REBECCA

: --- CHAPTER ONE ❝ Shattered Illusions ❞ The grand hall of the Wilson family mansion glowed with its usual elegance that evening. The chandelier cast golden lights over marble floors, polished to perfection. But none of that mattered to Rebecca Wilson at that moment. “I need to get a gift for Louis. His birthday is tomorrow, and you’re coming with me,” she declared, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the house. Mary, her older sister, frowned slightly. She looked up from her phone and sighed. “Rebecca, why don’t you go with one of his friends instead? They know what he likes. They’ll guide you better.” Rebecca turned sharply. “No. You’re coming with me,” she insisted. Her tone was softer this time, almost pleading, but there was an edge in her eyes. She knew Mary never supported her relationship with Louis White, the second young master of the White family. Mary shook her head and muttered under her breath, “That man is trouble…” Rebecca pretended not to hear, picking up her handbag and keys from the glass table. Trouble or not, he’s the man I love, she thought. He’ll see how much I care about him when I find the perfect gift. --- The mall was bustling with late evening shoppers. Rebecca and Mary walked into a men’s luxury store, scanning the rows of leather wallets, colognes, and silk ties. Rebecca’s mind was busy imagining Louis’s smile when he received her gift. At that same moment, a few shops away, Louis stood by the restroom sink, fixing his hair while his friend Anthony washed his hands. “Lucky man,” Anthony teased with a grin. “Your girl should be picking up something you love by now.” Louis scoffed. “Don’t even bring that up. I didn’t ask for any gift. Honestly, I’m going to humiliate her if she comes around tomorrow. I don’t even want to see her.” Anthony froze, staring at his friend. “You’re insane, bro. That girl is a ten. What’s wrong with you?” Louis shrugged casually, drying his hands with a tissue. “She’s boring. Always so quiet, so predictable. I’ve been looking for the right moment to end it. Tomorrow might just be perfect.” --- Rebecca stood frozen at the edge of the corridor. She had come out to ask Mary’s opinion about a perfume but stopped when she heard Louis’s voice. Every word struck her chest like cold steel. Her eyes blurred with tears, and her lips trembled as she swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. Mary approached, seeing the shattered look on her sister’s face. “Rebecca… what happened?” she whispered, reaching out to touch her arm. Rebecca let out a cold, humourless laugh. Her tears fell silently, smudging her eyeliner, but her gaze hardened like stone. “Sister…” she whispered, wiping her face quickly. “An eye for an eye… He won’t get away with this. For deceiving me… for making me look like a fool.” Mary looked into her sister’s eyes and felt a chill down her spine. This was not the same gentle Rebecca. Something inside her had snapped. Rebecca turned away, her voice low and controlled. “I’m done being the fool.” --- CHAPTER TWO ❝ Veiled Vengeance ❞ Five months had passed since Rebecca Wilson’s world crumbled before her eyes. In those months, she rebuilt herself piece by piece. Gone was the quiet girl who lived to please Louis White. In her place stood a woman sharpened by betrayal, her heart now shielded with ice. --- “Sis… you want to work as a disguised maid at Louis’s new mansion?” Mary’s voice trembled as she stood in her sister’s room, staring at the black maid uniform laid neatly on the bed. Rebecca sat before her mirror, applying nude gloss to her lips. Her short hair was now styled into a sleek low cut, and a small silver nose ring gleamed under the warm light. She looked up at her sister’s reflection and smiled faintly. “What are you up to? You wanna drug his food or something?” Mary asked, half-joking, half-serious. Her stomach twisted with worry. She had watched Rebecca move like a shadow these past months, silent but never idle. “No, baby.” Rebecca turned to face her, her smile widening into something almost playful. “I’ll find something else to do to him. I don’t plan to end his life. I just want to mess with him a little.” Mary sat on the bed, clutching a pillow to her chest. “Mess with him… how?” Rebecca stood, picking up her packed black duffel bag. She walked to her sister and bent slightly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry about it. Take care of things at the company while I’m gone. If you need to pass any message, let David deliver it. Thank youuu,” she sang lightly, her tone almost girlish. Mary’s eyes welled up. “Won’t you… won’t you let this go, Becca? He’s not worth it.” Rebecca paused at