"Shattered Vows: A Tale of Toxicity"

32. Escape

"Why are you behaving like this, Amelia?" William's voice was tinged with frustration as he reached out to touch her cheek, his fingers tracing the faint imprint of his violence. "I'm trying my best to treat you well, but why do you insist on making me angry?"

Amelia recoiled at his touch, her eyes emanating fear.

With a heavy sigh, William got up and turned away,"I'm going out of the country for two days," he announced, his tone final as he reached for the keys to the storeroom. "You stay here and reflect on your behaviour. If you're good, I'll tell the butler to give you food."

And with that, he left, locking the door behind him and leaving Amelia alone once again in the suffocating darkness of the storeroom. In that moment Amelia could not help but wonder if she would ever find the strength to break free from his toxic grasp and reclaim her freedom.

                                 ~~~

As the butler carefully inserted the key into the lock of the storeroom door, the metallic clicks echoed in the dimly lit corridor. With a gentle push, the heavy door swung open, revealing the cold, musty room within. "Madam, I am entering," he announced softly, his voice carrying a tone of both concern and determination.

Amelia lay on the floor, her gaze fixed on the flickering lights above, each one a tiny beacon of hope in the darkness that surrounded her.

Slowly, she rose from the cold floor, her limbs stiff and aching. As the butler entered the room, his hands carrying a tray of food, Amelia's eyes widened with surprise. She hadn't expected him to bring sustenance.

With trembling hands, she accepted the tray, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the dishes. The aroma of warm soup and freshly baked bread wafted up to her nostrils, awakening her senses and stirring a long-forgotten hunger within her.

But it was the small piece of paper that the butler handed her that captured her attention the most. "Please read this when I leave," the butler urged gently, his eyes meeting hers with unwavering determination. "I promise you, Madam, you will not regret trusting me."

When the butler left, with trembling hands, Amelia unfolded the letter, she found a hastily written message across the surface.

"Madam, Master will be back tomorrow night. Once he is back, we won't get any chance. So today, at midnight, I will help you escape this hellish place. Be ready."

Amelia's breath caught in her throat as she read the words, Escape?  Could it truly be possible after all this time? She wishpered.

Amelia's mind raced with thoughts of the possibility of escape. She carefully ate her food to get her strength back for the journey ahead. Every passing hour felt like an eternity, each minute dragging on as she waited for the clock to strike midnight.

As midnight approached, Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. She listened intently for any sign of movement outside the storeroom; her eyes were filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the butler entered inside, his figure barely visible in the darkness. He moved swiftly, his movements practiced and precise.

"Madam," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the sound of her racing heartbeat. "It's time."

With much difficulty, Amelia rose to her feet, her muscles hurting because of the sudden movement. She followed the butler out of the storeroom, her pulse fastening with each step.

Together, they made their way to the corridors of the mansion, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the night.  Despite the dangers that lurked around every corner, Amelia felt a sense of thrill coursing through her veins. For the first time in her miserable life, she dared to believe in the possibility of freedom.

At last, they reached the grand entrance of the mansion, the cool night air passing through Amelia's skin. The butler turned to her, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Madam, I will drive you out of this city," he said simply, his voice filled with determination.

As Amelia got into the car the butler drove through the main gate suddenly, Amelia saw James standing behind the car through the side looking glass but surprisingly he didn't do anything to stop them.

"I think James saw us leaving together," Amelia whispers, her voice tinged with fear. "What if he informs William?"

The butler's gaze meets hers, his expression unwavering. "Don't worry, Madam," he reassures her. "He will not say anything to Master."

Amelia's eyes widen in surprise. "How can you be so sure?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Madam, maybe you never realised it, but James is my son," the butler reveals, his tone filled with conviction. "So I am sure he will keep his mouth shut."

As the realization sinks in, Amelia's fear begins to subside, replaced by a newfound sense of trust in the butler's plan.

Meanwhile, in a foreign land, William, the master of the mansion, lies exhausted on his bed. Thoughts of Amelia consume his mind, and with a heavy sigh, he murmurs, "I miss you, my love Amelia."

With a menacing smirk, he reaches for his phone, intending to check on her through the CCTV cameras scattered throughout the mansion. But as the footage plays before him, his smirk fades into a scowl of rage.

Amelia is nowhere to be found in the storeroom.

In a fit of anger, William rises from the bed and begins scouring through the surveillance footage, his eyes narrowed with fury. And then, he sees it – the butler and Amelia, leaving the mansion together.

His grip tightens on the phone as he grits his teeth in frustration. "How dare they betray me," he seethes, his voice laced with venom.

With a steely resolve, he reaches for his phone once more, dialing a number. "There is a tracking device in the car," he orders his man on the other end of the line. "Use it to find my wife alive. I will be back in the country today."

And with that, William sets a plan to get what he believes is rightfully his. However Amelia is already on her way to freedom, guided by the unlikely ally of his own trusted butler.