If this was about the protection he promised, it could be fulfilled without me having to live right under his nose.
Besides, I didn’t find it comfortable living in his quarters now that his betrothed was here.
“Lina?” A familiar voice called my name, forcing me to look up.
Father?
What was he doing here.
My heart raced almost instantly, pushing hard against my ribcage.
We hadn’t talked since my rebirth, infact I didn’t want to face him so I’ve been avoiding him since then.
I could never tell what he was thinking.
He wasn’t exactly my real father so we were never close.
“Father,” I choked out in a trembling breath.
My body always reacted this way when we he came close, I couldn’t help but feel sick for some reason.”what brings you here?.” I asked, looking around to make sure I hadn’t somehow strolled into my family’s quarters.
Father stood a few steps away from me, his tall frame almost blocking the narrow stone path that led toward the servants’ wing.
The late afternoon light stretched behind him, casting his shadow long and dark at my feet.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
It wasn’t fear.
It was a sickening feeling, like something was tightening inside my chest and crawled beneath my skin like an old memory my body remembered even when my mind tried not to.
His eyes settled on me, calm and unreadable as ever.
“You’ve been difficult to find,” he said.
His voice hadn’t changed.
I forced my fingers to unclench at my sides.
“I didn’t know you were looking for me.
I lied.
Of course I knew.
He had sent word twice and I had ignored both.
“I was,” he replied simply.
“It is unlike you to just accept such degrading move your mother made.
I never consented to sending you to the servant’s quarters.
You should have begged Lina, like you always do.” A faint ringing filled my ears, I should have begged?.) For a moment the corridor, the stone path, even Father’s looming presence seemed to blur at the edges.
For the first time in a long time, I summoned the courage to look straight into his eyes.
A sarcastic scoff escaped me, my fist cleanched at my side.
“I should have begged huh?” What would it have changed besides me making a fool of myself.” His expression shifted to pure disbelief, although it was subtle.
He had never known me to be the type that talks back, I’d never talked back to him, not even once, I had always been the quiet one.
The compliant one.
The daughter who lowered her gaze and swallowed whatever was placed before her, until now.
Father straightened slowly, his shoulders drawing back with a controlled inhale, as though he were adjusting not his posture, but his entire perception of me.
“I see you’ve grown some guts.” He said quietly, his expression cold.
But then, a small smile crept up his cheeks, his lips curving slightly.
Almost as if he was proud of me.
“You’ve changed Lina.” He added.
My eyes widened for a spilt second.
That smile couldn’t be genuine, no way.
It was the very first time he’d ever smiled to me.
I cleared my throat, snapping myself out of the trance.
“W–what brings you here?” I asked again, curiosity already eating it’s way through my lungs.
He wouldn’t come all the way here for no reason.
“I wished to see something for myself,” he said, then walked closer to me.
My body tensed, and I backed away instinctively.
“See what?” I asked quickly.
He definitely wasn’t here to find out if his step daughter was doing well or not.
“I heard some rumors.
I guess I was wrong.” He said, reaching to pat me on the shoulder, his expression turning cold in an instant.
“Just don’t forget your place.
I welcomed you into my home doesn’t mean I’ll let you tarnish my reputation.
I could ruin your life in a instant, don’t forget that.” I gulped, sweat forming on my forehead.
My chest tightened.
I couldn’t fathom why I couldn’t break free from his shackles.
It was clear that I had developed some kind of trauma over the years of living with him.
He had never once abused me or disgraced me, but he always made me feel small and Insignificant, someone who didn’t deserve anything good, just another tool.
His hold on my shoulder tightened for just a fraction, and finally loosened before he turned around, walking away without sparring me another glance.
I let go of the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, my heart still racing violently.
I wondered what Kind of rumors he heard that would make him come all the way here just to warn me.
You need to snap out of it, have you forgotten who backs you up now?
I could sense the anger in Carla’s tone.
Even I was angry at myself.
“Just forget it, he really tamed me Carla.
He ruined my soul.” My thoughts were a jumbled mess as I headed straight for my room.
I didn’t want to encounter anyone again for the rest of today.
My worst day to be specific.
I knew I’ll get an ear full from kate for disappearing, but that would be tomorrow.
I sneaked into my room, falling asleep almost as soon as my body hit the bed.
I woke up early the next morning, preparing on time and hurrying to meet the rest of the servants already in the kitchen.
But as I walked in, they all gave me weird stares, like I had walked into the wrong place.
Madam Kate walked towards me, and I exhaled, already bracing myself for an ear full.
But her next words made my world tilt.
“You’ve been transferred to work at Alpha Kain’s quarters.
The change was made yesterday but I couldn’t find you anywhere to tell you.” “I’ve been what?” I choked out.
Fuck!