the doorway and turned back, her eyes gentle but her voice cold. “I know he’s not worth it. But this… this is not about him anymore. It’s about me.” --- “Won’t you see me off, please?” Rebecca asked softly, her old warmth flickering for a moment. “Sure, sexy maid,” Mary said, forcing a smile through her tears. They walked to the car silently under the early morning sky. The drive to Louis’s new mansion at the outskirts felt endless, the city lights fading behind them as fields and isolated buildings replaced tall towers. --- Finally, they arrived. The mansion stood tall in quiet grandeur, with black iron gates and high stone walls guarding its secrets. Rebecca stepped out, her black nose mask covering the lower half of her face. She adjusted her maid uniform and pulled her luggage out of the trunk. Mary stepped forward and hugged her tightly. “Please… please be careful,” she whispered into her ear. Rebecca hugged her back with one arm, her other hand tightening around the handle of her bag. “Don’t worry, sis.” She pulled away, her eyes dark and unyielding. “I won’t break this time.” --- Rebecca walked towards the mansion gates, her heels tapping lightly on the concrete. Her heart pounded steadily, not with fear, but with a deep, dangerous calm. Let the game begin, she thought, as the gates opened slowly to swallow her whole. --- CHAPTER THREE ❝ Dangerous Attractions ❞ Louis White had moved on quickly. Within weeks of discarding Rebecca, he found a new light to orbit – her name was Maltida. She was beautiful in an effortless way, with a warmth that made even strangers want to trust her. Louis was deeply in love with her, convinced she was everything Rebecca could never be. --- Maltida stepped out of her car, adjusting her light pink handbag as she made her way towards the mansion entrance. Her long, wavy brown hair cascaded softly down her back, and a subtle pink gloss coated her lips. As she entered the marble foyer, she spotted a new maid arranging fresh lilies in a tall glass vase. Something about the maid’s presence drew her in instantly. “Hi,” Maltida called out with a smile, her voice gentle. “I’m Maltida. You’re new here, right?” The maid turned slowly to face her. Her eyes, dark and unreadable behind her black nose mask, met Maltida’s gaze. “Yeah,” she replied simply. Maltida chuckled nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She had approached wanting to know the maid’s name, but the girl hadn’t offered it. “You… um… you didn’t mention your name…” she said softly. The maid blinked once, then seemed to catch herself. “Oh… Rebe– sorry… Lydia. Lydia Ashley, ma’am.” Maltida’s smile widened, her cheeks warming. “No, Lydia. Call me Maltida.” “Okay, Maltida,” Lydia replied, her voice low and calm. As Lydia bent slightly to adjust the vase, she studied Maltida from beneath her lashes. So, this is Louis’s new love, she thought, her eyes lingering on Maltida’s gentle smile and flawless skin. She looks… sweet. Charming, even. He got himself quite a catch this time. --- At that moment, Louis’s hurried footsteps echoed down the marble staircase. He had heard Maltida’s voice from upstairs and rushed down, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. “C’mon, baby,” he said, wrapping an arm around Maltida’s waist casually. “She’s just the new maid I employed. No need to be so formal with her.” He turned to Lydia with a dismissive glance. “Oh, Lydia, this is Maltida… my wife.” “Your wife?” Maltida laughed, nudging him playfully. “Don’t scare her. I’m his girlfriend, Lydia.” Louis rolled his eyes with a playful groan. “What are you saying…” Lydia watched them banter, her heart thudding with a quiet, dangerous calm. Their laughter sounded sweet, but it scraped against her skin like broken glass. So this is what he looks like when he truly loves someone… An idea flickered to life in her mind, dark and intoxicating. He loves this girl so much. Let’s see how it feels when someone you love is taken away by someone you never expected. At first, she thought of seducing Maltida, making her sleep with her, and then revealing it to Louis. But the thought turned her stomach. No… I wouldn’t taint myself with someone he’s touched. Instead, a colder plan formed, slow and deliberate. I’ll make her love me. Completely. I’ll make her leave Louis for me, date me openly, let him see it – then, when her world revolves around me, I’ll shatter it. I’ll walk away before she even realizes who I am. I don’t want her. I just want him to feel what it means to be discarded… A faint guilt tugged at her chest. Maltida seemed so gentle… so undeserving of this twisted revenge. But the guilt faded as quickly as it came. --- CHAPTER FOUR ❝ Web of Temptation ❞ The early morning sun filtered through sheer white curtains, casting golden lines across the polished floors of Louis’s mansion. Lydia Ashley moved quietly through the silent house, dusting the framed paintings in the hallway. Her black maid uniform hugged her slender figure neatly, her hair hidden beneath a small net cap, her silver nose ring glinting softly each time she turned her head. --- Maltida yawned as she descended the marble staircase in her cream silk robe. Her bare feet padded softly against the cold floors. Her long, wavy brown hair was slightly tousled, giving her a fragile, sleepy beauty. She paused at the last step when her eyes landed on Lydia. There was something captivating about how the maid moved – graceful, composed, unhurried, as if the world spun at her own pace. “Good morning,” Maltida called out, her voice still husky from sleep. Lydia turned and inclined her head slightly. “Good morning, Maltida.” Maltida walked into the kitchen and frowned when she realised she hadn’t made her morning tea yet. Before she could say anything, Lydia appeared silently behind her with a steaming mug. “Ginger honey tea,” Lydia said softly, placing it on the marble island. “It’s good for fatigue.” Maltida blinked, a warm smile spreading across her lips. “How did you… know I take ginger honey tea in the morning?” Lydia lowered her gaze modestly. “I pay attention.” Maltida felt her cheeks heat up unexpectedly. She chuckled, brushing her hair behind her ear as she took a sip. The warmth of the tea seeped into her chest, soothing her drowsy body and calming the ache in her heart from last night’s argument with Louis. “You’re… really attentive, Lydia,” she said softly, her gaze lingering on the maid’s face. “Thank you, Maltida,” Lydia replied, her voice calm as she turned to wipe down the counter. --- After breakfast, Maltida sat on the living room couch fastening her gold bracelet when the clasp broke suddenly, falling onto her robe. She let out a frustrated sigh, examining the small broken piece. Without a word, Lydia knelt before her, her warm fingers brushing against Maltida’s wrist as she took the bracelet gently. “Let me fix this for you,” she said. Maltida’s breath hitched slightly at the unexpected touch. Lydia’s fingers worked deftly, her face close to Maltida’s arm. Maltida watched the maid’s downcast eyes, her long lashes curling over her smooth skin. The scent of her mild vanilla soap drifted to her nose, comforting in a way she couldn’t understand. “There,” Lydia said, clasping the bracelet back onto her wrist and letting her fingers slide away softly. “Thank you, Lydia.” Maltida’s voice came out smaller than she intended. Their eyes met for a brief moment – dark, steady eyes meeting wide, vulnerable ones. Something heavy and quiet pulsed between them, lingering just long enough to make Maltida swallow hard before Lydia looked away and stood. --- Lydia continued her duties that afternoon, polishing the stair rails, watering the potted plants, folding fresh laundry. Her mind remained calm and focused, but every now and then, an image of Maltida’s shy smile and flushed cheeks would flicker before her eyes, like a candle’s brief flame in the dark. But she pushed it away. This was not about Maltida. This was about Louis. --- That evening, as Lydia folded the last of the clean towels in her small servant quarters, she paused for a moment, staring blankly at her reflection in the dark window glass. Her chest felt strangely tight, but she couldn’t name the feeling. And she didn’t try to. Stay focused, she told herself silently. She folded the towel sharply and placed it onto the stack, exhaling deeply as the sky outside faded into a quiet, brooding dusk. To be continued.. --- CHAPTER FIVE ❝ Silent Currents ❞ The next morning dawned quiet and grey, with a soft drizzle tapping against the mansion windows. Louis had left earlier for a three-day business trip, leaving the mansion emptier than usual. Lydia saw it as the perfect opportunity to check in with home. She sat on the edge of her narrow servant bed, phone pressed to her ear as it rang. “Sister!” Mary’s voice burst through, warm and excited. “How are you? How is work over there? I haven’t gotten any texts or reports from David about the company this week Lydia asked calmly . “Oh, sister, I told him not to bother you. Everything is fine here… how about you? Are you eating well? You haven’t lost weight, right? Your face is still as fresh as ever, I hope. Louis doesn’t suspect anything, does he…?” Mary fired questions one after another without pause. “Mary, which one do you want me to answer first?” Lydia asked, amusement softening her tired voice. