Chapter 24 DANGERS OF CHALLENGING HIM
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SAMANTHA’S POV
“Good morning, Master.”
He walked past me like I was air. Like I hadn’t existed in his space at all. Like this wasn’t the same man who had fingered me and spoke calm but terrifying words a night ago.
His footsteps faded and I felt okay
“Come here.”
Nanny stood by the corridor, motioning with her fingers. I hurried to her
“You have no other work in this house apart from serving Kane,” she said flatly, like she was reading out a rule carved in stone. “That is what he requested.”
“Yes,” I whispered, I've already heard it from the bunch of gossips before now
She pushed a tray toward me. A covered plate. A glass of juice. “Take this to him.”
I hesitated, staring at the drink. “Is it pineapple juice?”
“Its his coffee obviously” she said
I didnt want a repetition of what happened and she knew it.
I found him seated, calm, composed, powerful in that effortless way that made me feel small. I knelt as expected and placed the tray carefully on the table.
He lifted the cup of coffee, took a small sip, then suddenly dropped it.
The sound made me scared already
“Place your hands on the table,” he said.
I swallowed hard and obeyed, stretching my hands forward like an offering.
He picked up the cup again and poured the coffee on the back of my palm.
The scream tore out of me before I could stop it.
The pain was sharp It felt like my skin was on fire. I shook violently, tears blurring my sight as the sting dug deeper and deeper.
“I wanted to be sure the coffee was too hot,” he said calmly. “Now I know.”
Something inside me snapped.
I stared at him, really stared, all the anger I had buried rising to the surface. My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe through the pain, through the humiliation, through the helplessness.
I turned and started walking away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“To my room,” I replied, my voice shaking.
“Come back.”
I spun around, my tears spilling freely now. “I should come back? I know I’ve never had the chance to ask you, but let me ask now. Why? Why me?”
My voice broke. “What have I ever done to you for you to hate me this much?”
He said nothing.
“It’s always one torture or another,” I continued, my hands shaking as I gestured helplessly. “I’m scared. I’m tired. I’ve had it up here.”
I pointed to my neck, my breathing uneven.
“Just let me die. Please. Let me die.”
He looked at me with empty eyes. No shock. No anger. No remorse.
Nothing.
I wiped my tears angrily and ran.
Inside my room, I collapsed against the door, staring at my injured hand as it hurt me. i guess I was no stranger to pain anymore.
What have you done, Samantha?
My heart pounded painfully. You will die. Kane will kill you. I had spoken back. I had challenged him. I had crossed a line I was never meant to cross.
A knock came softly.
“My child,” Nanny’s voice called.
My whole body stiffened. “Did Master send you?” I asked fearfully.
“No. I brought bandages for your hand.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, hiding behind the door. “I’m fine, Nanny.”
“Sammmmmantha,” she called gently, but I pressed my face into my dress and cried quietly.
“He’s not around,” she added. “He went out. You don’t have to be afraid.”
When I finally opened the door just a little, she left the bandage on the floor and walked away. I wrapped my hand myself, clumsily, wincing at every movement.
He was out. But he would come back. And when he did, there would be consequences.
If I was going to die, maybe I should say goodbye first or maybe be friends with someone that won't make me get killed
I found myself sneaking toward the pink mansion again. It was quieter there. Lighter. The only place in this estate that made sense to my broken heart.
Maybe I needed to remember why I was still breathing.
Or maybe I just needed closure.
“Is that mummy?”
I turned slowly and saw Micky standing there, her eyes wide and hopeful.
I smiled despite myself.
She ran into my arms, wrapping them tightly around my neck. “Hi, Mummy.”
I lifted her, my chest aching in a way that hurt differently from the burns on my hand.
“No, don’t go to my room,” she said quickly.
“My nanny is there. She’ll tell Daddy you visited.”
She was already smart to figure out what's happening
“Oh,” I said softly. “Then where should we go?”
“I know a place,” she whispered excitedly, dragging me toward the back balcony.
She looked up at me with serious eyes. “Did you come from heaven to see me?”
I smiled sadly. “No. I came from the other side of the mansion.”
“The other side?” she gasped. “Daddy doesn’t let me go there.”
If only you knew what happens there, I
thought.
“You can sneak in if you really want to see mummy,” I said gently.
Her face lit up. “Can I?”
“Yes. You’re a smart little girl.”
She giggled as I ruffled her hair.
Her gaze dropped to my bandaged hand.
“Why is your hand like that? Did you hurt yourself?”
“Yes,” I replied quietly. “I poured hot coffee on it.”
“Oh. Sowie,” she said, pouting. “I told Daddy you weren’t dead. Angels don’t hurt themselves.”
I laughed softly, the sound surprising even me.
She talked and talked, about school, about her friends, about how some kids laughed at her because she had no mummy. About the boy who always gave her a pencil.
I listened. Really listened.
As she spoke, I wondered if this was truly the child people whispered about. The child they feared. She was just lonely. Just longing to be loved.
Then a voice cut through the air.
“Micky?”
My heart stopped.
Her head snapped up. “Daddy?”