The hallways felt endless as the maid rushed back to Damian’s chambers, her heart pounding in her chest. Her breath came in short, frantic gasps as she hurried to reach him. The weight of what she had done hung heavily on her, and every step she took seemed to drag her deeper into the mess she had created.
She knew she was running out of time. She could already imagine Lily’s wrath if she failed. But worse, what if Damian found out? What if Aurora told him everything? The maid was terrified of what could happen to her if that was the case.
As she rounded the corner toward Damian’s chambers, she froze. There, standing just outside the door, was Aurora. The woman who had once been a threat now seemed calm, almost in control. And standing beside her, as if waiting for her, was Damian. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture spoke volumes.
The maid’s stomach twisted into knots. She couldn’t turn back now. She had no choice but to face them. Taking a shaky breath, she stepped forward, her legs trembling as she approached the door.
Before she could speak, Aurora’s sharp voice cut through the air. “There she is,” she said, her eyes flashing with something that felt like victory. “The maid who almost poisoned me.”
The maid’s throat tightened, and she could feel her entire body go cold. She had no way to explain herself now. She had been caught.
Damian turned toward her, his eyes narrowing as he took in her trembling form. His cold gaze felt like ice on her skin. “What is this I hear?” he asked in a low voice. “You tried to poison Aurora?”
The maid swallowed hard, her knees shaking as she dropped to the floor, bowing her head in a desperate attempt to show her submission. “Please, Master Damian,” she begged, her voice cracking with fear. “I never meant to hurt her. I didn’t want to-”
“Then why?” Aurora interrupted, stepping closer to Damian. “Why would you do such a thing? You were sent by Lily, weren’t you?”
The maid’s eyes filled with tears, and she could barely choke out her words. “I… I didn’t want to. She told me… She told me to give her the tea. But I was scared. I was scared of what Lily might do to me if I didn’t.”
Damian’s eyes were cold as he watched the maid kneel before him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her body trembling with fear. “You were scared?” he asked, his voice quiet but sharp. “And so you decided to betray Aurora?”
The maid nodded quickly, her tears falling freely now. “Yes, Master Damian. I was scared. I didn’t want to lose my position. I didn’t want to be punished.”
Aurora looked at Damian, her eyes betraying a mix of disbelief and anger. “She thought it was better to betray me than face Lily’s wrath?” she asked, her voice dripping with contempt.
The maid dared not look up. She could feel both their gazes weighing heavily on her. She had made a terrible mistake, and now, there was no way out. She had to plead, beg for their forgiveness, if she had any chance of surviving this.
“Please,” she cried, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t punish me. I didn’t mean to betray you, Aurora. I swear, I didn’t know what to do. I was just trying to survive. Please… forgive me.”
Damian stood silently, watching the maid kneel before him. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was overwhelming. He was a man who could decide her fate in an instant, and the maid could feel that power pressing down on her like a heavy weight.
Aurora’s voice cut through the silence. “Do you expect me to forgive you?” she asked, her tone harsh. “After everything you’ve done? After what you tried to do to me?”
The maid could feel the tears choking her throat. She had no answer to that. She had no excuse, no way to explain how she had ended up in this position. She only knew one thing-she had to beg, beg for mercy.
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” the maid sobbed. “I swear. I never wanted to harm you, Aurora. I was just following orders. I was just so scared. I didn’t know what would happen to me if I refused.”
Damian took a step forward, his gaze still cold. “And you thought poisoning Aurora was the answer? You thought that would keep you safe?” His voice was low and dangerous, filled with disappointment.
The maid lowered her head even further, her body shaking with fear. “I-I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know how to get out of it. I was just trying to survive.”
Aurora scoffed. “Survive? By betraying me? That’s your idea of survival?”
The maid nodded, tears streaking down her face. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have refused. I should have-” Her voice broke off into sobs as she knelt there, completely broken.
Damian watched the maid for a long moment, his gaze unflinching. “You’re lucky Aurora didn’t die from the tea. You’re lucky she even gave you a chance to speak.”
The maid’s heart pounded in her chest, her head still bowed, unable to face them. She could feel the weight of his words like a physical blow. She had been so close to destroying everything. And for what? To protect herself from Lily’s anger?
The silence between them stretched on, thick and suffocating, until finally, Damian spoke again, his voice cold and firm.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake,” he said. “But I’m not the one who will decide what happens to you. Aurora will.”
The maid’s eyes widened in shock as she dared to lift her head. She could barely breathe as she turned her gaze to Aurora. The woman stood there, her expression unreadable. For a moment, there was only silence. The maid’s heart raced in her chest, the fear almost unbearable.
Aurora’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, the maid thought she saw a flicker of something-something soft, something like pity. But then it was gone, replaced by the cold, hard glare that had become all too familiar.
“I don’t forgive easily,” Aurora said quietly. “But I’m not like Lily. I won’t punish you for a mistake.”
The maid’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Could she actually be forgiven?
“I don’t forgive you for what you tried to do,” Aurora continued, her voice steady. “But I’ll let Damian decide your fate. He’s the one you’ve wronged, not me.”
The maid felt a wave of relief flood through her, but it was quickly replaced by fear again. What would Damian decide?
Damian turned toward Aurora, his face unreadable. “If it were up to me,” he said slowly, his voice low and dangerous, “you would never set foot in this house again. You’d be lucky if I didn’t make you regret ever crossing me. But I’m not in the mood for that today.”
The maid’s body trembled at his words, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her.
“Get up,” he said, his voice suddenly softer but no less commanding. “You’re not off the hook, but I’ll let you go for now. But remember this-if you ever cross me again, there will be no mercy. Not from me, not from anyone.”
The maid nodded quickly, her body still shaking with fear and relief.
Damian turned away, walking toward the door, signaling the end of the conversation. “Aurora,” he said, his voice carrying authority, “I’ll leave you to decide what happens next.”
Aurora stood still, watching as Damian left the room. The maid, still kneeling, finally let out a shaky breath. She had been spared-for now.
Aurora looked at her for a long time before finally speaking. “You’ve been lucky today,” she said coldly. “But don’t think this means I’ll forget what you did. I’m watching you.”
The maid nodded quickly, not daring to speak.
As Aurora walked away, the maid stayed kneeling, her heart still racing, her thoughts spinning. She had been given a second chance. She could only hope she wouldn’t waste it.