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, okay?” “Okay, sister 🥺… Sister, I heard Louis has a new girl. Have you met her?” “Sure,” Lydia replied simply. Mary’s voice rose with frustration. “Does she stay there? Louis never even let you spend two days at his house when you were dating. You couldn’t visit unannounced, let alone live with him.” “Mary, calm down,” Lydia said softly, her voice calm but distant. “That’s all in the past. I’m not concerned about any of that anymore. Yeah… she stays here. He loves her so much.” She paused, her mind replaying Maltida’s shy smiles and gentle voice. “My first impression of her has always been positive… from the moment I saw her. She’s beautiful… soft, real, and… sexy.” There was a long silence from the other end. “It’s a good thing if she’s everything you’ve said. But… it’s a pity for her to give it all to Louis,” Mary said quietly. “But sister… I’ve never heard you talk like this before. What exactly are you doing? Louis is your target… so what’s your business with Maltida?” Lydia closed her eyes, leaning back against the cold wall. “Oh Mary… it’s nothing. I was just letting you know how things are here. How are mom and dad?” Mary sighed, still confused by her sister’s sudden quiet admiration. “They’re doing well. They asked about you. I told them you’re staying with Louis for now. They were surprised but pleased. They said that’s how it’s supposed to be between lovers. They even asked when you both will come home to introduce each other properly. I told them to call you themselves but they refused. They said you might start missing them and run back home if they do.” Lydia smiled faintly, pain flickering behind her eyes. “Send my regards. Bye.” She ended the call before Mary could say another word. --- --- CHAPTER SIX ❝ Unspoken Fires ❞ The quiet rain continued its steady rhythm outside, weaving a solemn melody through the halls of Louis’s mansion. Inside, the air felt heavy, charged with an invisible tension that neither of them could name. --- Lydia moved through her duties with silent precision. Her hands washed the breakfast dishes in warm soapy water, her mind focused only on the gentle clink of plates and the hum of running water. She didn’t hear Maltida enter the kitchen until she felt eyes on her back. Turning slowly, she found Maltida standing by the doorway, dressed in a simple black turtleneck and fitted jeans that accentuated her slim curves. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves, framing her face delicately. “Good morning,” Maltida said quietly, her gaze fixed on Lydia’s eyes. “Good morning, Maltida,” Lydia replied, her voice calm as she returned her attention to rinsing the last plate. But she felt Maltida’s stare lingering on her, making her chest tighten with a strange, uninvited heat. --- Maltida moved forward, stopping just beside her. She reached for a glass on the drying rack, their shoulders brushing lightly. Lydia tensed almost imperceptibly at the contact. “You’re always up so early,” Maltida murmured, her voice low, almost intimate despite the mundane words. “Don’t you ever… rest?” Lydia placed the last plate on the rack, wiping her wet hands with a towel. “There’s always work to be done.” Their eyes met, and for a moment, the kitchen fell completely silent. The only sound was the steady drum of rain against the windowpanes. Maltida’s gaze softened, her brows knitting slightly. “Doesn’t it… get lonely?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lydia felt her chest tighten painfully. She held Maltida’s gaze, silent, her dark eyes calm yet distant. “Everyone gets lonely… but it passes.” Maltida didn’t reply. She continued to watch Lydia with an intensity that burned through the quiet morning, her breaths coming out shakier than before. --- Later that afternoon, Lydia was sweeping the living room floor. Maltida sat curled on the sofa, pretending to read a magazine but her eyes remained on Lydia the entire time. Each graceful movement Lydia made – the way her slender fingers gripped the broom handle, the way her black maid uniform hugged her figure modestly – sent an unfamiliar ache deep into Maltida’s chest. She didn’t understand it. She didn’t want to. --- Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Maltida spoke. “Come sit with me… please.” Lydia paused, her brows furrowing slightly. “Why?” “Just… please.” Lydia placed the broom aside quietly and moved to the sofa, sitting at the far end. The tension between them pulsed like a living thing. Maltida turned her body slightly, facing Lydia fully. Their knees almost touched, and Lydia could feel the faint heat radiating from her. For long