Chapter 25 BLISS OF DISOBEDIENCE
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
SAMANTHA’S POV
My heart was beating so loudly I was sure it would give me away.
“Shh,” I whispered urgently, pressing a finger to Micky’s lips. “Daddy shouldn’t know I’m here.”
She blinked at me, confused, her innocent eyes searching my face. “Why?”
And to think she hid me here because I thought she knew why. Kids
I swallowed hard, my mind scrambling for
something believable. “Because… because he’s not ready to introduce me to you yet. He wants it to be a surprise.”
Her face lit up immediately. “Ohhh.”
Relief washed through me .
“Go,” I urged softly. “Go and hide there.”
She nodded eagerly, then suddenly turned and shouted, “I’m over here, Daddy.”
Kane’s footsteps approached, slow and calm. I pressed myself deeper into the shadows, barely breathing hiding behind
“What are you doing there?” he asked her gently. “Nanny has been looking for you.”
His voice was different when he spoke to her. Soft and warm and human.
As they always say, men worship their daughters. I had never believed it until that moment.
“What were you doing here?” he asked again.
“I was… I was… I was…” Micky stammered, her eyes flicking toward where I stood hidden.
Heaven please. Please.
I didn’t even know if I would see tomorrow after what I had done earlier. If he found me here now, this wouldn’t just be punishment. My body would be dumped somewhere no one would ever find.
“I was playing with mummy,” she finally said.
The words hit me like thunder.
Kane stiffened. “Where is mummy?” he asked, concern slipping into his voice.
“I don’t know,” she replied playfully, clearly enjoying his reactio
n.
“Micky, stop making me worry about these things,” he said, crouching in front of her. “You want to make Daddy scared?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I just wanted to come to the other side of the mansion.”
“There is no other side, Micky,” he replied firmly.
“But Dad…”
“The monkey man is there,” he said seriously.
Her eyes widened in fear and she took a step back. “The monkey man?”
“Yes. He’ll bite you.”
She hesitated, then said boldly, “But you’re there, Daddy. He can’t hurt me if you’re there.”
I almost smiled despite the fear choking me. She was smart.
“Let’s go, Micky,” Kane said, standing up. “I got something for you.”
“Yay!” she squealed, grabbing his hand and pulling him away.
As they walked off, Kane suddenly paused and turned around.
My heart stopped completely.
His eyes scanned the space slowly, sharply. I knew that look. He felt something. A presence.
I didn’t move. I didn’t breathe.
After a long moment, he turned back to Micky and followed her away.
The moment they disappeared, my legs gave out. I waited a few seconds more before sneaking back toward my room.
Nanny was standing there.
“I…” I started.
“You went to see Micky,” she said calmly.
I lowered my head.
“You are walking on a very thin edge, Samantha,” she continued, disappointment heavy in her voice. “And yet you keep committing more crimes. I thought better of you.”
My throat burned. “I just wanted….”
She raised a hand to stop me. “Enough.”
She sighed, then said, “You are following Master somewhere tonight. You have to look your best.”
I looked up sharply. “Where?”
“Several designers were called in to make a dress for you,” she went on. “It was abrupt, but they will do their best.”
My chest tightened. “Is he going to kill me?” I asked quietly.
She met my eyes. “He wouldn’t. Even after your outburst this morning, you will be punished. But not killed.”
Relief flooded me so suddenly I almost cried.
“You haven’t eaten anything,” she added. “Go to the kitchen and get something. Anything.”
My stomach rumbled immediately, betraying me.
By evening, I had taken the longest, cleanest bath of my life.
As the warm water ran over my body, washing away the dirt and blood and fear, a strange thought crossed my mind. Should I start disobeying him more? It seemed when I did, something unexpected followed.
They rubbed ointments into my skin carefully, treating bruises I had learned to ignore. They covered the blisters on my hands gently, their touch almost respectful.
I wasn’t used to being handled with care.
Then came the clothes.
The room filled with women carrying dresses, fabrics, shoes. They tried outfit after outfit on me, moving quickly, efficiently, like I was a mannequin instead of a person.
“Do you like it?” one of them asked.
I didn’t answer. I was too busy staring at my reflection, trying to recognize the girl looking back at me.
“Ma” she called politely. “Do you like it?”
“Me?” I asked in disbelief.
When had anyone ever asked me that?
I swallowed and said softly, “I like the red dress.”
She smiled. “Red dress it is.”
They styled my hair, applied makeup carefully, blending, brushing, perfecting. When they finally stepped back, I looked at the mirror again.
I didn’t recognize myself.
For the first time since stepping into this house, I looked powerful, beautiful.
Even more beautiful than I look on my wedding day.