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Cleo’s arm came around me, and she walked me to the bed. She pushed me down on the plush mattress, gently squeezing my arm before going back to the closet. Daisy, who’d become my shadow, followed and sat down next to me, resting her head on my lap.
“I’ll pack a bag for you. I doubt you need to take the ball gowns you put in there. Or your entire drawer of nighties.”
I didn’t acknowledge her, only stared at my hand that was resting on Daisy’s head. I wouldn't be able to take her with me. Silent tears tracked down my cheeks at the thought.
Once she was done, Cleo took my hand in hers. “I called you a car. And I know this is weird of me to offer since I’m only your employee, but you’re always welcome to stay with me.”
Tears gathered in my eyes again. I didn’t deserve her help. If she knew what I’d done, she wouldn’t be so quick to offer. “You’re much more than my employee, Cleo. I consider you a friend. And thank you so much for the offer, but I can’t. I need to make things right.”
Dropping my phone on the nightstand, I stood up. I wouldn’t be allowed to use it where I was going anyway.
After one last glance around the room, I followed Cleo downstairs. Silently saying goodbye to the house that had become a home to me, I walked through the front door for the last time.
Daisy licked my cheek when I hugged her, her tail wagging. I pressed a kiss to her head before telling her to stay. Not looking back, I joined Cleo, who was talking to the driver.
She drew me into a tight embrace. “Everything will be okay.” The fierce way in which she held me surprised me. “You guys will work it out. And if you change your mind about staying with me, let me know. You’re always welcome.”
I hugged her just as tightly, forcing down the sob that was punching its way out. “You’ve been a great friend to me. I can’t ever thank you enough for being there for me when I needed it the most.”
We separated, our hands catching, squeezing tight. After forcing myself to let go of her, I climbed into the car. The driver had already put my bag in the trunk and was back behind the wheel.
I focused my gaze on the back of the headrest in front of me. There was nothing I wanted to look at, nothing that needed my attention. And after I told the driver where I wanted him to take me, I didn’t move or speak until we pulled through the familiar gate of Aleksándr’s mansion.
My hands were shaking, and my throat had closed up. But I knew I had to do this. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to make amends.
I had nothing left to lose.
Aleksándr was standing in front of the grand double doors, feet apart, arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t walk over to greet me or help me with the bag the driver dropped in front of me. One of the guards would have told him of my arrival—after all, nothing happened without his knowledge or approval.
I stood next to my suitcase, the sound of the car pulling away ringing through the charged silence. Once it was gone, I dragged my bag up to the house, meeting Aleksándr’s hard gaze.
His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, his posture stiff. “What is the meaning of this?”
Taking a hesitant step forward, I lifted my chin. “Gabriel knows. He threw me out.”
It surprised me how steady my voice was. But all I felt at the moment was numbness.
“So you failed.”
No longer able to hold eye contact, I dropped my gaze to the ground. My feet felt like they’d been weighed down with concrete, refusing to move any closer to my tormentor. “I did.”
“Women. Worthless. If only I’d been blessed with a son.”
He turned, not glancing back to see if I was following him or offering to help with my suitcase. There were only two steps to get up to the still-open front door, and I pulled my bag up them. At least he hadn’t shut the door in my face.
When I made it inside, he was nowhere to be found. But I knew the reprieve wouldn’t last long. He’d send for me eventually.
I huffed my way up the stairs, nearly losing my grip on the handle a few times. When I’d almost made it to the top, I slipped and landed on my knees. I didn’t realize one was bleeding until I noticed the trail of blood I’d been leaving on the pristine floors.
As soon as I’d dragged my suitcase inside my old room, I dropped it to the ground.
I cleaned up my knee and wrapped it, not wanting to make a mess. Once everything was covered, I went back outside to clean up the blood. When I was sure there wasn’t a drop left, I hid back in my room.
I didn’t dare lock the door, knowing if anyone came to check on me and couldn’t get inside, Aleksándr wouldpunish me.
Unable to sit down, I paced from one end to the other, working myself into a frenzy. The fear of what would happen next was a dark cloud following me around the room. But nobody showed up. Midnight came and went, and I was still pacing.
Once the clock hit two in the morning, I shook out my clenched hands and changed into my pajamas. I knew Aleksándr wouldn’t just let this go. Making me wait and wonder when it would happen was part of the punishment. I’d been through this enough times to know all his preferred methods.
