Chapter 5: The pain he left behind

Elena's POV

Lucas and I talked for a while, and for the first time since morning, I felt something close to relief.

The garden was quiet.

A soft evening breeze moved through the leaves, and the flowers swayed along with it, their sweet smell drifting around us. Sitting there with Lucas, I almost forgot the nightmare I'd lived through earlier.

I could almost pretend everything was normal.

Almost.

Then I noticed something odd.

Lucas had been staring at me for over ten seconds without saying a word.

I shifted on the bench and turned to look at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

He didn't answer. His eyes stayed on my face like he was trying to memorize it.

I frowned and lifted my hands to my cheeks.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

Nothing.

I touched my cheeks, then my forehead, getting more self-conscious by the second.

"Lucas!"

That finally got him. He jerked back, blinked a few times, and gave me a sheepish smile.

"What?" he asked, like nothing had happened.

I stared at him. "What's wrong with you? You've been staring at me forever."

He laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair. When he looked at me again, something in his eyes had changed.

Something that made me uneasy.

"You're too beautiful to be a maid, Elena," he said.

I just blinked.

Beautiful?

It wasn't the first time someone had said that since I'd come to this mansion, and I still never knew how to answer. And what did my face have to do with being a maid anyway?

Before I could think of a reply, Lucas slid closer and sat right beside me.

I scooted away without thinking.

He noticed. His smile faltered for a second before he pulled it back together.

"Look, Elena." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "You're just too beautiful for me to look away from. I just need you to say—"

"Lucas!"

A stern voice cut him off.

We both turned toward the garden entrance.

Steve was walking toward us, his polished shoes crunching on the gravel. His face was as serious as ever, and just like that, the peace in the garden was gone.

He stopped in front of the bench and glanced from Lucas to me.

"The boss orders you to return to your post. Now."

My face fell.

That devil.

Wasn't it enough, everything he'd already done to me? Did he have to ruin the few quiet minutes I'd managed to find?

Lucas sighed and sat up straight. He looked disappointed, but there was nothing he could do about an order.

He turned to me, his face softening. "We'll talk tomorrow, Elena."

I forced a small smile. "Okay."

He got up, brushed invisible creases from his trousers, and followed Steve out. Steve never looked back. Lucas did, once, before they both disappeared through the entrance.

And just like that, I was alone again.

I sat there a while, staring at the flowers without really seeing them.

I didn't want to go back inside. Just the thought of that mansion made my chest tighten. Everywhere I looked, something reminded me of the humiliation and the pain. My body still ached, and even thinking about taking a step made me wince.

Then my stomach growled, loudly.

I closed my eyes. Oh, great.

I hadn't eaten a thing since morning.

With a tired sigh, I put both hands on the bench and pushed myself up.

"Ouch... ouch."

I stopped and steadied myself before taking a careful step. Every movement dragged the memory back, and my eyes started to burn again.

My mother would be devastated if she knew what Damien had done to me. She'd never believe someone could be that cruel, or that he could make me feel so helpless.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I feel so dirty.

The thought alone made me want to cry all over again.

But I couldn't stay in the garden forever. I needed food, even if I had to swallow every last bit of my pride to get it.

I wiped my face and slowly walked toward the mansion.

The cool air hit my skin the second I stepped through the front door. The big living room glowed under the chandeliers, their light bouncing off the polished marble floor. A few guards stood by the entrance and others moved around, busy with their work.

I kept my head down and hoped no one would notice how miserable I looked.

I was about to turn left when something moving on the staircase caught my eye.

Damien.

He was coming down the stairs, composed and effortless in his expensive clothes. His face was cold, his posture sure of itself, with that same arrogance that twisted my stomach.

He was heading for the dining room.

My heart lurched.

Without thinking, I ducked behind the corner and pressed my back to the wall. I held my breath as his footsteps echoed across the room.

Please, don't look this way.

He didn't. He walked straight past without even glancing at the corner.

I stayed hidden until I was sure he was gone, and only then did I let my breath out.

I didn't understand it. Ever since this morning, I'd lost the courage to stand in front of him. Maybe it was because I'd finally seen how heartless he could be. Or maybe I was just scared of what he'd do next.

A tear slid down my cheek. I wiped it away fast and checked that none of the guards had seen. I wasn't going to give those people another reason to stare at me.

I took the back entrance and hurried to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat without running into anyone else.

Mrs. Brown was standing at the counter, gathering a few things. She looked up almost at once.

"Elena?"

I froze.

"I haven't seen you since the young master came back this morning. Where have you been?"

My heart skipped. I thought I'd been quiet.

"Huh?" I stammered, scrambling for an answer. "I've been really busy washing some papers."

Mrs. Brown looked at me as if I'd grown a second head.

I wanted to slap myself. Papers? Seriously, Elena?

"Oh! I mean the bedspreads!" I said, forcing an awkward smile. "They needed cleaning, you know."

She shook her head slowly.

"Elena, child, you can always talk to me. I don't want to see you sad."

Her gentle voice nearly knocked down the little wall I'd built around myself. I turned away and pretended to study the counter.

"Mrs. Brown, I just need something to eat," I mumbled, desperate to change the subject.

She watched me for a moment, then came closer. Without asking anything else, she rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Come. Let me help you sit."

I looked at her, surprised.

Before I could argue, she guided me to a chair. I lowered myself onto it, biting back a sound of pain as I sat.

She took the seat beside me, and the sadness in her eyes made my throat close up.

"Child, I know what he did to you," she whispered.

"I know you don't want anyone to find out, and I'm so sorry he did this to you."

My head snapped toward her.

She knows?

How?

I stared at her, unable to say a word. The tears I'd been fighting all day filled my eyes, and I couldn't hold them back anymore. I leaned into her, wrapped my arms around her, and buried my face in her shoulder.

"Honestly, I don't know what I did to him," I sobbed. "I can't even remember doing anything to piss him off. Why does he hate me so much?"

She rubbed my back while I cried.

"You don't deserve to be treated this way, Elena."

That only made me cry harder.

"And on your birthday, too," she added softly. "I know how painful it is to have a birthday like this."

My sobs slowed.

My birthday.

I'd almost forgotten. What should've been a happy day had turned into something I wished I could erase.

After a while, I pulled away and wiped my cheeks. Mrs. Brown handed me something to eat, and the sight of it reminded me just how hungry I was.

"Thank you, Mrs. Brown," I said. "I'm so happy to eat again. It feels like it's been ages."

She chuckled, and despite everything, a small laugh slipped out of me too. For the first time today, I actually laughed. It wasn't much, but it felt good to have even a tiny moment of happiness.

When I'd finished, I thanked her again and slowly got up.

"Well, I'd better go before it gets cold."

I stepped out of the kitchen feeling a little lighter than I had a few minutes ago.

But the peace didn't last.

The second I crossed the doorway, I came face to face with the one person I'd been praying to avoid.

Damien.

He stood right in my path, his cold eyes sweeping over me with open contempt.

My body went stiff. I couldn't move.

His lips curled into a cruel smirk, and he leaned toward me.

"So," he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain, "this is where you've been hiding, you little slut."