That was it. I had made up my mind. I would leave the castle. I would disappear, hide, until I could figure out how to escape this fate, this life my father had mapped out for me.

I stared at the empty space around me, still processing the fact that I had finally made the decision to break free. It felt surreal, yet, despite the exhilarating feeling of independence, a looming sense of poverty greeted me. Regret, I knew, would come at some point, but I couldn’t let my father’s relentless pressure to control my marriage hold me back—not when it involved someone as despicable as him.

“Are you okay?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up at the man standing in front of me. My brain was slow to process his presence. As the COO of Cruz Architecture, meeting handsome men wasn’t exactly rare for me. But there was something about this stranger that immediately caught my attention—his athletic frame, and my gaze involuntarily lingered on the veins snaking down his muscular arms.

“I’m fine,” I replied quickly, standing up before his hand could touch my arm. “Please, just forget about me,” I added, brushing him off.

“Are you sure?” His concern felt genuine, and I hated him for it. “You seem lost. Are you new around here?”

He was being friendly, so the least I could do was not be rude. I contemplated walking away, but then an idea struck me. Maybe he could help me find a job. “Actually, yeah. My friend moved away, and now I’m looking for work.”

“I see,” he responded, studying me.

“I’m not a fraud!” I blurted out, my defensiveness getting the best of me. His eyes had scrutinized my appearance, from head to toe, and it made me feel uncomfortable.

“You must be from far away,” he observed.

“Yeah, you could say that. Do you know anyone looking for help around here?”

“I might,” he said thoughtfully.

“I’ll work for meals. I don’t need pay, as long as I can eat.”

“That sounds reasonable,” he said.

Excitement bubbled up inside me. “Can I get the address?” I asked eagerly.

“Well, I can give you a ride,” he offered, his voice low.

The moment he mentioned the ride, my skin prickled. What if he was some kind of criminal looking for his next victim? A chill ran down my spine, my heart racing as he stared at me. I quickly took a step back.

“I’m not sure I should take a ride with a stranger,” I said, the caution in my voice clear.

He stiffened, clearly offended. “I’m just trying to help. If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”

He gave me one last look and then turned to leave. But before I could react, he spoke again.

“Hurry up if you want to come with me.”

His tone was cold, and I had no choice but to hurry and keep pace behind him.

As we approached a sleek, black car, my eyes widened. A limited edition Lexus! Only a select few could afford such a vehicle, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d said something wrong for noticing. “Are you rich?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them. It wasn’t the most tactful question, but I was too curious.

“Maybe,” he replied, his voice nonchalant as though owning a car like this was nothing special.

Despite my reservations, I climbed into his car. My instinct told me to be cautious, but I had no choice—my father’s people could be looking for me, and I couldn’t let them find me.

When he drove through the gates of a mansion, my heart skipped a beat. It was an architectural marvel. The house was not made of plain bricks but designed with grey tones and walnut accents. Tall, rectangular windows stretched across the exterior, arranged in an asymmetrical pattern that made the entire house feel alive. The structure was shaped like an L, with an extension on one side that led to beautifully manicured gardens. The second floor jutted out over the first, creating a striking balcony and overhang.

The roof was high, slanted, and covered In sleek black ceramic tiles, with two small chimneys jutting out from the side. It was a stunning modern design, and the well-maintained garden only added to its beauty.

“This is my home,” he announced, pulling into the driveway.

A sudden sense of dread washed over me. “What do you mean, this is your home?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“You need a job. Well, I also need someone to help around the house—cook, clean, you know, the usual,” he said, as if it was no big deal.

“You’re joking, right? You didn’t mention anything about that in the car!” I retorted, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

“What’s the difference? You need a job, and I need help. It’s simple,” he shrugged.

“Wait, you want me to be your maid?” I asked, my voice incredulous.

He paused for a moment, his expression turning cold. “If you don’t want to work as my maid, you can always be my mistress.”

I felt my jaw drop. “Do you think I’m insane?” I snapped, the reality of the situation dawning on me.

“I’m just giving you an option,” he said, unfazed.

“So, either I work as your maid, or I become your… mistress?” I muttered under my breath, the words almost choking me. “You’re a despicable, arrogant bastard!”

“That sassy attitude of yours, when you’re penniless, might just change my mind,” he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

I dropped my gaze to the ground, suddenly feeling small. He was right. I had no leverage, no options.

“My father’s… he’s going to testify, and I can’t go back to him now,” I admitted, my voice faltering. “Please, help me,” I pleaded, hoping that he would show some compassion. But the truth was, I was terrified—terrified of being caught by my father’s men, terrified of facing the consequences.

