On his bed again
Ma’am Teresa sighed softly as she stepped out of Lisa’s room. “Poor child,” she whispered, shaking her head before making her way to Alfred’s room.
“Alfred!” She knocked gently on the door. No reply.
She pushed the door open, peeking inside. “Alfred?” she called again, closing the door behind her as she walked in fully. Silence.
“Where could he be? I needed to talk to him about something important,” she muttered, about to leave when something on the bedside table caught her eye.
Her heart skipped. She froze. Oh my God… not this. Please, let it not be what I’m thinking.
She stood rooted, staring, then slowly stepped toward it, just as the door burst open.
“Grandma!” Andrew exclaimed, startled to find her there.
Teresa turned with a small smile. “Oh, Andrew. I thought you’d gone to the office.”
“Yeah, I did… but I came back for something,” he said, giving her a questioning look, as though asking silently why she was there.
Reading his thoughts, Teresa replied softly, “I came to see Alfred, but he isn’t here.”
“Oh, he’s in his study room,” Andrew answered, and Teresa nodded, hurrying out.
⸻
“Alfred!” Teresa called as she stepped into the study.
“Grandma,” Alfred muttered, shutting his laptop and leaning back in his chair. He looked exhausted, disturbed.
“Oh, my little boy,” Teresa breathed, her chest tightening at the sight of his dark circles. His face was pale, worn down. She knew he hadn’t slept again. For fifteen years now, sleep had never been kind to him. The memories always dragged him back into torment. Tears stung her eyes.
“Grandma, are you alright?” Alfred asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
“I should be asking you that,” she whispered. “You look so tired, so troubled.”
Alfred scoffed lightly, pushing himself up. He dialed Andrew, summoning him to the study. Dropping the phone, he walked to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Grandma, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. It isn’t good for your health.” His voice was low, almost tender. She nodded, but the tears she had been holding back finally slipped free.
“Grandma…” Alfred sighed, gently wiping them away.
“Come now, you should rest,” he whispered.
“Alfred, I need to talk to you about something important,” Teresa said, voice firm despite the tremor in it.
He sighed. He knew exactly what she wanted to discuss.
“If it’s about the girl, Grandma, my mind is made up. Nothing will change it,” he said, turning to leave, until her words stopped him cold.
“I saw what was in your room, Alfred. Don’t tell me you plan to electrify her to death?”
Alfred stiffened, rage and frustration boiling in his chest. I told Andrew to keep that hidden! How could this happen?, he thought.
“Please, Alfred,” Teresa begged, voice cracking. “Don’t use it on her. She’s innocent.”
His smirk came bitter and sharp. “Innocent? Was I not innocent when her father made me his slave? For God’s sake, I was ten years old! Ten! He tortured me, Grandma! I was just a boy. I knew nothing!” His voice broke into a furious yell, his eyes wild.
Teresa flinched, fear rising in her chest.
Alfred ran a hand through his hair, breathing heavily, then stormed out, leaving her trembling. She sank to the floor, tears pouring freely.
“Grandma,” Andrew said gently as he entered, rushing to lift her up.
“Please, stop crying,” he whispered, pulling her into a hug.
“Andrew… do you think Alfred will ever find happiness? Do you think he’ll ever know peace? Will he ever let go of the past?” Her voice cracked with grief.
Andrew pulled away slightly, wiping her tears. “I believe, with time, he’ll be fine,” he said with a forced smile. But his eyes betrayed him, shadowed with doubt.
Because deep down, he didn’t believe it. Not really. The wound Alfred carried had festered too long, too deep. Fifteen years of pain. How could it ever heal now?
“Come, let me take you to your room,” Andrew said softly, guiding her away.
⸻
Later, Alfred sat on his bed, phone pressed to his ear.
“What about Grandma?” he asked the moment Andrew entered.
“She’s asleep. I’m sorry I didn't know she would go into your room and…”
“It’s fine,” Alfred cut him off coldly. “But don’t let such mistakes happen again. What about the papers?”
“They’re ready. Her flight is tomorrow at 7 a.m.,” Andrew said quietly, eyes lowered.
Alfred hummed, standing and walking toward his wardrobe. His voice was steady, ruthless.
“Take her to my private house tonight. Leave from there tomorrow morning.”
He couldn’t risk her standing in his way. His grandmother’s love was a barrier, and barriers had to be removed. Nothing would stop him from making Lisa pay, slowly and painfully, for her father’s sins.
⸻
After Teresa left, Lisa ate the food Ria had brought. She forced every bite down, her stomach twisting with dread.
When she finished, she rose from the bed and headed toward the bathroom. The door burst open, Ria stood there, eyes blazing.
Lisa swallowed hard under her deadly glare.
“Follow me!” Ria barked, turning sharply. Lisa hesitated but picked up her plate and trailed behind.
They walked into the kitchen. Immediately, the other maids began whispering.
“Quiet!” Ria snapped, and silence fell instantly. Ria, head maid, commanded as much authority as Alfred himself, at least in the servants’ eyes.
“She’s the new maid. Her name is Lisa,” Ria announced, then turned toward her with a cruel smile that sent shivers down Lisa’s spine.
“You all can rest. Lisa will wash every dish, scrub every cloth, and clean the entire house.”
The other maids cheered, relieved. But one stepped forward timidly.
“Ria… isn’t that too much for her?”
“How dare you?” Ria’s hand flew across the maid’s cheek with a loud crack. Tears streamed down the maid’s face.
“I—I’m sorry,” she whispered, bowing.
“Out!” Ria roared, and the maids scattered. She turned back to Lisa. “Get to work.”
Lisa nodded silently, her throat tight.
⸻
Hours later, she dragged herself back to her room, her body weak from scrubbing, her stomach empty. She collapsed on the bed, tears burning her eyes.
Maybe it’s time I accept it. This is my new life. My new identity. A slave.
Her mother’s face flashed in her mind, her last words echoing: Lisa, baby, no matter what happens, be strong. Be tough.
Lisa wiped her tears, forcing a weak smile through the pain.
The door creaked open again. Ria entered, carrying clothes. Lisa jumped to her feet, heart pounding.
“Put these on. Master Alfred wants you in his room, in three minutes.” Ria tossed the clothes at her with a glare.
She turned to leave, then paused, her lips curling in malice. “And you’d better hurry… unless you want him to punish you.”
She left, and Lisa stood frozen, clutching the clothes. Her chest tightened.
She knew exactly why Alfred wanted her. Tonight, she would be in his bed again.
TBC
