Lina was frantically stuffing her bag, her heart racing like a drum. The weight of everything she had done felt like it was crushing her chest. She grabbed her jewelry box, some cash she had hidden, and a few pieces of clothing, shoving them into the bag without care.
“I need to leave,” she whispered to herself, her voice shaking. “I can’t stay here. If they find out… if they even suspect…”
She zipped up the bag, her hands trembling, and glanced out the window. The house seemed quiet except for the muffled sound of movement from downstairs.
“They won’t know,” she muttered, trying to convince herself. “They won’t know it was me. Damian will just think it’s the maid.”
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, piercing scream from downstairs.
“Help! Someone, help!” a maid’s voice rang out, echoing through the halls.
Lina froze, her bag halfway over her shoulder. Her blood turned cold as she realized what must have happened.
“They’ve found her,” Lina whispered, her throat dry. “The maid… the drink…”
Her legs felt weak, and for a moment, she couldn’t move. She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, trying to steady herself.
“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “This doesn’t change anything. I need to leave. Now.”
The screams grew louder, followed by the sound of footsteps rushing through the hallways. Lina peeked out of her room and saw a group of maids and guards running toward the servant quarters.
“Is she breathing?” one of the maids cried, her voice filled with panic.
“No, she’s not moving!” another shouted.
“Someone get Madam Catherine! Hurry!”
Lina pulled back into her room, her chest heaving. Her mind raced as she replayed the moment she had handed the drink to the maid. She hadn’t planned for this. She hadn’t thought the poison would act so fast.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Lina said aloud, pacing the room. “It was just supposed to keep her quiet. That’s all. Just… silence.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sound of the commotion. But the voices from downstairs seemed to grow louder, their urgency creeping up the stairs and into her room.
“She’s not breathing! Someone do something!”
“Get water! Try to wake her up!”
Lina’s heart pounded in her chest. “They’ll figure it out,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “They’ll know it was me. They’ll connect it to Damian’s drink, and then…”
Her panic hit its peak. Without thinking, Lina grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She moved to the door, pausing only for a second to steady herself.
“I have to go,” she told herself, her voice shaking. “I can’t stay here. They’ll never forgive me. I’ll… I’ll figure out what to do later.”
As she opened the door, the sounds from downstairs grew even louder. She could hear the maids crying, their voices full of fear and desperation.
“Please, wake up!”
“What’s happening? Is she… is she dead?”
Lina clenched her teeth, forcing herself to ignore the cries. She stepped into the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
Every step felt like it echoed too loudly, like it might draw someone’s attention. She glanced around nervously, but no one was in sight. Most of the staff seemed to be focused on the situation with the maid.
As she reached the top of the grand staircase, she stopped and looked down. A group of maids and guards were gathered near the servant quarters, their backs turned to her. One of the maids was kneeling on the floor, shaking the lifeless body of the poisoned maid.
“I’m sorry,” Lina whispered under her breath, though the words felt hollow.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the strap of her bag and started down the stairs. Her movements were quick but careful, her eyes darting around for any sign of Raphael or the other guards.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard the faint sound of an engine outside. Her heart leapt with relief.
“The car,” she muttered, quickening her pace. “Dad sent the car.”
As she approached the main door, she saw the sleek black vehicle pull up outside. The headlights illuminated the driveway, casting long shadows across the mansion’s grand entrance.
Lina’s hurried towards the door, her hand reaching out to grab the door handle. She pulled it open and stepped outside, the cool night air hitting her flushed face.
The driver stepped out of the car and opened the back door for her. “Miss Wolfe,” he said respectfully.
“Just drive,” Lina said sharply, throwing her bag into the car and climbing in after it. “Get me out of here.”
The driver hesitated for a moment, glancing at her pale face and trembling hands. “Is everything all right, miss?” he asked cautiously.
“I said drive!” Lina snapped, her voice cracking. “Now!”
The driver nodded quickly, shutting the door and hurrying to the front seat. Moments later, the car sped away from the mansion, leaving the chaos behind.
Lina leaned back in the seat, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her hands were still shaking, and her thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and regret.
“What have I done?” she whispered, staring out the window as the mansion disappeared in the distance. “What if they find out? What if Raphael already knows?”
She clutched her bag tightly, her knuckles white. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she said, her voice trembling. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far.”
But deep down, Lina knew that excuses wouldn’t save her. She had crossed a line, and there was no turning back.