”

But Nico didn't listen to my protests. He was determined to help me, and he insisted that I should come and live with his family. He said they would take care of me, and that I would never have to suffer like this again.

I was touched by Nico's concern for me, but I couldn't help but wonder if he was doing this out of pity. After all, who would want to take in a broken and battered girl like me?

Nico had promised to help me escape from my parents' house once he got a good job. And he couldn't wait for that day to come, but I also knew it wouldn't be easy. My parents were not going to let that happen, and they would never let me go without a fight.

We talked through Mr. and Mrs. Chad’s house. I bid my goodbye to him. “Alright, Nico. See you around. You know I still have work to do,”

He looks sad. “I miss you so much, Anna. If it’s okay with you, I want to fetch you here at 6 p.m and let’s have dinner before you go back home to your evil family,” 

I laughed and nodded. 

I watched Nico walk away from Mr. and Mrs. Chad's house, his broad shoulders and tall frame disappearing around the corner. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants, his dark hair ruffled by the wind. I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest as I thought about our friendly dinner date later. We had been friends for a while now, but lately, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more between us.

As I started doing my servant tasks, I felt Mrs. Chad's presence. This old woman never liked me. For what reason, I didn't know. She cocked her eyebrows at me and looked at me from head to toe. I could feel her judgmental gaze on me, and I braced myself for whatever criticism she was about to dish out.

"Good morning, Mrs. Chad," I said, trying to keep my tone polite.

She scoffed. "Don't try to sweet talk me, girl. I saw you flirting with that boy earlier. I expect you to do your work and not waste your time with silly things like that."

I felt my cheeks heat up with indignation. "Excuse me, Mrs. Chad, but I was on time this morning, and I wasn't flirting. Nico is just a friend."

Mrs. Chad snorted. "I don't believe you. You young people these days are always distracted by your phones and your social media. You can't even do your work properly."

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "I assure you, Mrs. Chad, I am perfectly capable of doing my job. I take my duties seriously."

“I doubt that. You’re like a snake. I know young women like you. You’re even flirting at my husband. You’re trying to look sexy in his eyes,” She accused me with burning eyes.

I never imagined that my simple job as a house cleaner would lead to such a dramatic turn of events. “Mrs. Chad, with all due respect that is not true. I respect both of you as my employer. I would never flirt with your husband,” I said with a brave voice.

I was completely taken aback by her accusations and tried to explain myself, but she wouldn't listen.

I have been working for the Chad family for over a year now, and I always made sure to keep things professional. I greeted Mr. Chad politely every morning, and we exchanged a few pleasantries, but nothing more. I was surprised that Mrs. Chad didn't trust me and thought I would stoop so low as to flirt with her husband.

“I don’t believe you. I’ll keep an eye on you, bitchy girl. I know you were trying to break my marriage because you despise your hard, poor life,” I felt helpless and frustrated as I watched her walk away, leaving me with a pile of laundry.

I tilted my head and continued with my tasks, seething inwardly. Why did Mrs. Chad always have to be so condescending and judgmental towards me? I didn't understand what I had done to deserve her dislike. All I knew was that I couldn't wait for tonight when I could end my duties today and spend some time with my best friend.

As I started sorting through the clothes, I couldn't help but cry. The accusations had hurt me deeply, and I couldn't understand why Mrs. Chad would think so low of me. I have always been a hardworking and honest person, and her accusations felt like a slap in the face.

Hours later, as I was cleaning, Mr. Chad approached me and apologized for his wife's behavior. He said that he knew I was innocent and that he would talk to his wife and clear things up.

I was relieved to hear his words, but at the same time, I felt guilty for causing trouble in their marriage. I knew that Mrs. Chad would never believe me, and I didn't want to cause any more drama.

“I know my wife has a bad attitude. And I apologize for that. I’m sorry, Anna. You’re a good girl, I could never find a trustable worker like you,” 

I forced myself to smile and continued my chores.

It was already six in the evening, and I was finally able to remove my servant uniform after a long day of work. As I walked out of Mrs. Chad's home, I noticed Nico standing there, waiting for me with a big warm smile on his face. I ran over to him and gave him a tight hug. Nico is my best friend, and I was excited to spend the evening with him.

"Are you ready for our date today?" he asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

I laughed and replied, "Of course! Let's go!"

Nico and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, and there's never been anything romantic between us. He's always been my go-to person when I need someone to talk to or when I just want to have some fun. And tonight, we were going to the amusement park.

As we walked around the park, we went on all the rides, screaming and laughing at the top of our lungs. We ate cotton candy and played carnival games, winning each other stuffed animals as prizes. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day at work.

As the night went on, we found ourselves lying on the grass, looking up at the dark sky. We ate street food, enjoying each other's company as we chatted about everything and nothing. It was the kind of moment that felt like it could last forever.

Suddenly, Nico turned to me and said, "You know, I really enjoy spending time with you. You're my favorite person in the world."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. "You're my favorite person too," I replied.

“I wish I had the capacity to remove you from your parent’s situation,” He whispered.

I was touched by genuine concern for me. “Nico, it’s enough for me that you cared for me. You don’t really to do anything for me,” 

After a few minutes, Nico said he would walk me home. I agree since it’s getting late. 

We walked down the streets, talking and laughing like we always do. But as we turned the corner, we saw a black sports car parked on the side of the road.

As we got closer, the car's engine revved, and it started to pull away. But then, it stopped abruptly, and the window rolled down. It was Dante Rossi, the Lycan Prince. I gasped at the sight of him.

He looked at us both, his gaze lingering on Nico's arm around my shoulder. I felt a chill run down my spine as I saw the darkness in his eyes. He didn't say anything, just drove off at breakneck speed.

Nico, on the other hand, seemed impressed by Dante's car. "Wow, that's one sick ride," he said, whistling in appreciation.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, though. Why was Dante so angry? And why did he look at me like that?

As we continued walking, I couldn't help but think about Dante. He was always on my mind, ever since the day we met. He was so charming, so mysterious, and so dangerous. I knew that I shouldn't be drawn to him, but I couldn't help it.

But now, seeing the way he looked at me and Nico, I couldn't help but wonder if I did something wrong. But I couldn’t remember anything. Maybe he was too dangerous, too unpredictable. Maybe I needed to stay away from him.

As we reached our home, Nico hugged me goodbye and walked away. I walked up to my apartment, feeling conflicted. I couldn't stop thinking about Dante and what had just happened.

Why he seems mad at me?