Chapter 3

Aiden carried Ella into his mansion while, across the city, Kingsley searched frantically for her, checking every street with rising panic.

Then he spotted a man carrying a woman into a black gate.

“That has to be Ella,” he muttered, quickening his pace.

Inside the mansion, Aiden lowered Ella onto the couch, his jaw tight with anger.

“How dare they touch you?” he snapped.

“You are not their servant,You need to fight back”.

“I tried,” Ella whispered, exhausted.

Aiden stared at her for a long moment before turning away.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because you make me lose control.”

He pulled her closer, burying his face against her neck as his emotions slipped through the cracks of his cold demeanor.

“I love your scent,” he murmured.

Ella gently pushed against his chest. “Can I take a shower? I feel dirty.”

Aiden’s expression darkened. “This time, you’re not running away from me.”

Without another word, he carried her to the bathroom.

Minutes later, steam curled through the air as Ella stepped out. But before she could speak, Aiden closed the distance between them and fastened a silver chain around her neck.

Ella’s fingers trembled against it. “What is this?”

“Your punishment,” he said softly. “Your punishment for leaving me.”

His voice carried a dangerous calm that sent a chill through her.

“ Aren’t I your employer?”

“You are,” he replied with a faint smile. “I’m simply following the arrangement.”

Suddenly, Ella’s phone rang.

Aiden picked it up before she could answer.

“You bitch!” Kingsley’s furious voice exploded through the speaker. “Where are you? Are you with another man?”

A slow smile spread across Aiden’s face.

“She’s wet,” he said coldly before ending the call.

A few minutes later, Ella and Aiden were escorted to the police station.

Aiden stepped out of the interrogation room where Ella was being held. Matthew followed behind him alongside several officers.

“Silence the press,” Aiden said coldly. “No one talks about what happened today. And make sure that woman never learns my identity.”

Matthew frowned. “Why hide it from her?”

Aiden adjusted his cufflinks, his expression unreadable. “Because the moment she knows who I am, the game ends.”

Without another word, he walked away.

Moments later, Kingsley stormed into the station.

He headed straight for Ella, fury burning in his eyes.

“So it’s true,” he spat. “You’re cheating on me.”

Ella looked at him calmly. “No, I’m not.”

“Then why are you sitting in police custody?”

Ella picked up the untouched cup of coffee on the table. “Maybe the officers invited me here for coffee.”

Kingsley’s jaw tightened.

“Kourtney is upset after today’s embarrassment. You’re going to apologize to her.”

Ella stayed silent.

“And because she’s still feeling hurt, I’ll be taking her to the Robert Ball tonight. You’ll come with us and do whatever she asks.”

The Robert Ball glittered with wealth and elegance.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the grand hall in gold while masked guests danced beneath the music.

From the upper floor balcony, Robert stood quietly behind a silver mask, observing everything below.

Kourtney swirled her wine before deliberately turning to Ella.

“Oh, Ella, help me fix my shoe.”

Ella looked at her coldly. “No.”

Kourtney immediately pouted. “Kingsley, did you hear what she said?”

Kingsley sighed impatiently. “Ella, she’s wearing a long gown. It’ll be difficult for her to bend down herself. Just fix it.”

One of Kourtney’s friends laughed mockingly.

“Poor girls really should learn how to serve the rich.”

Another smirked. “If not for Kingsley, you wouldn’t even be standing in this ballroom.”

Kingsley leaned closer to Ella, his voice low and threatening.

“If you refuse, your mother’s medical treatment gets canceled.”

Ella’s fingers curled into fists.

Slowly, she bent down to fix Kourtney’s heel.

Upstairs, Aiden watched the scene unfold, his eyes darkening.

“Oh, little bunny,” he murmured softly. “Why do you always let them bully you?”

As Ella adjusted the strap, Kourtney suddenly shoved her foot against Ella’s chest.

Ella stumbled backward.

Kourtney gasped dramatically. “Oops. Kingsley baby, Ella keeps hurting me whenever you’re not looking.”

Kingsley turned sharply. “What did you do?”

Ella froze for a moment.

Then Aiden’s voice echoed in her memory.

Fight for yourself.

Ella slowly stood.

“She pushed me.”

The room fell silent.

Kourtney’s friend scoffed. “Are you out of your mind? A servant like you should be grateful to even stand here.”

“That’s right,” Kingsley snapped. “Get out of this party.”

Ella lifted her chin.

“I represent myself.”

Kingsley narrowed his eyes. “You suddenly have this much audacity? Are you cheating on me?”

Ella stared directly at him.

“Yes. I am.”

The entire hall gasped.

Kingsley’s face darkened with rage. “Nobody would touch a woman drowning in fifty thousand dollars of debt.”

Ella smiled faintly.

“Someone would.”

Kingsley laughed bitterly. “Who?”

“A handsome man,” Ella replied smoothly. “A very handsome man.”

Before Kingsley could react, several staff members approached.

“Miss Ella,” one announced respectfully, “Mr. Aiden Robert asked us to deliver this gown to you.”

Kourtney nearly dropped her wine glass.

“What?!”

The staff member bowed slightly. “Mr. Robert requested that the first woman who entered the ballroom with her left foot receive it.”

Kourtney forced a smile. “I entered with my left foot too.”

The staff member shook his head politely.

“The lady Mr. Robert described has brown eyes, blonde hair, and is about five feet tall.”

Kourtney’s expression twisted instantly.

“I knew it,” she muttered bitterly. “She must be sleeping with someone here. None of this makes sense.”

Ella accepted the gown gracefully.

“Thank you. And please thank Mr. Robert for me.”

Minutes later, the ballroom fell silent.

Ella descended the grand staircase wearing a shimmering blue gown that hugged her perfectly, black heels clicking against the marble steps.

The lights reflected off the fabric like stars dancing across midnight water.

Every eye in the room turned toward her.

Whispers spread instantly.

“She’s beautiful…”

Kingsley stared in shock.

For the first time in years, he truly looked at his wife.

“I’ve never seen her this beautiful before,” he muttered.

Then his expression hardened again.

“Ella, apologize to Kourtney, and I’ll still allow you to be my dance partner tonight.”

Ella stopped halfway down the stairs.

Her gaze turned cold.

“You are no match for me,” she said quietly. “I don’t dance with stupidity.”

Gasps erupted around the ballroom.

Kingsley’s face burned with humiliation.

“How dare you”

He raised his hand to slap her.

But before his palm could reach her face, another hand caught his wrist midair.

Firmly.

Effortlessly.

Kingsley’s arm froze in the air as silence crashed over the ballroom.