moments, neither spoke. The rain continued its mournful melody outside, the grey light casting soft shadows across Maltida’s face. “Lydia…” Maltida whispered finally, her voice trembling. “Why… do you feel so… different?” Lydia swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold Maltida’s gaze. “I don’t know what you mean.” Maltida reached out slowly, as if testing her own resolve, and brushed her fingers lightly across the back of Lydia’s hand. Lydia stiffened at the touch, her breath hitching softly. “Don’t… do that,” Lydia said, her voice firm but quiet, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. “Why?” Maltida asked, her eyes searching Lydia’s face desperately. “Why does it feel like… there’s something between us?” Lydia shook her head, her jaw tightening. “You’re imagining things,” she whispered, withdrawing her hand and standing abruptly. As she walked away, her steps steady but her chest burning, Maltida watched her with eyes that glistened under the grey afternoon light. The air she left behind felt colder, emptier. --- In the quiet solitude of the laundry room, Lydia leaned against the cold tiled wall, her breathing ragged. She pressed her trembling fingers against her lips, trying to calm the violent thudding of her heart. Don’t get distracted, she told herself harshly. This is not about her. Guard your heart, Rebecca. Guard it… before it’s too late. But no matter how fiercely she repeated it, the ghost of Maltida’s trembling touch remained burned into her skin, pulsing like an unspoken fire she could not extinguish. --- CHAPTER SEVEN ❝ Fractured Shields ❞ The rain had finally stopped by evening, leaving behind a heavy, humid stillness. The golden lights in the mansion glowed softly, casting long shadows across the marble floors. Lydia moved quietly through the corridors, her footsteps silent against the polished tiles. She carried folded towels towards Maltida’s room, her mind battling with an uncomfortable tightness in her chest. Guard your heart, Rebecca, she reminded herself fiercely. Stay focused. --- She knocked lightly on Maltida’s door before entering. Maltida sat on the edge of her large bed, her hair damp from her evening bath. She wore a pale blue silk slip dress that clung to her curves delicately. Her bare shoulders glistened under the dim bedside lamp. Their eyes met. The tension pulsed instantly, sharp and silent. “I brought fresh towels,” Lydia said calmly, placing them on the dresser. “Thank you…” Maltida’s voice was quiet, almost vulnerable. She watched Lydia turn to leave, a sudden panic surging in her chest. “Wait… Lydia… stay for a bit.” Lydia paused, her back still turned. She closed her eyes briefly before turning around to face her. “Why?” she asked softly, her dark eyes guarded. Maltida’s gaze lowered to her clasped hands. “I… don’t know. I just… don’t want to be alone tonight.” Lydia hesitated before stepping closer, stopping a safe distance away. “I’m here. What do you want to talk about?” Maltida shook her head slowly, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s not about talking… I just… being near you feels… safe.” Lydia felt something painful twist inside her chest. She clenched her fists tightly by her sides to keep herself grounded. “Don’t… say things like that,” Lydia whispered, her voice trembling despite her calm facade. “Why not?” Maltida asked, her voice breaking. She stood abruptly, stepping forward until they were only inches apart. Lydia could feel her warmth, smell the faint jasmine scent of her skin. Their eyes locked, dark with emotions neither could name. The silence between them grew dense, almost suffocating. Maltida reached up slowly, her fingers grazing Lydia’s jawline so lightly it sent shivers down her spine. Lydia froze under her touch, her heart thudding violently against her ribs. “I don’t even flinch when Louis touches you,” Maltida whispered shakily, tears slipping down her cheeks. “But just your fingers make me tremble… why?” Lydia swallowed hard, her voice barely coming out. “Stop… this isn’t right.” “Why isn’t it right…?” Maltida asked desperately, her thumb brushing against Lydia’s lower lip. “Why do I feel like this with you? Why…?” Lydia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes darkening with confusion and an ache she refused to acknowledge. “Maltida… please…” she whispered, her voice breaking as she gently pulled away, stepping back. Maltida’s hand dropped to her side, her tears falling freely now. “I’m sorry… I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said, her voice trembling with shame and longing. Lydia shook her head quickly, forcing herself to steady her breaths. “There’s nothing wrong with you… but this… this can’t happen.” She turned and walked quickly towards the door. Before exiting, she paused, gripping the handle tightly as her entire body trembled with emotions she had no name for. “Get some sleep, Maltida,” she said softly, without turning back. Then she left, shutting the door quietly behind her. --- In the dark solitude of the servant quarters, Lydia sat on her narrow bed, staring blankly at the wall. