Chapter 3

Kyle's POV

Over the next few days, I kept testing Ella, trying to get some kind of human reaction out of her.

I smashed her favorite vase right in front of her—she just grabbed a broom and swept up the pieces. I stayed out all night, leaving her waiting by the bedroom door. She stood there like a statue until dawn, legs going numb.

She'd become a perfect, cold machine.

It fucking infuriated me. My rut hit full force, making me explosive. Everyone in the manor was scared shitless of me.

Selina didn't notice my fear or breakdown. She only saw that Ella had become a pushover, so that dark jealousy started stirring again.

That evening, I was pacing the bedroom like a caged animal. Rut hormones had my blood on fire, but thinking about Ella's dead act made me sick to my stomach.

"Kyle." Selina slipped through the door.

She wore a thin slip dress, bare shoulders glowing in the sunset.

"Not now, Selina..."

"But you're in pain." She stepped closer, hands on my chest. "Let me take care of you. Like before."

Rut instincts and rage tangled together. When Selina kissed me, I didn't push her away.

Fuck it. I needed this. I needed a real woman, not that machine.

I grabbed her roughly, pressed her onto the bed. Mid-kiss, I saw a gray shadow in my peripheral vision.

Ella stood in the doorway with a coffee cup, watching us like we were animals at the zoo.

Those dead eyes made my anger flare white-hot.

"GET OUT!" I roared. "Nobody called you! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Got it." She left, closing the door softly.

I took out all my fury and lust on Selina. Her moans, her warmth, her real reactions—this was how a normal woman should be.

Afterward, Selina curled against me, finger tracing circles on my chest.

"Kyle, I'm hungry." She pouted playfully. "I want Ella's steak. She makes it so well."

I knew she was being petty. I didn't care. I wanted Ella to know she was nothing now.

"ELLA!"

She appeared instantly.

"Yes, Master?"

"Two steaks, medium rare. Bring them here now."

"Got it. Thirty minutes."

She returned with perfect steaks—fragrant, beautifully plated.

"Your meal, Master." She set the tray down.

I deliberately kissed Selina in front of her, then fed her a piece of steak.

"Mmm, delicious." Selina smiled sweetly. "Still the best, right Kyle?"

I stared at Ella, searching for any flicker of pain or anger.

Nothing. She just stood there.

FUCK!

I got up irritably and stepped onto the balcony to smoke. Tomorrow I'd go to that facility, ask if there was any way to fix her.

Just as I was about to stub out my cigarette, a sharp scream cut through the night.

"AHHH—! Kyle! HELP ME!"

I rushed inside.

Selina had collapsed beside the bed, clutching her left shoulder. Blood poured between her fingers.

Ella stood across from her, a bloody steak knife on the floor between them.

"Kyle! Help!" Selina sobbed. "Ella went crazy! I just complimented her cooking and she stabbed me! She tried to kill me!"

My eyes went wide.

A year ago, Selina had been like this—bloodied on the ground, accusing Ella of pushing her. Back then, Ella had roared like an angry lioness: "She fell down herself!"

But now, Ella just stood there quietly. No anger, no defense, didn't even look at Selina. She just stared down at the blood dripping from the blade onto the carpet.

"Ella..." I growled. "What the FUCK are you doing?"

"Master, I'm waiting for your next command." She looked up with that smile.

"Next command?!" I lunged forward and slapped her hard. "You stabbed her with a knife and you're telling me you're waiting for commands?! You think acting like an idiot means I won't punish you again?!"

I lost it completely.

I thought the correction center had fixed her! I thought she'd learned to obey! But she still dared hurt Selina! That rebellion in her bones hadn't changed at all!

"Kyle, it hurts so much... I'm so scared..." Selina whimpered weakly.

"You vicious psycho!" I kicked her hard, seeing red. "Why can't you just behave?! Why do you always have to push me?! Since you love blood so much, since you want to kill people, why don't you just DIE?!"

"Just DIE, Ella! You heartless freak—why don't you just fucking DIE!!!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Before I could say another word, Ella nodded.

"Master said 'die.' That's the most important order. Starting now."

Terror hit me like ice water.

"What are you talking about..." I stepped forward instinctively.

But Ella moved faster.

She bent down quickly and grabbed the steak knife from the floor.

"NO!" I lunged toward her, but it was too late.

"Self-destruct initiated. Thanks for everything, Master."

Ella smiled and drove the blade toward her throat without hesitation.