Chapter 11 LEAH'S TALE
I couldn't push myself to believe my choice to Rafael's marriage proposal would affect not just one life but multiple lives all at once.
They had just made me realize their fate was resting on my shoulders and I could feel myself being pulled under.
Now, whatever decision I make as regards getting married to Rafael not only affected me but a lot more damage will be done to other people.
Had I made a mistake by talking about the marriage proposal to the maids?
Had I given them hope of a better life with me becoming their master's wife?
Had they relived the possibility of our marriage and had been happy for a brief moment?
This has turned into a battle I have to fend off alone and my being began to contemplate the two choices I have been doused in.
To give these girls another reason to feel alive—
Or…
To be a selfish woman and hitch towards my freedom?
—
“I have never been bestowed with the privilege to see the world outside this estate for once,” Leah had begun to say as she was ready to tell me her story.
It was an overwhelming feeling which felt surreal to me as I listened to her. With her hands folded over her knees which were bent in a kneel, I watched her.
“My mother has been a worker for the Devereaux family even long before I was born. According to the tales surrounding her, she also has limited privilege to see the outside world. Not until she got promoted to the position of chief maid was she allowed to leave the mansion free-willed but only on occasions to visit her family.
One starry night, the once prominent leader of this family, Sir Devereaux himself who was sir Santiano Rafael's grandfather hosted a banquet, inviting other Mafia families who were acquaintances with his business from around the world to grace the night.
It was during this banquet— a night of celebration, splendor and underground business dealings for them my mother was chosen.
A man from the Russian force had fallen in love with her and in the end, their relationship bore a seed which was me. Once this man had left back to his home country, promising to send for my mother soon, but…”
Leah paused her story, lowering her head to hide her disappointment.
“...that was all she heard from him. She had secretly sent him multiple letters to remind him of his promise to her— to liberate her and grant her freedom. To remind him of the short time they had been together.
All that she had done was for the wind. He never wrote back to her as soon as he got back to his world. That was what was left of my mother. Shame and a seed of impurity. She had been forgotten.
All she ever meant to him was nothing more than a vessel to satiate his beastly pleasure and my mother had been fooled by the sweet nectar in his tongue.
Shortly after I was born, my mother, unable to bear the shame of the consequence of her action, decided to end it all. She wanted to escape the same of bearing an impurity formed in her womb based on human contempt and fabricated lies.
My mother never made it out alive, but I did and I have been cared for by the Devereaux family and in return, I will have to repay this debt with my entire life, serving the Devereaux family.”
—
The room became silent yet again— even more quiet than it has been the first time. I couldn't imagine what emotions Leah was battling with within herself.
How long she had been harboring such cruelty of human nature which she had called victim to.
I wondered how long a child as young as her had been left with no life choice but to work for the Devereaux family for a mistake she had not committed.
All she ever did was to be bitten and that itself wasn't with her consent— it was a force of nature, but regardless, she was atoning for a sin she didn't commit with her life.
My throat turned sour.
I couldn't bring myself to say a word of comfort to Leah as a huge lump blocked the passage of my voice.
Leah was barely an adult— this I have assumed due to how young and tender all her features were.
Even if she was according to her age an adult which I had not questioned her about, she shouldn't have to go through this.
She should have a chance to make her own choices, love her own life and see what beauty exists in the world and she shouldn't be confined only within the walls of the Devereaux family.
—
Out of nowhere came the talking of shoes, collecting our attention all at once.
We all looked towards the direction of the sound and were all taken by surprise at the figure walking towards us.
We all had failed to notice the chief maid walk in on us and without doubt, she must have been listening in all along.
Her long strides were directed towards Leah who quickly got up to her feet, now quivering more than ever.
She bowed her head to the floor at once with her quivering lips spelling out some words like she had been trapped in a cold room for a very long time.
“I'm sorry, Madam Adele… it's not…”
Before she could complete her words, a resounding slap met with her cheek that she fell back to the floor, her head slamming into the bath tub at the force of her fall.
Instinctively, my hands shot towards my mouth, covering it in surprise as I gasped out loud, shocked and taken aback completely by what I had just been forced to watch.
And there was Leah, lying unconscious on the cold floor as her blood began to pool onto the unforgiving marble floor.