Felix carried me the whole way. From the hospital, into the car, then all the way back to the villa like I couldn’t even walk. He laid me down on the sofa carefully, his voice low and warm. “You’re still recovering. Don’t push yourself. I don’t want you getting tired.”
It sounded so gentle.
So loving.
Until I saw her.
Shannon.
Standing there among the servants, wearing a maid uniform like she belonged there.
My chest tightened so hard it hurt.
I looked at Felix, disbelief crashing over me.
She said she wanted to leave the villa… and this was his solution?
Bring her here?
“Danica, listen,” Felix pulled me closer, his arms tightening around me like he was afraid I’d slip away. His tone was soft, but there was something firm underneath it. “If she went to prison back then, she’d already be out by now. four years is nothing. But I’m not letting her off that easy.”
He tilted my chin up, making me look at him.
“So I brought her here. She’ll serve you. Keep atoning for what she did.”
My stomach twisted.
He kept going like this made sense.
“I even talked to a psychologist,” he added. “You’ve been under pressure lately. Facing her, having her around… it might actually help you heal. Trust me, Danica. Everything I’m doing… it’s because I love you.”
Love.
He said it so easily.
And the worst part?
He looked sincere.
The same face he had seven years ago when he got down on one knee and promised me I’d never suffer again.
Now he was the one breaking me.
Again and again.
What was the difference between this and pouring salt into an open wound?
I thought I’d break.
I thought I’d scream at him, refuse, fight back.
But I didn’t.
There was nothing left in me.
Just… empty.
“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’ll do what you want.”
Even if he made her the mistress of this house… I wouldn’t care.
Because I was leaving anyway.
Soon.
For the rest of the day, Shannon acted like the perfect maid. Cleaning, moving quietly, keeping her head down. Felix didn’t even look at her once. He stayed by my side the whole time, like she didn’t exist.
That night, he handed me a glass of milk.
“Drink this,” he said softly. “It’ll help you sleep. Your body still needs rest.”
I took it.
And the moment he looked away, I poured it out.
Something felt off.
I pretended to drink it anyway.
...
Later that night, I lay there, eyes closed, breathing slow.
Waiting.And just like I thought…
Felix leaned down and kissed my forehead.
“Sleep well,” he murmured.