Twisted Vows

Chapter five

Peter's face remained impassive for a moment as Calissa gestured toward the grand, velvet-upholstered chair. His sharp, chiseled features were framed by his tousled dark hair, and his eyes—usually warm with a glint of charm—had hardened. He didn’t move to sit down, not even when Calissa forced a tight smile and said, "Please, Peter, have a seat. Don’t concern yourself with that girl. She’s nothing but a helpless, stupid maid."

Her words hung in the air, dripping with condescension, and Peter's jaw clenched, his lips pressed into a thin line. His dark eyes flickered, a flash of something cold and fierce. The subtle tension in his posture grew as he stood tall, his arms crossed over his chest. The disdainful description of Lily seemed to linger in his mind longer than Calissa had expected.

He inhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as they settled on Calissa. His expression was unreadable, but beneath the surface, his irritation was palpable. A quiet fury simmered behind his gaze, and the corners of his mouth twitched, though he remained composed.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, cold and sharp. "Helpless? Stupid?" he repeated slowly, his words deliberate and measured. "Okay…. If you say so." His tone held a steely warning, the weight of it making Calissa shift uncomfortably. Nicole, who had been there watching the whole time, was a bit furious; she wondered why he was so interested in the way her mother had treated Lily. Then she put on a fake smile immediately Peter's gaze bore into hers for a long, tense moment before he added, his voice low, “Then I guess we move into why I'm here.”

Calissa's smile altered, her eyes widening in surprise, but Peter's expression remained stone-cold, unyielding, and utterly unimpressed. He turned his head slightly, as if dismissing the entire conversation, making it clear that Lily, in his eyes, was far from what Calissa believed.

“Yes, exactly.” Nicole's voice was loud as she spoke, there was excitement in her tone. “Why you are here.”

Peter's expression softened immediately when he saw Lily descending the grand staircase slowly, her hand gripping the railing for support. The weight of the day hung heavy on her shoulders, but the moment her eyes met Peter’s, everything else seemed to fade. The harsh angles of his jawline softened. His eyes followed her as she climbed down the stairs, Lily was dressed up in her maid costume with an apron tied around her waist, her blonde curly hair danced round her as she moved gently.

His dark, intense gaze locked onto hers, and time itself felt like it slowed for a moment. There was something unreadable in his expression—curiosity, perhaps even concern—but the intensity of his stare made her heart skip a beat.

Peter’s eyes stayed on her longer than either of them anticipated. His jaw tightened, and he seemed to shift his stance slightly as if trying to regain his composure, but his gaze never wavered. The connection between them was electric, even in its silence.

Nicole, who had been watching Peter closely, noticed the way his attention drifted to Lily. Her eyes narrowed in irritation, jealousy flaring within her. She followed the line of his sight, her lips curling into a sneer when she saw Lily standing there, looking almost out of place at the top of the stairs.

"Peter," Nicole said, her voice light but with an edge, trying to draw his focus back to her. She tilted her head, fluttering her lashes, but Peter’s gaze remained fixed on Lily.

His chest rose and fell slowly, as though he was trying to suppress whatever thoughts raced through his mind. He tore his eyes away from Lily with visible effort, his jaw clenching tighter, but something about her held his attention far longer than he had expected. He blinked, as if forcing himself to look away, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that something about her drew him in.

Just then, Calissa’s shrill voice broke the moment, slicing through the tension like a whip. "Lily!" she screamed, her face twisting into a mask of rage. "What the hell do you think you’re doing up there?"

Lily flinched, startled by the sudden harshness in Calissa’s tone. The cold, furious glare that was now aimed at her made her stomach churn. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out at first. She stood frozen on the stairs, unsure whether to turn and flee or continue descending into the lion’s den.

"I asked you a question!" Calissa barked again, her sharp eyes blazing. "Get down here this instant! Do you think this is a place for you to stand around gawking?"

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the weight of Nicole’s smirk and Peter’s lingering glance, and her feet seemed to betray her as she took a hesitant step forward. The tension in the room was suffocating, and as she slowly made her way down the remaining steps, she could feel Calissa’s furious gaze burning into her, but she couldn’t shake the sensation of Peter’s eyes on her as well. It was as though, despite everything, he was watching her every move—watching and waiting for something.

