two more to come 🙏
CamilaTen days had passed, and still, we hadn't heard from Ronan. The silence weighed heavily on my heart, and although I tried to stay calm, the worry gnawed at me. He had promised to return to us safely, and I clung to that promise, repeating it to myself like a mantra. But I could sense the unease all around me. The nervous glances during mealtimes, the quiet tension in the air, the way Madam Melania's hands would shake slightly as she held her teacup—everyone was worried, but no one dared say it aloud.I did my best to keep my own fears hidden. I would go for long walks to clear my head, using that time to let the anxiety spill out of me. But the longer we went without news, the harder it became to manage. Being in the dark, unable to ask anyone what was happening, was unbearable. Every day felt like a silent waiting game, a test of patience that I was slowly losing.This evening, though, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to know, even if it meant
CamilaReluctantly, I sat down next to her, unsure of what to do or say. It felt so strange—unnatural, almost—but at the same time, I couldn’t turn away from her grief. She looked so lost, so broken.“I can’t even discuss it with Sergey,” she said, her voice breaking as the tears finally spilt over. “First Erin, and now…” Her words trailed off, and she buried her face in her hands. It was the first time I’d seen her cry so openly.“Last time, I knew Ronan was okay. He just didn’t want to speak to us. But this time, there’s no word at all, nothing about him or Joseph. We have to stay strong.”Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. She was trying to stay hopeful, trying to convince herself that things would turn out fine. But there was an edge to her voice, a crack in her resolve that made me wonder if even she believed what she was saying. I forced myself not to cry, not to break down, because I knew if I did, the thin thread holding us both together might snap.“How is Katya?” she
CamilaThe noise was so loud that it hurt my ears. My head was pounding, and I felt like it was going to explode. I tried to move but found myself stuck on a strange bed. I could hear someone shouting at me, but my eyes refused to open. I felt lost and confused.Finally, my eyes fluttered open, and I saw Ronan standing over me, yelling. He looked really angry. As I tried to calm down, his words started to make sense."What are you doing in my bed, Camila? Why are you here?" he shouted, his voice filled with pain, not just curiosity. I turned away from him, trying to avoid his intense gaze to clear the fog in my brain. That’s when I realised I was naked, covered only by the sheets of his bed. My heart raced as the reality of what might have happened hit me. I quickly scrambled to get out of his bed, falling to the floor in my haste. As I looked around the room, I saw the full extent of my mess.Ronan's fiancée, Leah Semenov, and her sister, Mira, were both in the room. Leah was cry
CamilaI was allowed to go and change into clothes, and then my mother and I were told to report to General Sergey's study, where he spent most of his time. We entered the room and immediately dropped to our knees. My mother was crying, tears streaming down her face. She kept asking why this had happened, but I had no answers. My mind was a fog, and the thought that this was my first time, and I had no memory of it, hurt my soul deeply but I kept that part to myself. No one cared about the emotions and turmoils of a slave."I took you in, Glenda. I gave you a home, a job, and protection. I never harassed you. You were never uncomfortable in my home. I was kind to you, even though you are from that wicked country. I didn't visit the sins of your government on you as my colleagues would have…” “...I clothed you, gave you shelter, fed you, and provided you with a job. I welcomed your daughter into the world and gave her a home, and this is how you repay me," General Sergey said, his voi
RonanI wasn’t angry. I couldn't blame my father for letting Glenda and her daughter off the hook because he was right. I walked out of the study, seething with anger. I had never cheated on Leah our entire time together. Even if she forgave me, she would hold this over my head.My mind was spinning with questions and frustration. I felt betrayed and confused. How could someone I treated well do something so terrible?I returned to my room. I took out my phone to call Leah, but her number was switched off. I could just imagine the tears she must be crying at this moment.When I shut the door to my room, I yelled, trying to release my frustration. Why didn't Leah give me a chance to speak? Why didn't she give me a chance to defend myself?I was furious. I looked at my bed, wondering if I would ever lie on it again. I walked over and ripped the remaining sheets off, and that was when the blood stains caught my eye.I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I checked again to be sure, an
CamilaTwo Days LaterLooking back, I thought our lives were hard before, but I didn't realise we had some good moments. Now, after what happened with Young Master Ronan, I saw how wrong I was. My mother and I had become the outcasts in the house. The other workers treated us like garbage, and Madam Melania had become more cruel than ever. She used to ignore us most of the time, but now she seemed to go out of her way to make our lives miserable. I knew she blamed us for ruining her son's wedding.When Leah called off the engagement, it was a massive shock to everyone. The fear of losing the friendship with the Semenov family hung in the air like a heavy cloud. And amidst all this, I was the one everyone blamed.Ronan asked me about the drink, and I had no choice but to take the blame. If I had told him the truth—that my mother put the drink in the Ddecanter and handed it to me—he would have directed all his anger at her. Living the way we were, with everyone blaming us, wasn't easy
CamilaThe words stung each one, reminding me of my place in this world. I felt a lump in my throat as I tried to hold back tears. The injustice of it all was suffocating. My mother and I were just trying to survive, doing our best in a world that saw us as nothing more than property. Mirabel's cruel words made it clear that no matter how hard we tried, we would always be judged and looked down upon.My mother squeezed my hand, a silent signal that she understood my pain. Her eyes, usually so strong, were filled with sadness. I knew she felt helpless, unable to protect me from the harshness of our reality.As I stood there, listening to Mirabel's hateful words, I felt a mix of emotions. Anger at the unfairness of our situation, sadness for the loss of my dignity, and a deep, aching longing for a better life. I wanted to scream, to tell Mirabel that she was wrong, that I had never aspired to be with Ronan. But I knew it wouldn't make a difference. In her eyes and the eyes of everyone
RonanTwo week passed, and Leah completely blocked me. I wondered how she could stay mad at me for so long, knowing what happened wasn't my fault and that I was a victim, too. I just didn't get it. Mira kept calling to check on me, and she even tried to convince her sister to speak to me, but Leah wouldn't. I began to suspect she didn't want the marriage after all. But why? I honestly thought she loved me.I sat in the bar of the house with a vodka in my hand. I knew I shouldn't touch this stuff again since it was what was used to ruin me, but I found myself drowning in it, trying to forget the problems I was facing.Suddenly, being on leave didn't seem nice, and I wished the Defense Department would send me to head a battalion anywhere. Anywhere but here.My mother walked in and sat directly opposite me. I could see concern and sorrow in her eyes."I told your father not to take that woman in. Look what her daughter did to you," she said. I shook my head, even though I was slightly