Lina sat alone in her room, the faint glow of the moonlight spilling through the window. She held a small bottle of pills in her hand, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface. The plan was becoming clearer in her mind.
“It’s not enough to just spike his drink,” she muttered, pacing the room. Her voice was low, The malice in it was unmistakable. “He needs something stronger. Something that will make him lose control.”
She smirked, her mind racing. “Once he sees Luna, he won’t be able to stop himself. He’s always had a thing for young, innocent girls, Besides this girl is beautiful even though he haven’t noticed her because he is so consumed by the thoughts of Aurora.” Her tone was filled with venom as she spoke the words.
Lina placed the bottle on her dresser and sat down, her fingers drumming against her knee. “Aurora will wake up one day,” she whispered to herself. “And when she does, she’ll hate him for what he did. She’ll never forgive him for touching Luna, she’ll love him for hurting the one person she cares about.”
The thought brought a twisted smile to her lips.
She stood, brushing her hands over her dress as she walked toward the door. Her heels clicked against the floor as she made her way to the staircase, her mind still consumed by her plan.
But as she reached the top of the stairs, she paused. Voices drifted up from below, faint but clear enough to hear. Lina’s eyes narrowed as she listened.
“I feel sorry for Mrs. Wolfe,” one maid said, her tone hushed but dripping with sarcasm. “Imagine forcing yourself on a man who doesn’t even look at you.”
The sound of quiet laughter followed.
“True,” another maid agreed. “She’s always trying so hard, but Mr. Damian barely notices her. It’s embarrassing, I feel so embarrassed on her behalf, I wish she’ll just stop.”
“And did you see the way he treated her the other day?” a third maid added, her voice filled with mock pity. “He didn’t even care when she cried. If I were her, I’d leave and never look back, we all know master Damian’s father brought her but isn’t she ashamed of all the embarrassment he is putting her through.”
“Did you see the way he pushed her away the day he came back looking bloody?” Another maid asked, if he was truly into her he would have allowed her attend to his wounds and not the other way round.”
Lina’s blood boiled. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as their words cut into her like a blade.
“How dare they?” she hissed under her breath.
She straightened her posture, her face twisting with anger as she marched down the stairs. The maids were still huddled together, too engaged in their gossip to notice her approach.
“What are you all whispering about?” Lina’s voice rang out, sharp and cold.
The maids froze, their eyes widening in fear as they turned to face her. “M-Mrs. Wolfe,” one stammered, her face pale.
“Don’t lie to me!” Lina snapped, her voice rising. “I heard every word. Talking about me behind my back? Mocking me?”
The maids exchanged nervous glances, their heads bowing in shame.
Lina’s eyes burned with anger as she pointed at the group. “Guards!” she called out, her voice echoing through the hallway.
Two guards appeared quickly, their expressions neutral as they waited for her orders.
“I want all of them punished,” Lina demanded, her finger trembling as she pointed at the maids. “Take them outside and teach them a lesson they won’t forget!”
The maids gasped, their eyes filling with tears as they pleaded. “Mrs. Wolfe, please! We didn’t mean any harm!” one cried.
“We’re sorry!” another begged. “It won’t happen again!”
But Lina’s face was cold, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “You should have thought of that before you opened your mouths,” she said, her voice icy.
The guards moved forward, but before they could take the maids, a deep voice came through the doorway.
“That’s enough.”
Everyone turned to see Damian standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp eyes flicked to Lina, his expression unreadable.
“Damian,” Lina began, her voice softening as she took a step toward him. “These maids were disrespectful. They need to be punished.”
Damian’s gaze shifted to the trembling maids, then back to Lina. “You don’t have the right to give orders like that,” he said calmly but firmly.
Lina blinked, stunned by his words. “But they”
“I said enough,” Damian interrupted, his voice harder now.
Lina’s lips parted, but the look Damian gave her silenced her instantly. His eyes were cold, unyielding, and filled with authority.
“These maids serve this household under my command,” Damian continued. “If there’s an issue, you bring it to me. You don’t handle it yourself.”
“But Damian”
“No,” he said sharply, cutting her off again.
Lina’s hands clenched at her sides, “They were mocking me,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration.
“And you were going to have them beaten for it?” Damian asked, his tone dripping with disdain. “That’s not how we handle things here.”
The maids stood frozen, their eyes darting between Damian and Lina.
“Go,” Damian said to them, his voice softer now. “Get back to work.”
The maids bowed quickly, murmuring their thanks as they hurriedly walked away.
Once they were gone, Damian turned his full attention to Lina. She felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze.
“You humiliate yourself when you act like this,” he said, his voice low but cutting. “You think you’re showing strength, but all you’re doing is proving how weak you really are.”
Lina’s jaw tightened, her eyes filling with tears of anger. “I’m your wife Damian,” she said, her voice trembling. “I deserve respect!”
“You’re my wife in name only,” Damian replied coldly. “And respect is earned, Lina. Not demanded.”
Lina’s hands shook as she glared at him. “You’ll regret speaking to me like this,” she hissed.
Damian smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I doubt that,” he said simply.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Lina standing alone in the hallway, her anger boiling over.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as tears streamed down her cheeks. “You’ll regret this,” she whispered to herself. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Her plan was clearer now than ever and she wasn’t going to hold back any longer. She would make Damian pay for humiliating her. And she would make sure Aurora never forgave him.