Chapter 144
KATYA POV
Night had already settled over the house by the ti I stopped pretending I was doing anything other than hiding.
I’d locked myself in my room the mont I escaped Marina—the bump, the glare she gave , the way she looked at like I was dirt on her designer shoes.
I kept replaying it, even though I hated that I cared at all. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door like it might swing open any second.
It didn’t. No one had asked for . No one had co looking. Not that I expected them to—but the silence still pressed against in a way I didn’t like.
When I left Nonna’s room earlier, she hadn’t exactly asked where I was going. For a mont I thought she might call back, or tell to stay, or... sothing.
But she didn’t. Maybe she didn’t notice. Maybe she did and didn’t care.
Miss Stella hadn’t co knocking either—probably too busy coordinating whatever needed to be perfect in this ridiculously large house.
I’d realized only today that most of the work I did here only happened when soone physically saw and decided to assign sothing.
If I wasn’t visible... I wasn’t needed. It was strange.
For soone who was supposedly a "slave," as Roo so helpfully called during our first encounter, I didn’t actually do much.
Not consistently, anyway. No set chores. No responsibilities. Just... drifting. The only ti I felt the weight of anything was when he summoned .
And honestly, I could count those monts on one hand. But it didn’t change anything.
I still blad him. Still hated him. Still resented him for dragging into his world. For taking my freedom.
I would have fled far away from this life if I had escaped tat stupid day he was attacking my first prison, killing my sperm donor in the process.
But here I am, in house where I didn’t fit, didn’t belong, and didn’t know how to exist without waiting for soone to decide what to do with .
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hugging my pillow like that could quiet the thoughts buzzing in my head.
Especially the one I didn’t want.
Marina. I hated how that na echoed. I hated that it bothered at all.
Why was I being like this. I pushed myself upright with a groan, rubbing both hands over my face.
I needed sothing to distract . Anything. A distraction. A task. A chore. A broom.
Sothing.
Anything that wasn’t my own head.My gaze drifted around the room—White walls, neatly folded sheets.
Nothing in here was mine. Not even the smallest thing. Even the clothes on my back didn’t belong to . They belonged to this house. This family. Him.
I blew out a breath, sharp and frustrated, before I slid off the bed. If I stayed in here any longer, I was going to start spiraling in ways I absolutely did not have the energy for.
Fine.
I’d go find Miss Stella. She always had sothing to do. So linen to sort, so silverware to polish, so task that required enough focus to drown out every ugly thought.
Anyone but Nonna.
I wasn’t going near that wing again tonight. Not when I still felt stupidly... dismissed. It wasn’t her fault, probably. She had bigger things to worry about. More important people to think about.
I just wasn’t one of them.
Her grandson is getting married. Her pure joy and dream. It wasn’t fair fr to feel what I do but fuck it.
My fingers lingered on the doorknob for a second, the house humming faintly beyond it, busy, but not for .
If work didn’t co to ... I’d find it myself.I closed the door behind gently, like even the sound of it might draw attention I didn’t want.
The hallway was dim, lit only by the soft golden sconces along the walls. The house felt bigger at night.
Quieter, echoing in a way that made my footsteps sound louder than they should. I kept my head down.
I didn’t want to risk seeing anyone— Well no one really cos up to this floor except Mr Antonio.
But I really don’t want running into him nor my torntor. Especially not my torntor.
Not when Marina’s warning still stung like fresh salt on a cut. Not when I couldn’t trust my own face not to give away too much.
The elevator was at the end of the hall, every ti I walked toward it, I felt like I was stepping into a space ant for people who belonged here.
Not . I walked quickly anyway. No pausing. No thinking. No glancing back.
Just forward. Down to the third floor.
Down to the kitchen where Miss Stella practically lived.Down to anywhere but here.
The carpet softened my steps, and I kept my eyes fixed on the floor tiles as I moved—half by habit, half by fear.
If I saw Roo...No. I wasn’t letting that thought finish.
I didn’t want to see him. Not tonight. Not like this. Not with my mind still tangled in the image of Marina’s perfect everything—and the reminder shoved in my face that Roo liked her.
Maybe more than liked her.
And after Marina’s warning, seeing him would only make the tightness of whatever I was feeling in my chest worse
I pressed the elevator button and shifted my weight anxiously as I waited.
The soft hum of machinery answered from behind the doors.
I stepped inside as soon as they slid open, hugging my arms around myself as I pressed the button for the third floor.
I didn’t belong in this house.
I didn’t belong in his world.
But at least in the kitchen... in the noise and the tasks and Miss Stella’s never-ending commands, I could pretend I fit sowhere.
The doors started to close and I silently prayed they’d hurry before anyone turned the corner.
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