Chapter 27 Chapter 28
Valerie POV
I still had to come up with something.
I had already been caught once, and that mistake nearly ruined everything. I couldn’t afford another failure. If I was going to make this work, it had to be convincing enough to force their hand. There could be no doubt. No hesitation.
I finished my meal quickly, barely tasting anything, then rushed back to my room. My chest felt tight as I closed the door behind me. Time was slipping away, and panic crept deeper into my veins with every passing second.
I began pacing back and forth, my footsteps uneven as I searched the room. My eyes scanned every surface, every corner, looking for something, anything that could help me carry out the plan. My heart pounded loudly in my ears.
Frustration burned through me. I ran my hands through my hair, breathing hard. I needed a solution, and I needed it fast.
Then my eyes landed on something beneath my pillow.
The gun, It had been there for a while now, untouched but always present, a silent reminder of the danger surrounding me. My hands shook as I picked it up and rested it against my leg. For a moment, I just stared at it, my mind racing.
Fear flooded in.
What if things went wrong? What if this ruined me instead of saving me? What if I survived but couldn’t walk again or worse, couldn’t live the life I wanted afterward? I was desperate to escape this place, but I couldn’t destroy myself in the process.
I swallowed hard, my throat burning.
No. This wasn’t the way, I quickly set the gun back on the table and stepped away from it, my heart racing. I resumed pacing, faster now, my thoughts spiraling. There had to be another option. Something safer. Something that would still work.
Then came a knock on the door.
“Miss, is everything okay? Miss Valerie?”
The housekeeper’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a blade.
I froze,My body went stiff as panic surged through me. I shut my eyes tightly and forced myself to breathe. One deep breath. Then another. I had to look calm. Normal. I couldn’t let her suspect anything more than she already did.
Slowly, I walked to the door and opened it.
She stood there, watching me closely. I forced a small smile, even though my heart was pounding uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you, Miss Valerie,” she said gently. “I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. Considering what happened earlier… I hope you’re okay.”
Her eyes searched my face, full of concern.
“Would you like me to call Luciano?” she asked softly.
The moment she said his name, panic exploded inside me.
“No,” I said too quickly, then steadied myself. “No, that won’t be necessary.”
My hands clenched at my sides as I struggled to keep my voice calm. The last thing I needed was Luciano showing up, watching me, questioning me. Everything would fall apart.
“I’m fine,” I added, forcing the words out. “I just need some rest.”
She hesitated, clearly unsure, but after a moment she nodded.
“Alright, Miss Valerie,” she said quietly. “Please… take care of yourself.”When she finally left, I closed the door and leaned against it, my legs trembling beneath me.
I was running out of time.
But I couldn’t stop now.I had to find a way, one last way to make this work.
Today, I was leaving this place.
No matter what.
If she made the mistake of calling Luciano, everything would be ruined. Every step I had planned, every risk I had taken, would collapse in seconds.
“No… no, I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’ve just been feeling overwhelmed lately. But trust me, I’m perfectly okay.”
I hoped, prayed that my words would be enough to make her drop the idea. My heart pounded painfully as I watched her face, searching for any sign that she believed me.
“But I still think it’s better for me to call him,” she replied, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m sorry, Miss Valerie, but I don’t want to get myself killed. My boss warned us that if anything happens to you, the staff will pay with our lives.”
Her words hit me hard, I saw the sadness in her eyes, the fear she was trying to hide. She wasn’t exaggerating. She was telling the truth. And deep down, I knew exactly what she meant. I knew what Luciano was capable of. I had seen his power, his control, and the quiet threats that followed him everywhere.
For a moment, guilt twisted in my chest. None of this was her fault. She was trapped too, just in a different way.
I forced a smile, even though it hurt to do so, and took a step closer to her. She stiffened slightly, clearly surprised by my sudden movement. Slowly, gently, I reached out and held her hand, gripping it tightly as if anchoring myself.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said softly. “Nothing is going to happen. You don’t need to call him.”
She looked at me, uncertainty flickering across her face.
“I’ll be perfectly fine,” I continued, my voice calm but firm. “And I promise you—you’re not going to get yourself killed for any reason.”
I held her gaze, silently begging her to trust me.
After a long moment, she nodded her head slowly. Her shoulders relaxed just a little, though fear still lingered in her eyes. Without another word, she turned and walked away.
The moment she was gone, I released the breath I had been holding.
I closed the door quietly behind me and leaned against it, my heart racing out of control. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the wood, grounding myself. That had been too close. One phone call. One word. And everything would have ended.
I stepped away from the door and turned around.
That was when I saw it, a bottle of medication sat on the table, half hidden beneath a stack of papers. My eyes locked onto it, and instantly, an idea sparked in my mind. My pulse quickened as realization washed over me.
This could work, hope surged through me, sharp and sudden. I moved quickly toward the table, my thoughts racing as the plan formed in my head. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t safe. But it was convincing and that was all that mattered.
This was my chance. I picked up the bottle, my fingers tightening around it as determination settled deep in my chest. Everything I had endured, every fear, every moment of hesitation it all led to this.
I wasn’t backing out now, not when freedom was finally within reach.