Ruthless

42

My soft footsteps were the only sound in the dimly lit hallway as I leisurely made my way to my room after dinner.

As I walked, my mind drifted to the incident from eight days ago. The humiliation still lingered deep in my bones. The only relief was that I hadn't seen any of them since that day.

As I rounded a bend in the corridor, I noticed two figures standing in the shadows near the far end of the hall. One seemed to have the other pressed against the wall.

My curiosity and a sense of unease made me slow my pace and come to an abrupt stop. Who could be here at this time?

I squinted, trying to make out their features, but the dim lighting and distance made it impossible to identify them.

I knew I should just mind my own business, but something compelled me to check it out. I took a few cautious steps closer, moving silently to avoid making any noise.

Upon careful inspection, my strained gaze finally recognized the woman—it was Stephanie. However, the man's back was mostly turned toward me. From the glimpses I caught of his face, he was a stranger, an unknown. If he was one of the men working here, I would have seen him before.

Stephanie looked uncharacteristically vulnerable, her body language tense and defensive. She reminded me of a small, frightened kitten surrounded by snarling dogs. She was shivering, a clear sign of her discomfort and fear.

My mind raced with questions. Who was this man? What was Stephanie doing with him at this hour? Why did she look so nervous and frightened?

Stephanie was trying to edge away from him, but there was no escape; the man's body blocked any chance of getting away. The situation felt wrong. Stephanie clearly needed help. I decided to stay and observe how things went.

The man leaned in and muttered something in her ear, but they were still too far away for me to hear. I could only see his lips moving.

The situation seemed to escalate as Stephanie's already tense posture grew even more rigid. The look on her face spoke volumes—whatever he said wasn't good.

The man casually brought a cigarette—one I hadn't noticed until now—to his lips. He took a deep drag, then puffed the smoke right into Stephanie's face. She sputtered and coughed, her expression one of pain as she struggled to breathe.

I felt my fists clench with anger. Even though I didn't like Stephanie, this was outright wrong behavior. It was plainly disrespectful.

The man then held the cigarette up, studying it with a critical eye. He glanced back at Stephanie, who looked visibly paler. A wicked smile began to form on his lips as he took in her reaction, clearly pleased with the discomfort he had caused.

It didn't take long for me to understand what was in his head as he took the cigarette toward Stephanie. Her eyes were wide with fear, and mine widened to the size of saucers. Was he going to burn her with that cigarette? A surge of concern washed over me. Something told me he was the monster she had mentioned the other day.

I couldn't stand by and watch, but I had no idea what I would do. Out of nowhere, I felt a desperate urge to intervene. Without thinking, I shouted before the burning tip of the cigarette could touch her skin. "Ma'am!"

Stephanie's head snapped toward me, her eyes meeting mine. Her expression was a mix of surprise and a flicker of relief, but the man made no move to acknowledge me.

"Master Adrian is demanding your presence in his room," I said, trying to keep my voice steady and professional.

The man still didn't look at me. "She will come when she's ready," he said with a dismissive tone.