Chapter 32
BRIANNA’S POV
Amelia ended up making the coffee for Catherine. When I asked her if Catherine was still angry with me for what happened, she said she was and had given her strict warning never to do my chores in place of me.
She made the fourth rule clear to her which stated that I was to continue with my chores and tasks even when the maids got back from their leave. They may lend a helping hand by showing me how to do it or the way to go about it since I was a novice. But I was to do the majority of the work.
And with that being said, Amelia couldn’t cover for me. But it was nice of her to be considerate. And she also made me promise to never hesitate in asking her or any of the maids for help when I needed it.
Stepping out of the kitchen, I could see Catherine thudding down the stairs angrily, her blue eyes roaming around as she screamed my name.
She was wearing a one-shoulder turquoise dress with a little slit just above the side of her waist. The dress was short. So short it extended just a little below her curves, revealing her lithe thighs and legs which looked longer in her strappy sandal heels.
Her makeup was so thick I could barely recognize her. And her sleek wig, the same colour as her light evenly toned skin was so long it reached her waist, bouncing in waves as she thudded down. Hanging from her hand was a thick leathered purse, the same colour as her dress and beautifully adorned with studded crystals.
She was going on an outing. Or perhaps to see that piece of trash – Ken Johnson who she was cheating on Sebastian with.
I just couldn’t understand why she would be cheating on a man like Sebastian with that womanizing idiot. Sebastian was the kindest man I had ever known after my father, gentle, responsible and above all good-looking. A lot of women will claw their eyes out just to be with him. Irrespective of all that, she still went on cheating on him. I just didn’t understand. Nevertheless, it wasn’t my business to worry or meddle in their personal and matrimonial life. So I decided to expel all the thoughts.
The moment she sighted me, her blue eyes narrowed like a predator ready to devour its prey.
Oh goodness. What did I do now? Was she still angry with me about the coffee problem? Was it because Amelia had made the coffee in place of me?
Stepping down, she closed the gap between us. Before I could ask what the problem was, she smacked me hard across the face with her thick layered purse.
“I can see you were sent from the pit of hell to destroy my marriage,” her curt voice lashed at me. “But I want to make one thing clear to you. Just in case you have forgotten, let me remind you. You are nothing but a slave. A maid. A low-rank wolf who is insignificant. Worthless. Dirty. Miserable. Pitiful. Poor. Bruised. Battered. Scarred. You can never measure up to my standards in a million years to come. Try all you fucking want but I’ll never let you take what’s mine. I’ll so make your life a living hell, you’ll regret ever stepping those filthy things you call feet into this castle.”
Her words ripped out like daggers from her mouth. They were sharp. So sharp they cut through my flesh, piercing my heart and soul.
I cradled the area of my face her purse had landed, trying but unsuccessfully to stifle the hot exultant tears overflowing in my eyes. The headache I had been fighting so hard to endure for the past few days had spiralled out of control, banging as though I was been hit on the head by a mallet.
Looking up at her, I tried to say something. Anything. But only heart-wrenching gasps and sobs filled my throat. This was the second time this week she was hitting me. And if not for her position as Luna and Sebastian’s wife, I swear, I would have retaliated.
“Move!” She said and pushed me aside, causing me to stumble and nearly lose my balance as she made her way to the door.
The other maids had gathered and watched the whole scenario like an audience. I wondered what they would be thinking of me now. That was a husband snatcher. A slutty maid who had the intention of destroying their mistress’s perfect marriage. But I wasn’t any of that. I wished they could see it clearly as I did. I wished they wouldn’t think that way.
“Are you okay, Brianna?” A voice echoed and two hands gripped my shoulders from behind. I didn’t turn to see who it was. But I was sure it was Amelia. I remembered that gentle touch and that voice even though faint like it was a mile away, was infused with warmth and empathy.
The banging headache was messing with my sense of hearing. My vision and control. Everything was reduced to a distant blur around me. My legs were becoming giddy and I felt like I was walking on a trampoline, the ground so soft and unsteady I could fall at any second. This was the same feeling I had when Hermes hit me for trying to escape his hellhole. The same feeling that made me lose control of myself. Made me think I’ll fall into a coma and die from there.
“Yes,” I mumbled and broke free from the grip that held me. “I’m fine.”
Struggling to steady my wobbly composure, I crashed into the wall. But I needed to keep moving. There were more chores to do. And I couldn’t tell when Catherine will be back. I didn’t want to anger her the more. I didn’t want to destroy her marriage as she said.
As I reached the table where a glass flower vase was, the headache intensified and an overpowering wave of dizziness washed over me. It was like an entire bucket of rocks was dropping ceaselessly on my head. My knees were weak and I crashed into the table. The sound of glass shattering against the marble floor cut through the air, mingling with the gasps of the other maids watching.
I crumpled onto the marble floor, my whole world rotating like the blades of a moving fan around me. My eyelids grew heavy, unable to keep up with the blinding speed. I closed them peacefully, welcoming sheer darkness as it wrapped me in its strong arms.