"I love you, Salvatore".

Salvatore’s gaze drifted to the scar that marred his chest, a constant reminder of the bullet that had threatened to end his life all those years ago. It was nothing short of a miracle that he had survived that fateful night.

Two decades had passed since that tragic day, yet the memories remained ingrained in Salvatore’s mind. The faces of those three men, particularly the one with the piercing gaze of a lone eye, haunted his thoughts. The fire of revenge burned within him, his determination unwavering.

“You three are going to pay,” He muttered, a sinister smirk curling his lips. His eyes glinted with a cold and calculated intensity. “I will devise a punishment so cruel that you will yearn for death over life. Mark my words.”

The sound of a knock at the door interrupted Salvatore’s vengeful thoughts. He turned towards the entrance, granting permission for the visitor to enter.

“Come in,” he said, his voice laced with authority.

Dahlia stepped into the room, her gaze focused on the ground. In a respectful tone, she greeted him, addressing him as “Master.” She approached the table, delicately placing his breakfast before him.

“Your breakfast, Master,” she murmured softly, her eyes flickering up to meet his briefly.

Salvatore’s silence weighed heavily in the air, causing Dahlia to hold her breath for a moment. Relief washed over her when he made no immediate response, and she took it as her cue to take her leave.

“I’ll… I’ll take my leave now,” She stammered, bowing respectfully before hastily exiting the room.

Once she was out of earshot, her heart raced, and she couldn’t help but express her thoughts aloud. “Gosh! He’s so scary and cold!” she exclaimed, a shiver running down her spine. “But why do I always sense a hint of sadness and solitude behind that cold façade?”

As she went about her duties, fetching water for the household, she pondered the enigma that was Salvatore. Doubt and curiosity battled within her, and finally, she shrugged off her musings. “Nah… That can’t be true,” she concluded, convincing herself that her perception must be mistaken.

***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***

In another part of the house, Callixta, a woman with a strong and alluring presence, finished applying her lipstick.

She smacked her lips as she checked out her reflection in the mirror with a wide smile. Today was no ordinary day for her. Unlike the usual black pants and jacket she wore, she had decided to don a stunning blue gown that hugged her figure, exposing her legs and accentuating her natural allure.

“Perfect!” she exclaimed, her smile radiating confidence as she turned towards the exit of her luxurious suite.

As she reached the door, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Anastasia, her best friend, waltzed into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of Callixta’s striking attire.

“Oh my… Where are you going dressed to kill?” Anastasia smirked, her voice filled with admiration for her friend’s bold fashion choice.

Callixta chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Isn’t it obvious?” she replied playfully, a hint of mystery dancing in her voice before she made her way out of the room, leaving Anastasia both impressed and intrigued.

“What!! Finally!!” Anastasia exclaimed happily.

✮•✮•✮•✮

In another part of the lavish mansion, Adala made her way to Ponce’s suite, grumbling to herself as she walked. She couldn’t help but wonder why the servants always assigned her the task of serving Ponce his meals. As a cook, she felt her talents were wasted on such mundane duties.

“I’d rather serve anyone else,” She muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her voice. It seemed that bad luck had a way of finding her whenever she entered Ponce's presence, resulting in frequent accidents and broken objects.

The memory of the last time she had cleaned his room haunted her. A vase had slipped from her grasp, shattering against the floor. Ponce’s anger had been palpable, and he had warned her that another mistake could cost her the job she desperately needed.

As she stood in front of the suite, Adala took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for yet another encounter with the owner of the suite. She quietly knocked on the door, hoping to avoid any unnecessary attention. To her surprise, the room was empty when she turned the knob. She looked around and heaved a small sigh when she saw that there was no one around.

She was happy that she didn't have to see his bored and indifferent face as she headed to the dining table in the suite to serve the dishes.

As she tried to gather her composure, her eyes widened in horror as she noticed a cockroach scurrying towards her. Panic washed over her, and her pleas for the creature to stay away were filled with desperation.

“No… No… Don’t come near,” she muttered, swallowing hard as she anxiously tried to ward off the approaching cockroach. But no matter how much she pleaded and shooed it away, the determined insect continued its relentless advance.

“Get away! Please, shoo!” Adala’s voice quivered with fear and frustration. In her attempt to deter the cockroach, she swung her leg haphazardly, accidentally hitting a nearby jar. The jar crashed to the floor, causing a chain reaction that sent a small vase rolling off the table and shattering upon impact.

In an instant, the table teetered precariously, unable to bear the weight of the chaos that had unfolded. It toppled over, sending everything breakable crashing onto the floor. The loud crashes echoed through the room, filling the air with a cacophony of destruction.

