Chapter ten

~THE MORNING AFTER~

AMAYA’S POV

By the time I finished bathing and changed into the black nightwear Maria left for me, my entire body stung badly.

The warm water had relaxed me for a few minutes, but now every bruise felt sharper somehow. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror while cleaning the cuts on my arms carefully, trying not to hiss whenever the antiseptic touched broken skin.

After tending to my wounds, I switched off the bathroom light and walked back into the bedroom quietly. Ariel was already asleep beneath the duvet, curled into herself with her tiny curls scattered across the pillow.

My chest softened immediately at the sight of her.

I climbed into bed beside her carefully and pulled the blanket over us. Then I wrapped an arm around her small body and listened to her breathing.

That alone calmed me more than anything else could. I honestly didn’t think sleep would come. My mind was too crowded, my body too tense, and this house still felt unfamiliar. But sometime during the silence, exhaustion finally dragged me under.

NEXT DAY

“Mummy.”

Something heavy landed on top of me.

“Mummy, I’m hungry.”

I groaned softly and opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the sunlight spilling through the curtains. For a second I looked around in confusion before Ariel’s face came fully into view.

She was sprawled dramatically across my stomach pretending to fall back asleep after clearly waking me on purpose.

A tired laugh escaped me.

“Really?” I murmured. “You woke me up just to pretend to be asleep?”

She smiled without opening her eyes.

I reached over and tickled her sides suddenly.

Ariel squealed loudly and burst into laughter, twisting around the bed trying to escape my hands.

That sound did something to me.

After everything from last night, hearing her laugh so freely felt like breathing properly for the first time in years. I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head while she continued giggling.

Then a knock sounded at the door.

My body stiffened instantly out of habit.

The fear was automatic now. Ariel noticed too because she stopped laughing and looked toward the door quietly.

I forced myself to relax before clearing my throat.

“Come in,” I said as I sat upright in bed.

Maria stepped into the room with a bright smile on her face, balancing herself carefully as one of the younger staff followed behind her with a food trolley.

“Good morning, my lady,” she said warmly. Then her smile widened at Ariel. “And good morning to our little princess.”

Ariel grinned instantly.

“Breakfast is ready downstairs,” Maria continued. “Since neither of you ate last night, I made plenty of dishes.”

The second Ariel heard breakfast, she climbed off the bed so fast it made me laugh despite myself.

“Oh, my little glutton,” I teased softly.

“Mummy, I’m hungry,” she complained dramatically, already rushing toward Maria.

Maria laughed and reached for her hand while I slowly got out of bed, my body still sore from yesterday. The pain was there, but lighter this morning. Or maybe my mind was simply too distracted by the unfamiliar peace around me.

I followed them toward the door, but just before stepping out, I stopped suddenly.

My hand instinctively moved toward my face.

I turned back quietly and walked into the bathroom again. The scarf I had washed the night before was folded neatly near the sink, already dry. I picked it up slowly and stared at myself in the mirror for a second before wrapping it carefully around my head and lower face, leaving only my eyes visible.

But at least now the bruises were hidden.

I adjusted the scarf one last time before finally walking out of the bathroom.

Maria noticed immediately but said nothing. Her eyes softened briefly before she looked away politely, pretending not to understand why I covered myself. And honestly, I appreciated that more than pity.

Ariel reached for my hand the moment I stepped into the hallway. “Hurry, Mummy,” she said excitedly. “I want pancakes.”

I smiled faintly beneath the scarf and let her pull me along downstairs. As we got closer to the bottom of the stairs, voices drifted through the living room.

Well… it was Ethan’s voice.

He was on a phone call, pacing slowly across the sitting area with one hand tucked into the pocket of his black sweatpants. He wore a fitted dark t-shirt that stretched slightly across his broad shoulders and toned muscles, and for the first time since he brought me here, I actually looked at him properly.

And God. He was tall. Much taller than I realized last night. The kind of height and presence that naturally pulled attention without trying. Even the way he moved looked confident and effortless.

His hair was slightly messy, like he’d been running his hands through it, and his jaw carried a faint stubble that somehow made him look more dangerous instead of tired. I found myself biting my lower lip.

Catching myself, I gently let go of Ariel for a brief second and slapped my cheek softly to remind myself that I was only here for shelter, not to admire my savior. Besides, I wasn’t even appealing enough for a man like him to look at twice.

Then he turned, and our eyes met instantly.

And he froze.