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she forced them back, her jaw tightening. This is not about her… this is not about her, she chanted silently, gripping her sheets tightly. But no matter how many times she repeated it, the feeling of Maltida’s trembling touch against her jaw refused to leave her skin. And for the first time since she entered that mansion, Rebecca Wilson felt her shield begin to fracture. --- CHAPTER EIGHT ❝ Forbidden Heat ❞ The mansion was silent that night, shadows stretching long and dark across the polished floors. Lydia lay on her narrow servant bed, eyes fixed on the cracked ceiling, her mind replaying Maltida’s trembling touch from earlier. A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts. She froze, her breath hitching. The knock came again, gentle but desperate. Slowly, Lydia rose and opened the door slightly. Maltida stood there in her thin white night slip, hair falling in damp waves over her shoulders, eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Lydia… please… can I come in?” her voice was barely audible, trembling with vulnerability. Lydia shook her head lightly. “You shouldn’t be here. Go back to your room.” “Please… I can’t sleep alone tonight…” Maltida’s voice cracked as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Please…” Lydia clenched her jaw, her resolve wavering under Maltida’s pleading gaze. Without a word, she stepped aside, letting her in. --- Maltida sat quietly on the edge of Lydia’s bed, her legs pressed tightly together, trembling. Lydia closed the door softly and stood, watching her with unreadable eyes. “What’s wrong?” Lydia asked, her voice calm despite her thudding heart. “I… I don’t know… I just…” Maltida’s voice broke as she wiped at her tears. “I feel like I’m losing myself. Nothing feels real anymore… except… when I’m with you.” Lydia swallowed hard, her chest tightening painfully. “Don’t say that. I’m just a maid, Maltida. I’m not… who you think I am.” Maltida looked up, her eyes glistening under the dim light. “No… you’re the only person who makes me feel… alive.” Before Lydia could speak, Maltida leaned forward, cupping Lydia’s face with trembling hands, and kissed her. At first, Lydia’s body froze, her eyes fluttering shut as Maltida’s soft lips moved against hers desperately, hungrily. The kiss deepened, slow but burning with something raw and forbidden. Maltida’s hands slid to Lydia’s neck, fingers pressing gently as her thumbs caressed her jaw. She tilted her head, deepening the kiss further, letting out a quiet moan against Lydia’s mouth. Lydia felt her resolve cracking with every passing second, her chest aching as heat spread through her veins. Her lips parted instinctively, allowing Maltida to taste her deeper, the wet warmth of their mouths mingling softly yet urgently. But suddenly, a flash of Louis’s face tore through her mind like a blade. Her eyes snapped open and she pulled away abruptly, her breath ragged and uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “No… no, this can’t happen,” Lydia whispered harshly, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. “I… I can’t kiss someone Louis has touched.” Maltida blinked, tears spilling down her cheeks as her chest heaved with quiet sobs. “Lydia do you… do you hate me… for kissing you…?” Lydia closed her eyes, steadying her trembling hands. “No… but Matilda do you… do you like me…?” Maltida didn’t deny it. Her lips parted as she whispered shakily, “Yes… I don’t know how or why but… yes.” Lydia shook her head, forcing her heart back into its cold cage. “Don’t… don’t love me. I’m not a maid, Maltida. You think you know me but you don’t… and besides… you have a boyfriend.” Maltida’s tears fell freely now, her body trembling with quiet desperation. “I know… I know I have a boyfriend… but… I don’t regret kissing you.” Lydia looked at her sharply, pain flashing across her dark eyes. “Don’t say that.” Maltida wiped her tears roughly, inhaling shakily. “Can I… can I just lay in your arms… till I fall asleep… please…Lydia?” Lydia closed her eyes tightly, her chest aching with an emotion she refused to name. She nodded silently. --- They lay down together on the narrow bed. Maltida curled into Lydia’s chest. To be continued.....