She winced at each collision, her heart pounding in her chest. The chaos seemed to stretch into an eternity, but eventually, the noise subsided, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.

Feeling a sense of urgency to escape the mayhem she had unwittingly caused, she took a tentative step forward. However, her movements were abruptly halted by a deep, commanding voice that reverberated through the room.

“What are you doing here?” the voice demanded, instantly freezing Adala in her tracks. Every breath he took seemed magnified, making it clear that he was standing right behind her.

As fear washed over her, her mind raced, desperately longing for divine intervention. Slowly, she turned around, feeling a chill run down her spine as her gaze landed on him. There he stood, Ponce, with his notorious habit of striding around in a state of undress, water dripping from his sculpted physique.

Adala’s face drained of color as her eyes involuntarily traced his form from head to toe. The sight sent a shiver down her spine, her body covered in goosebumps. She couldn’t help but notice his manhood, an intimidating sight that left her feeling both fascinated and startled.

While she understood that he was a man, experiencing the sheer size and length was beyond anything she had seen before.

As she stood frozen in fear and confusion, she couldn’t help but question why he, with his imposing presence, was completely naked in front of her. A mix of thoughts raced through her mind, wondering if he had sinister intentions.

“Wait, why is he naked in front of me? Is he trying to… do something scary?” Adala’s thoughts spiraled, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.

Before he could finish whatever he was about to say, her fear transformed into anger. She refused to be intimidated by his inappropriate behavior. With a burst of defiance, she shouted, “Don’t touch me, pervert!” In an act of rebellion, she grabbed the tray of food nearby and flung it at him.

The tray flew through the air, propelled by Adala’s strength and frustration. The hot, spicy sauce splattered across Ponce’s private area, causing his eyes to widen in shock and pain. His previously stern expression twisted in agony as he let out a guttural exclamation, “Fuck!”

***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***

Meanwhile, in Salvatore’s suite, Callixta arrived at his door and knocked politely before stepping back and assessing her own appearance one last time.

“Coming!” a small, muffled voice called out, and within moments, the door swung open to reveal Dahlia. A gasp escaped her as she recognized Callixta’s face, causing her to instinctively step back in surprise.

Callixta sneered at Dahlia’s reaction. “What are you doing here?” she questioned, her voice laced with contempt.

Dahlia stammered, struggling to find words. “I… I…”

Salvatore’s voice interrupted their exchange as he emerged from his study room. He immediately took notice of Callixta’s presence and quickly addressed the situation. “I summoned her, she has work to do here. What’s the issue?”

Callixta narrowed her eyes, her curiosity piqued by Dahlia’s unexpected role as Salvatore’s maid. She couldn’t help but question the dynamics at play. “She’s your maid now?”

Salvatore simply nodded, acknowledging Callixta’s comment before turning his attention back to Dahlia. “Carry on with your duties,” he instructed, giving her permission to continue with her task.

“You have something important to tell me?”, He asked, barely glancing at Callixta.

“Can we talk privately?” She asked, her gaze flickering between Salvatore and Dahlia. There was a touch of irritation in her voice as she glared at Dahlia momentarily, hoping for some privacy.

Salvatore, however, seemed unfazed by the request. He casually rested his hands in his pockets, a nonchalant demeanor shining through. “Whatever you have to say, do it right here. I’m busy,” he replied dismissively, his attention seemingly fixed on something else.

Dahlia, sensing the tension, occasionally looked up from her tasks, her curiosity piqued by Callixta’s determined expression. She couldn’t help but wonder what Callixta had to say to Salvatore and how this situation may unfold.

Undeterred by Salvatore’s response, Callixta took a deep breath, steadying herself. With a shy smile, she took a step forward before looking down at the ground. Her voice trembled slightly as she called out Salvatore’s name, her eyes meeting his when she finally looked up.

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a long while now, but I didn’t know how you would react,” She began, her voice a mixture of sincerity and vulnerability. Memories of their shared training days flooded her mind, reminding her of the connection they had formed.

“Since our training days, Sal, I’ve always had something for you,” She continued, her voice growing steadier. “You were the only one who truly understood how I felt, and you were always there for me when I needed it. I couldn’t help but fall for you. I love you, Salvatore.”

The room fell silent following Callixta’s confession. Salvatore’s expression remained stoic, his features revealing little emotion as he processed her words. All eyes turned towards Dahlia, from whose direction they had heard a muffled sound and she looked like she couldn’t suppress her amusement any longer.

She fought back laughter, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she looked at the two people before her.

Callixta’s eyes widened as she turned to glare at Dahlia, shocked.