LOGINMy phone was still pressed against my ear when I looked at Lia.Her expression had changed, but I could not tell what she was thinking.“Thank you for informing me, Officer. I’m on my way,” I said before ending the call.I slipped my phone into my bag and turned toward the guards.“Keep her here. Don’t let her leave this room until I return.”“Yes, ma’am.”Lia let out a bitter laugh. “Where are you going now, Serena? Running to save someone else?”I ignored her and headed for the door.“Serena!” she called after me. “I’m talking to you!”I stopped briefly and looked back at her.“You should be more worried about yourself, Lia. The police have finally caught the man who hit Adrian and ran away. If you know anything about that incident, I suggest you start thinking about how you’re going to explain yourself.”Her face stiffened.I did not wait for her response.The moment I stepped outside, I called my driver and ordered him to take me to the police station immediately.Throughout the d
I held Adrian’s hand for a few more minutes, reassuring him that he needed to rest and recover his strength.He kept looking at me as though he was afraid I would disappear if he closed his eyes.“I’m not going anywhere,” I told him softly.“You promise?”I nodded. “You need to get better first. We’ll talk about everything else later.”He seemed reluctant to let go of my hand, but his mother stepped closer and reminded him that the doctor had asked him to rest.I waited until he settled against his pillows before turning to his father.“Mr. Laurent, could I speak with you for a moment?”He followed me toward the far end of the corridor. “What is it, Serena?”“Lia. Where is she?”His expression hardened immediately. “She’s still at the mansion. We have guards watching her, and she hasn’t been allowed to leave.”“Is she still causing trouble?”“Not anymore. After what happened last night, she knows she can’t walk out whenever she wants. The guards are keeping her down.”I nodded slowly.
After the conversation with Nathan, I told Emma to call the police and explain the situation. They did not need to come again.I looked at the guards. “Don’t let him leave until morning.”“Yes, ma’am,” they replied.Then I returned to my room. I barely slept that night.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Adrian lying somewhere in pain. My mind filled with questions I could not answer. Was he getting better? Would they really take him to the hospital? Would he be able to stand again without hurting himself?By six in the morning, I could no longer stay in bed.I got dressed, told Clara I was going to the Laurent mansion, and left before she could talk me out of it.When I arrived, one of the maids opened the door. The moment she saw me, her expression changed.“Good morning, Mrs. Voss.”“Good morning. Where is Adrian?”She hesitated.My stomach tightened. “What’s wrong? Is he upstairs?”“No, ma’am. He was taken to the hospital last night.”“What?”“His condition became worse during the
“What if something happens to him?”Clara held my hands and looked straight into my eyes.“Serena, listen to me. Adrian is not alone. His parents are with him, and they are already getting him medical attention. You can visit him first thing in the morning. Right now, you need to rest.”“But I can’t just sit here knowing he’s in pain.”“And rushing there when you’re barely able to stand won’t help him,” Emma added. “Please, Serena. Let the doctors take care of him tonight. We’ll go to the mansion tomorrow.”I looked between them, wanting to argue, but I knew they were right. My body was still weak, and I had no clear idea of everything that had happened earlier.After a few more minutes, I finally gave in.“Fine. I’ll go tomorrow morning.”Clara squeezed my hand before turning toward Lila, who was still sitting beside her.“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you to bed.”“But, Mommy…”I forced a smile. “I’m fine, baby. Go and sleep with Elias. I’ll see you in the morning.”She hesitated,
Adrian’s mother and the maid rushed into the room and found him slumped in his father’s arms. The sight stopped them both for a second. His face was pale, his eyes half-closed, and his breathing uneven.“Call an ambulance. Now,” his mother ordered the maid. Her voice was sharp with fear.The maid ran. Within minutes the paramedics arrived, and Adrian was carried out of the house that same night. He had never felt pain like this. Every movement of the stretcher sent a fresh wave through his skull.At the hospital the lights above his bed felt too bright. He pressed both hands to his temples, trying to push the pressure away, but nothing worked.“Adrian, please stop moving,” his mother said, holding his hand tightly. “The doctor is coming.”“I need the pain to stop,” he muttered through clenched teeth.Mr. Victor stood beside the bed, his face tight. He had never seen his son look so helpless. The thought of what Lia had done kept his anger burning under the worry.“Where is the doctor?
My phone kept ringing on the nightstand. I stared at Mr. Victor’s name for another second before answering. “Hello, Mr. Victor. Is everything all right?” “No, Serena. I’m sorry to call you this late, but something has happened to Adrian.” My heart skipped. “What happened? Is he all right?” “His head has been hurting badly. He can barely get comfortable, and we’re trying to understand what caused it.” I sat straighter on the bed. “Did he fall? Did he hit his head?” “No. That’s what worries me. I believe it has something to do with what Lia gave him tonight.” The moment I heard her name, I stood up. “Lia?” I asked sharply. “What do you mean? Is Lia in that mansion? What did she give Adrian?” Mr. Victor let out a troubled breath. “She came to the mansion earlier and asked to stay for the night. Adrian allowed her into the guest room. Later, a maid noticed she was missing from her room and went looking for her. When she checked Adrian’s room, she found Lia with him.” My finger
That night, I sat alone in the vast bedroom that wasn’t mine, wearing a white light robe they had given me after the wedding with no panties under. My hands were clenched so tightly in my lap that my nails left little crescent marks on my palms. I felt nervous.The door opened.He stepped in, jacke
I spent the morning trying to make myself useful. Anything to feel less like a shadow in this house. One of the younger maids was struggling with heavy flower vases in the main hall, so I stepped in to help carry one. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she gave me a small, grateful smile.We were ha
I avoided everyone for the rest of the day. It wasn’t hard.Nobody came looking for me anyway.The mansion was too large, too cold, filled with people who work as maids. Every hallway felt unfamiliar. Every room reminded me that this wasn’t my home.I spent most of the afternoon sitting near the wi
I stayed slumped against the wall for a long time, his release still sliding down my thighs. The house was quiet now. Too quiet. Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. I wandered the halls, trying to find water, when I heard voices from the guest wing, low, intimate. I froze outside the slightly aj







