Chapter 5
1272 Words
Chapter 5 — The Rules of the House
The car finally pulled into the mansion's vast compound.
Kraig parked near the entrance, stepped out, and immediately began walking toward the house without waiting for Bella.
Bella stared after him.
Of course.
What else should I expect from a man with a serious case of the "appear-and-disappear-like-a-ghost" syndrome?
She quickly opened the car door and followed.
As they approached the entrance, the massive doors slid open several feet ahead of them.
A sensor.
Bella raised an eyebrow.
Of course it recognizes its owner.
She was almost certain that if it were her approaching that door, she would have to go through an entire verification process before it even considered opening.
Kraig walked straight toward the elevator.
Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly stopped.
He turned to face her.
"Wake up at seven every morning."
Bella blinked.
"What?"
"Prepare my bath. My food. My clothes."
His expression remained emotionless.
"And you will accompany me to work every day."
Bella's mouth parted slightly.
Kraig continued before she could respond.
"Learn to speak when you're spoken to and remain quiet when necessary."
"Do not touch anything that doesn't belong to you. That applies to this house and my office."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't try to be clever with me. You might get burned."
"Keep your wits and cunny side to yourself..."
His gaze sharpened.
"...and keep them on a tight leash so far you are with me."
Bella swallowed her irritation.
"And one more thing."
He paused.
"I don't tolerate disrespect."
"Not toward me."
"Not toward my friends."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"Know your place."
Bella's fingers curled into her palms.
"Any other instructions will be given later."
He stepped into the elevator.
"I need to sleep."
The doors began sliding shut.
"Wait!"
Bella's voice stopped him.
Kraig looked at her.
She hesitated.
Then the questions she had been holding inside all day finally spilled out.
"Why did you save me?"
Her voice was softer now.
"You could have just left me alone if you were going to treat me like everyone else."
Her throat tightened.
"So why did you...?"
She swallowed.
"Why did you come to buy me?"
Kraig's expression remained unreadable.
"Can't I work to free myself?"
She took another breath.
"Is there any way you'll let me go?"
The last words cracked slightly.
But Bella refused to cry.
Not in front of him.
Not again.
Kraig stared at her for several seconds.
Then his expression hardened.
"Don't ask me foolish and stupid questions."
The elevator doors began closing again.
His final words came just before they sealed shut.
"Sleep early and wake early."
"I don't tolerate lateness, laziness, or clumsiness."
The doors closed.
Bella stood there, staring at her own reflection in the polished metal.
For a moment, she couldn't move.
Then she slowly turned and climbed the stairs to the first floor.
What kind of life is this?
Her father had committed the sins.
Yet somehow...
She was the one paying for them.
She had done nothing wrong.
Nothing.
And still, she had been dragged into the consequences of another man's crimes.
The moment Bella entered her room, the wall she had desperately tried to hold together finally collapsed.
She shut the door.
And cried.
Not the quiet kind of crying.
She cried until her chest hurt.
Until her eyes burned.
Until she had no strength left to wipe away the tears.
Twenty minutes later, she finally calmed down.
She washed her face, changed into comfortable clothes, and climbed into bed.
She could see the newly arrived clothes were all arranged in the wardrobe. But she has no interest in appreciating any of them.
What is the essence if she will be treated like a slave?! Like someone with no freedom of her own!
Sleep refused to come.
Her mind was crowded with questions.
There has to be a way out.
She refused to accept this life.
She was innocent.
Why should she suffer for something she didn't do?
Why should she be treated like property?
Like an object someone could buy, own, and command?
That son of a gun I once saved is treating me like I belong to him.
She buried her face in the pillow.
Maybe he thinks because he bought me, I'm his slave.
Her heart ached.
But can't he remember that I saved him?
Can't he at least let me go because of that?
Bella tossed and turned for hours.
Eventually, exhaustion dragged her into sleep.
It was almost two in the morning.
She barely had time to rest.
Morning came far too quickly.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A sharp knock jolted Bella awake.
She sat up groggily.
"Who is it?"
"Miss Bella."
A maid's voice came from the other side.
"Mr. Kraig is waiting for you. He said you should come to him immediately."
Bella frowned.
She reached for her phone.
The moment she looked at the screen, her eyes nearly popped out.
7:05 a.m.
Her heart dropped.
Five minutes late?!
Didn't he say seven?
What a wonderful way to start the morning.
She scrambled out of bed.
She didn't even have time to brush her teeth, bathe, or properly change.
She simply followed the maid downstairs.
They reached the elevator.
Bella stepped inside...
Then frowned.
Wait.
She looked around.
This wasn't the elevator she had seen yesterday.
It looked different from the one Kraig used.
She stared at the maid.
"Is this... the workers' elevator?"
The maid nodded.
Bella's eyes widened.
So there is an elevator for the workers?
And I've been using the stairs this whole time?
Nobody had thought to tell her?
She was still sulking over the discovery when a deep voice suddenly came from the front of her.
"Kneel."
Bella's thoughts vanished.
She looked up.
Kraig was sitting in a chair, looking completely relaxed.
He wasn't dressed like a man preparing to go to work.
His expression, however, was anything but relaxed.
Bella stared at him in confusion.
His brows furrowed.
"I don't like repeating myself, Bella."
He turned toward the maid.
"Clara, you can go."
The maid practically disappeared.
She knew better than to remain in the room when her master was angry.
Everyone in the mansion feared Kraig's temper.
Bella looked back at him.
He was staring at her.
"Kneel, Bella."
His voice was low.
"On."
A pause.
"Your."
Another pause.
"Knees."
Bella's jaw tightened.
"I told you yesterday that I don't tolerate lateness, laziness, or clumsiness."
He stood slowly.
"The sooner you understand that, the better it will be for you."
Bella's eyes hardened.
But she obeyed.
She lowered herself onto her knees.
The humiliation burned through her veins.
Kraig walked toward her.
"Hands up."
Bella stared at him.
You've got to be kidding me.
But she slowly raised both hands.
She looked like a schoolgirl being punished by a strict teacher.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Kraig picked up the book he had been reading and placed it across her raised palms.
"Hold it."
Bella's eyes widened.
"Stay there and reflect on your mistake."
He looked at his watch.
"You made me miss my morning meeting."
His expression remained cold.
"So there will be no breakfast for you this morning."
He turned away.
Bella stared at his back.
Her fingers trembled beneath the weight of the book.
Anger burned fiercely inside her.
This man is unbelievable.
But she remained where she was.
Because she had already learned one thing about Kraig.
He didn't make empty threats.
And she had no intention of discovering what happened when she pushed him too far.
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