Sophia spent most of the morning moving through the estate like a ghost in her own skin. The black maid uniform felt tighter than usual, every brush of fabric against her marked body a reminder of the night before. Her thighs still carried faint fingerprints. Her throat felt raw from screaming. But it wasn’t just the physical ache that followed her from room to room — it was the quiet, terrifying realization that she was starting to crave this life.
She polished the silver in the main dining room with slow, careful strokes, the tall windows letting in bright afternoon light that made the grounds outside look almost peaceful. Birds moved through the trees. The world beyond the estate continued as normal. Inside these walls, nothing felt normal anymore.
Victor found her there.
He didn’t t
