Her Enemy, Her Shelter

Working together with my husband

Reina's POV

I grabbed Sebastian's arm, pulling him to a corner of the dining room. The sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the sharp angles of his face, making him look even more imposing. "Wait," I whispered urgently, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest. "Give me more time. If at the end, Maria is guilty, I'll dispose of her myself."

Sebastian's expression was unreadable, but I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "You believe she's innocent?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

"I know she is," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "Trust me on this, Sebastian."

He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine, making me feel like he was looking into my soul. Then he nodded, his jaw clinging to the decision. "Alright. But if she's involved..."

"I'll handle it," I promised, my voice firm.

He called out to the maids, telling them to return to their duties. The room emptied quickly, leaving us alone in the dining room. We ate breakfast in silence, the tension between us palpable. The clinking of our utensils against the plates was the only sound, making the air thick with unspoken words.

As we finished, Sebastian turned to me, his eyes narrowing. "What's going on, Reina? What are you hiding from me?"

I raised an eyebrow, a hint of annoyance in my voice. "You don't spend the night with me anymore. You claim to be too busy with work, and now it seems my life is in danger. You think you can protect me?" My words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it. He was getting under my skin.

Sebastian's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with something primal. "That's why I'm your husband, Reina. I might be your worst enemy, but at the moment, I'm the only one who can protect you."

I pouted, feeling a mix of emotions. "I'd rather deal with it myself, since you chose to be alone the whole time." My voice was softer now, a hint of vulnerability creeping in.

"It's not your business that I keep getting threatening messages, and I can always handle it without you." I snapped at him.

Sebastian's POV

I watched Reina eat hurriedly and head back to our room, her shoulders stiff with irritation. I couldn't help but smile, feeling a spark of amusement. She was feisty, I'd give her that.

I called for Jose and instructed him to watch Maria discreetly. "Just in case my instincts were correct," I added, my mind racing with possibilities.

I headed to the room I'd been staying in since the night after our... encounter. The room was cold and impersonal, just like me, I thought wily. As I showered, I couldn't shake off Reina's words. Was I wrong to detach myself from her? Had she noticed I loved her now?

Valeria and her alliance with Agnes came to mind, and my anger simmered. I slammed my hand on the door, making the walls shake. "This is a big war," I muttered, feeling the weight of it all.

Reina's POV

Later that day I called Ajax, and we exchanged pleasantries before I briefed him on the situation. Since he was my favourite and the only one who gave me listening ears, I felt the need to update him about the threatening messages.

"Ajax, I think one of the maids is involved. She's been too quiet," I said, trying to keep my voice down.

"Which one?" he asked, his tone serious.

"I don't know yet, but I need your advice on how to handle it."

"Be careful, Reina. Don't confront her yet. Observe, gather evidence, and then we'll deal with her." Ajax's voice was calm and collected, a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Okay, got it."

"And Reina?" He called softly,

"Yes?"

"Work with Sebastian. You might not like him, but he's your husband. He can protect you."

I sighed, feeling a twinge of annoyance. "We don't exactly get along."

Ajax chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "That's an understatement. But he's family now. Use him."

I rolled my eyes, feeling a hint of a smile. "Fine. I'll try."

Here's the rest of the conversation with Ajax:

"So, what's the plan?" Ajax asked, his voice turning serious.

"I'll keep an eye on the maid, see if I can catch her doing something suspicious."

"Good. And don't go alone. Take someone with you, just in case."

I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Okay. I'll take one of the guards."

"No, take Sebastian," Ajax said firmly. "He needs to be involved in this."

I groaned, feeling a twinge of irritation. "Do I have to?"

"Yes, you do. He's your husband, Reina. Let him help."

I sighed, knowing Ajax was right. "Fine. I'll talk to him."

"Good girl. Keep me updated, okay?"

"Will do, big bro."

I hung up, feeling a bit more confident. Time to face Sebastian.