Chapter 181
KATYA POV
The sound of the door opening, made divert my eyes from Roo. My gaze snapped toward the sound.
Nonna.
She wheeled into the room slowly, her movents controlled, the way they always were.
Her silver hair was neatly pinned back, her dark shawl folded perfectly over her shoulders. Her eyes lifted.
And landed directly on . I was still pressed against the wall. Barefoot. Wrapped in Roo’s shirt.
My hands half-raised like I’d been caught mid-surrender.
And Roo, he was kneeling. Nonna’s gaze moved once. From my face, to the bandages at my head. To the way I was shaking. Then to Roo on the floor in front of .
The room went completely still. "What the hell are you doing to her?!" The words resounding all over the room.
I had never heard that tone co from Nonna’s mouth. Not once.
Unmistakable rage cutting through the room, and it was aid straight at Roo.
For a second, my brain couldn’t process it. My eyes stayed wide, my breath caught painfully in my chest as I stared at her.
Roo stiffened at the sound of her voice. Slowly, he turned his head toward her. Then he rose.
Not abruptly. Not defensively.
He stood to his full height, unfolding himself from the floor until he towered over both of us—over Nonna in her wheelchair, and over , still crushed against the wall like sothing pinned there.
His body shifted just enough that his back blocked most of my view of him, but I could still see Nonna’s face clearly.
And she didn’t flinch. She wheeled herself closer. Her hands gripped the arms of it tightly, knuckles pale.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, "Why is she cornered like this?"
Roo opened his mouth. "Nonna—"
"Haven’t you done enough?" she cut in sharply. "Look at her." She gestured toward with a sharp flick of her hand. "She’s shaking. She’s terrified. Is this how you think you fix things?"
My throat closed.
Fix things?
Nonna didn’t slow as she rolled closer, her glare never leaving Roo’s face. "You loom over her like you’re about to pass judgnt, and you expect her not to be afraid?"
"I wasn’t—" Roo started again.
"Don’t," she snapped. Her eyes flicked briefly to , and sothing in them softened—not pity, but recognition. Like she was really seeing for the first ti.
"Was he threatening you, Mia cara?" Nonna said, her voice lower now, more dangerous. I shrank further against the stone without aning to, my fingers curling into the fabric of the shirt.
The sudden question made my chest seize. Nonna’s eyes locked onto mine imdiately, taking in my posture, my hands, the way my shoulders were practically glued to my ears.
"He... I...." Her jaw tightened, "Oh, child," she murmured, looking harshly at her beloved grandson.
"Move"
"I was just trying to help," Roo said quietly but nonna didn’t hear a thing about that as she glared daggers at him, "Move Roo. I don’t want to see your face anywhere near us."
Roo’s jaw set so hard I heard the bone click.
He didn’t look at Nonna. He looked back at . His eyes were dark, swirling with an emotion I couldn’t na, but it felt heavy.
I shrank into myself, my spine pressing so hard against the stone wall I thought it might rge with the rock. Pain flaring.
He’s angry. I made him look weak. I made him look like a monster in front of the only person he cares about.
I braced for the blow, my eyes squeezing shut, waiting for the hand that would drag up or the words that would crush what was left of my spirit.
But the blow never ca. Instead, I heard the sharp, frantic scrape of his boots against the floor.
He didn’t say a word. He simply side-stepped Nonna’s wheelchair, the movent so swift it was almost a blur, and walked out.
The door didn’t slam. It clicked shut with a precision that was sohow more terrifying than a bang.
It felt final. I stayed frozen for a heartbeat, my breath hitching in my chest. The silence he left behind wasn’t peaceful at all.
"Mia cara," Nonna whispered, her voice reaching out to like a lifeline. "He’s gone. You can breathe now. Co away from the wall."
I didn’t move. My eyes were fixed on the door he had just walked through.
What am I doing here?
The question scread in my head, louder than the throbbing in my skull.
This wasn’t my room. This wasn’t the servant’s wing. This was his room. His bed. His scent. I looked down at the dark silk of the shirt I was wearing—the way it drowned my fra, the way the sleeves bunched at my elbows.
I have to get out.
"I... I shouldn’t be here," I rasped, my voice sounding like broken glass. I tried to push myself out from my hiding place.
"Nonna, I have to go. This is his room. If... if Marina finds ... she’ll think I ca here on purpose. She’ll think I’m trying to—"
"Marina is nowhere near this room, Katya," Nonna said firmly, trying to wheel closer to , but the bed was in her way.
"It doesn’t matter " I choked out, a fresh wave of panic rising in my throat. I could see it all—Marina’s face twisted in that mask of ugly spite, the scissors she used on my dress, the way she looked at like I was a parasite.
"She’s the Donna. She’s his wife. I’m just a shadow. I’m a servant who...who hit a maid."
New set of panic washed in, what would nonna think of now? I literally attacked gina. I don’t even know her state, was she dead?
No...no...no. I wasn’t a killer but a deep darker and unfamiliar place in would be satisfied if she was.
"Nonna, I didn’t an to. I swear on my life....i
..I never nt to do that...sothing just...just switched." I scrambled to the floor, kneeling in front of her.
I needed her to believe ,my eyes darting frantically around the dark, brutalist room. "Please, Nonna. Help get out before he cos back. He’s angry. You saw him. He’s going to co back and. and Marina.." I stamred.
"She’s heartless, no...no, I didn’t an that"
††
rry Christmas y’all
I just wanna say thank you all for staying with throughout the story from the start of the year, happy first Christmas.
Can I have a gift at least 😩
A castle or anything 😉
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