“As I’ve said before, I need a maid,” he repeated, his voice unwavering.

I wasn’t sure I could handle the job.

But I was stuck in a situation where I had no choice. After all, it was just for a few months. “All right, I’ll do it,” I agreed.

I accepted his offer without thinking of the consequences. I was a quick learner, and I believed that if I applied myself, I could succeed at anything! Even though the idea of working as a maid terrified me, I had no other choice. I needed a place to stay, even temporarily.

“Are you certain?” he asked again, his tone serious. “It won’t be easy.”

“I’ll do my best, sir,” I replied.

“It’s Leo,” he corrected.

“Elena at your service, sir,” I said, using the fake name I’d decided on.

He gave a small nod. “Just call me Leo.”

I couldn’t help but whisper, “What a cheesy name for someone like you.”

He raised an eyebrow, his irritation evident. “What did you say?”

I had my own reasons to be irritated. “Nothing,” I muttered. “By the way, how old are you, Leo?”

“Thirty-two,” he answered coolly. “And you? Are you already eighteen?”

“Twenty-eight,” I said, almost too quickly.

He stared at me, his eyes widening with disbelief. “Eighteen? Seriously?” He then scrutinized my face, making me feel self-conscious. “You’re pretty, and your legs are… impressive. But what caught my attention the most were your eyes. They’re so captivating. I wonder how they’d look under me.”

At first, I didn’t understand what he meant, but after a few seconds, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My cheeks burned with anger. “I’m here to work as your maid, nothing more. No touching, no flirting, or I’ll file a harassment charge.”

“Whoa, you’re a sharp one, Elena,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement.

“I am,” I shot back. “So you’d better watch yourself.”

For a moment, he seemed to consider something, then he groaned but said nothing. He turned toward the door, as though to leave, but then stopped short. “It’s just you and me in this house,” he added, “and there are plenty of rooms. Pick whichever one you like. I’ll be back in a minute.”

His offer to let me choose a room instead of relegating me to the servant’s quarters was generous, but I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at how he’d left me in the dark about what was expected of me. Still, I obeyed and followed his instructions. He’d gone left, so that’s where I went.

“Hey, come here,” Leo called, his voice drawing the attention of a brunette who was seated nearby. Nervously, she stood and walked toward him.

Without a word, Leo wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered something in her ear. The woman nodded, and within moments, they were in bed. My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched him strip her of her clothes.

“Baby, spread your legs,” Leo ordered, his voice low and commanding.

The woman complied, her body arching under him. He sank into her, and I gasped, feeling a strange mix of anger and discomfort at the scene unfolding before me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, even though every instinct screamed at me to leave.

They moved together in a heated rhythm, the air thick with their moans. The woman’s voice echoed through the room as she called his name repeatedly. I wanted to run, but my feet felt as if they were cemented to the floor.

As Leo pulled away from her, I snapped out of my trance, panic flooding me. I turned to leave, but in my haste, I knocked over a vase from the console table. The sound of it crashing to the ground was too loud to ignore, and Leo’s head snapped toward the hallway.

I bolted down the corridor, but Leo was already on my heels. “Stop, or you’ll regret it!” he called after me, his voice sharp.

I didn’t dare look back, but Leo’s long strides quickly caught up to me. “I’m sorry, Leo. I got lost,” I lied, my heart pounding in my chest.

He scoffed at my excuse, clearly unconvinced. “What did you see?” he demanded.

“Nothing,” I lied again, my voice wavering slightly.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his suspicion thick in the air.

I cursed under my breath. This man was relentless. “Fine. I admit it. I saw you with that brunette… doing things… like wild animals. Happy now? Can I leave?”

“Are you sure that’s all you saw?” Leo’s eyes darkened, and I could tell he didn’t believe me.

I let out a long sigh. “Yes, that’s all. Can I go now?”

Leo’s anger flared, and he took a step closer. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that, Elena.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. He was furious, but I didn’t care. “If you don’t want me here, just tell me, and I’ll leave.”

“No one leaves without my say so!” he bellowed, his voice booming down the hallway.

“I am not your prisoner!” I exclaimed, turning on my heel and walking away.

“Wait a minute!” Leo called after me, his voice filled with frustration. Every time he was disrespectful or insufferable, I regretted ever crossing paths with him.

“If you’ll show me to my room, I’d appreciate it. You know what? I’m not in the mood to argue right now. And if you want me to cook, you’ll let me take a nap first,” I added, crossing my arms.

Leo took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool, but I could see the flare of his nostrils as he fumed. “Of course, you’re welcome to my demands,” he muttered, his tone tight. He turned and started walking toward the hallway, gesturing for me to follow.