Chapter 8

Dario's pov

From the upper hallway, behind tinted glass, I watched the scene unfold.

Ezebel.

She stood in the kitchen holding a tray like it weighed more than it should.

The maids around her whispered like snakes in the grass, their eyes filled with judgment and jealousy. I could almost hear their poison-laced words without needing to be close.They hated her.

Because she had my attention. Because she had something they didn't understand -and feared.

But then... one of them surprised me. Bianca.

recognized her. Smart. Quiet. Kept to herself.

She wasn't just another maid. Her father owed me a debt-a loan he couldn't repay. So, he sent his daughter in return. A trade. A life of service for the money he'd wasted.

Bianca accepted it without complaint.she never tried to run. Never broke rules.I almost forgot she was here sometimes. But today, she stepped forward-offered Ezebel a smile.Kindness. And the girl took it.Cautiously, but she took it.Good.

She wasn't just another maid. Her father owed me a debt-a loan he couldn't repay. So, he sent his daughter in return. A trade. A life of service for the money her father owe.

Ezebel needed a bit of softness before this world chewed her apart. But too much softness could be dangerous. I didn't bring her here to make friends. I brought her here because her father's betrayal demanded blood-and she was my leverage.

But even I couldn't ignore what was happening.

Something about her was... changing. Or maybe I was.

She wasn't afraid like before. Not quite. There was defiance in her eyes now-hidden beneath obedience, but I could see it. And part of me wanted to snuff it out... while another part wanted to feed it.

That fire could destroy her.Or mold her into something…. mine.

Silvio stepped beside me, clearing his throat. "The shipment's late," he said.

I didn't take my eyes off Ezebel. "Let it be. I'll deal with it tonight."

She was smiling now-small, but real. She was dangerous. And I couldn't stop watching her.

EZEBEL'S POV

The warmth of Bianca's kindness still lingered as I scrubbed the long marble counter. For the first time.

The warmth of Bianca's kindness still lingered as I scrubbed the long marble counter. For the first time in days, someone saw me-not as property, not as a cursed legacy-but as a person.But peace doesn't last long here.

As soon as Bianca disappeared into the pantry, the whispers picked up again."She's fooling Bianca too now.

"She probably thinks she's better than us." kept my head down, focusing on the rhythm of my hands.

Scrub, rinse, dry.Again. Again. Again.Dario's voice earlier haunted me-

"She was in my room." It still burned inside me like a scar I couldn't touch. Was that what I was now? His?

The thought made my stomach turn.

I glanced toward the hallway. The guards stood still, unmoving, watching everything. Like statues with guns. There was no freedom here, only illusion.

And now I had attention I never asked for.

Dangerous attention.

Bianca returned with a basket of vegetables and gave me a small smile again. I smiled back, weakly.

"You're brave," I whispered as we stood shoulder to shoulder chopping silently.

"No," she replied, her voice low. "Just trying to survive. My father owed the boss... so I'm here.

Repaying in silence.

I looked at her. Her eyes were hollow too, but steady. There was strength in that stillness.

So I wasn't the only one carrying a father's sin.

We were all just pawns here. Traded. Controlled.

Branded.

But something in me stirred again.

If Dario thought I was weak, he was wrong. If he wanted to use me, he'd regret it.