Chapter 27 LEAH'S REQUEST
“Oh Leah!” I marveled, rushing towards her as she walked in.
I took her into my arms, scooping her into a warm hug like she was a long lost sister to me. Leah was already filled up with smiles and she was as happy as I was to see her.
We hugged tenderly, smiled at each other and I had to stop her from shedding tears all over again. We bonded so well like we have known each other all our lives.
When we both had calmed down, I praised her for scaling through the terror of that gruesome night in one piece.
“I believe your story to be true, Leah. I never for once doubted you.” I had said to her and she broke down again, her tears streaming down her face like a broken dam.
She searched for my hands like she was about to treat me like Mother Mary and pray to me or perhaps, worship me.
I cradled her face in my hands, gently fondling her cheeks and wiping off her glistering tears.
I let out for Leah that my mind began to play the possibility of leaving that mansion with her and to do this, I must craft a plan well tailored for an escape for us both.
“Let's get out of here— together!” I announced to her, filled with unexplainable enthusiasm.
I had expected that exact reaction she gave out as I mentioned those words to her.
A surreal feeling of shock with a mix of compromise— an unbelieving feeling of being granted such a grandeur offer.
Whatever she was feeling at that moment, I was really curious to find out, but regardless, she had to make her own choices.
I couldn't force her onto it and the decision was left for her to make while I could only go on the waves of assumption that she would allow me to take her with me.
Leah withdrew herself from me, her eyes falling to her feet that I began to wonder what was going on in her mind.
Her simple act of retraction was loud enough to know she might possibly be considering a refusal to my proposal and I was forced to wonder why Leah would want to attempt such a decision.
Perhaps, was Leah too stunned to believe I had made an offer to set her free from the Devereaux's mansion with her by my side or was she already too attached to the family?
“What is it, Leah?” I asked her again as she took longer to give a response to my offer.
Then she finally raised her gaze at me, her eyes filled with extreme hope that I could see them sparkle.
It warmed my heart to see her smile again. Then she said, “I'm sorry, lady Vanessa, but I cannot leave here with you.” She confessed.
My jaws could have dropped at the sound of that, but I was composed enough to not default.
“Master Rafael has dealt kindly with me and my mother, so have you, but my loyalty remains with him.” Leah continued, twirling her fingers a little too hard because she found it hard to refuse me.
I swallowed hard, not sure if what to say, but Leah still had more words to say to me, so she continued,
“I know it is difficult and I'm also not in any honorable position to say this to you, but you should stay by his side.”
“What?!” I exclaimed. The surprise was clear in my voice, and my heart raced a little in sheer unbelief. “What do you mean?”
“I've heard Master Rafael stole you as a bride who never became one but I have to say, he has become a changed man since you came into his life.” She paused, her eyes yearning to seek his praise.
“Master Rafael is a very good human with you especially. I know the situation of your relationship makes this hard to believe, but I hope you can realize this really sooner.”
I was still too stunned to speak. I couldn't imagine someone was trying to push their sheer luck at me to accept Rafael despite the atrocity of his actions towards me.
I could have flared up as those words would have pissed me off if they weren't coming from Leah, but there was something to this woman that calmed me down.
It felt like she was a friend, a really good friend whose advice had saved my life once and all I had to do in that moment was listen to the words of her lips.
I finally pulled myself together, but not entirely fit.
“He should hear this and probably hear this and give you a raise.” I managed to say teasingly and Leah laughed it off.
But deep down, I had a contrasting feeling dealing heavy blows into me in huge numbers. Leah had confessed she would remain loyal to her master— Rafael and I had just blurted to her that I would be escaping from him soon.
Talk more about shooting one self in the foot; talk more of bad luck.
“Lady Vanessa,” Leah called at me, breaking into my thoughts. “I know my loyalty lies with my master, but I also want to repay you for the kindness you've shown me with such little time you've known me for.”
I was pushed to an edge, ready to hear what more she has to say because she suddenly sounded like hope to me.
“I can help you get away from here,” She whispered faintly, careful enough to make it impossible for whosoever was listening in to not get a chance.
That was only if someone was actually listening in to us.
She continued.
“But in return, you have to make me a promise.” Leah's voice pushed on calmly.
She was genuinely ready to render this service, but she had her own condition. I couldn't throw this faint chance of help at freedom out of the window.
I needed help— all the help I could get and if I get an offer with a condition I could willingly submit to, then why not?
I grabbed Leah's both hands in mine, ready to listen to her.
“Tell me at once! What promise do you want me to make?”
I was anxious to find out what her term would be, and how serious it could get all just because it'd grant me what I desired the most.
To be far away from Italy— away from Santiano Rafael Devereaux.
“Promise me you'll stay by Master Rafael's side for a while— just a little more time with him.”
My heart dropped, sinking far deep into my stomach. I could feel bile pile up in my throat and I could feel every fiber of my body working against me.
“He really needs you, Lady Vanessa and without my help, you can never get away from him. Never!”
The absurdity of what Leah had requested for made my hands slip away from hers as I grew numb with each passing second.
I suddenly could feel the word tilt in its axis as the realization of her request took form in my head.
The key to my liberation from Rafael is to be with him?