“Get in there and set the tables for dinner.” Lily couldn't bear the harshness in her voice, the cold, furious glare but Lily didn't have any choice but to bear it. The Keller has always hated her ever since her mom brought her in to assist her with her job. She couldn't quite place where the hatred was coming, if it was because of the resemblance between her and her daughter Nicole or because they were related.

“Yes, Mrs Keller.” She stammered shakily as she walked slowly to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Peter's eyes were still fixed on her and she could feel his glance following her as she walked to the kitchen.

“I'm so sorry about that, Mr Blackwell.” Calissa said as she walked back to her seat.

“Phew.” Nicole breathes out loudly. “So much for having a maid around. Such a clumsy thing.”

Peter's gaze shifted on her, his expression sprang up in a bit of confusion and surprising look. “What did you just say?” He said as his face darkened a bit.

“Oh nothing.” She replied sharply.

“Could we continue our discussion please?” Calissa said, trying to shift the conversation.

“Yes, Mrs Keller.” Peter answered. There was something in Nicole he was trying to find out about her, she seemed to be so different from the night they had had together as he thought.

Lily emerged from the kitchen, carefully balancing a tray with three porcelain cups of tea. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her head down, focusing on not spilling a drop. The weight of every step felt heavier as she approached the sitting room where Mrs. Calissa Keller, Nicole, and Peter sat. She could feel their eyes on her, though it was Peter’s lingering gaze that made her pulse race.

With steady hands, she placed the first cup in front of Mrs. Keller, then turned to serve Nicole, who shot her a disdainful glance but said nothing. As Lily moved toward Peter, she couldn’t shake the sensation of his eyes following her every movement. Her fingers trembled slightly as she approached him, his gaze almost burning through her.

Nicole noticed it too—the way Peter’s eyes were locked on Lily, the quiet intensity in them. A flare of jealousy ignited in Nicole’s chest. Without hesitation, she extended her foot just as Lily took her final step toward Peter.

Lily didn’t see it coming. Her foot caught on Nicole’s shoe, and the tray lurched forward, cups clattering to the ground as she stumbled. Before she could catch herself, she hit the floor with a hard thud, the teacups shattering around her.

The sound barely faded before Calissa was on her feet, her face twisted in anger. "You clumsy little fool!" she spat, storming toward Lily. Without warning, her hand flew across Lily’s face, landing a stinging slap that left Lily’s cheek burning.

Lily gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she recoiled from the blow, her breath catching in her throat.

"You’re worthless! Always messing things up," Calissa hissed, raising her hand again to strike.

But before her hand could make contact, Peter’s voice boomed across the room, sharp and commanding. "Don’t you dare touch her."

Calissa froze mid-motion, startled by Peter’s sudden intervention. She turned to him, her eyes widening in disbelief as his firm grip held her wrist in place. "Peter," she stammered, her tone shifting, but still laced with venom, "she deserves it! If we don’t discipline her, how will she ever learn her place?"

Peter’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as he stared her down, unyielding. "If you touch her again, you’ll have to deal with me," he said, his voice low but filled with authority.

Calissa’s mouth opened in shock, and she quickly withdrew her hand, her expression a mixture of anger and surprise. She glanced at Nicole for support, but even Nicole was momentarily taken aback.

Without another word to Calissa, Peter knelt beside Lily, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Lily," he said softly, his tone so different from the sharp edge he’d used with Calissa. "Are you okay?"

Lily, still dazed and shaken, nodded quickly, though her eyes were wide with fear. Her cheek throbbed, but the tenderness in Peter’s voice and the warmth of his touch steadied her. For a brief moment, their gazes met, and an unspoken connection passed between them—an unintended spark that neither could fully understand but couldn’t ignore.

Peter’s eyes softened as he looked at her, concern etched across his handsome features. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle. Lily’s heart fluttered, her body still tense, but his presence grounded her, made her feel… safe.

Nicole, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, felt fury bubble inside her. The way Peter looked at Lily—as though she were fragile, precious—made her stomach churn with jealousy. He had never looked at her that way, not since he had arrived.

Nicole’s lip curled in disgust as she crossed her arms and glared at the pair. She couldn’t take it any longer. Stepping forward, she snapped her fingers in front of their faces, her voice sharp and cold. "Hello? Earth to Peter!"

The harsh sound shattered the moment, bringing both Peter and Lily back to reality. Lily blinked, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, while Peter slowly stood, his expression hardening as he glanced at Nicole.

But even as the tension returned, there was a new undercurrent in the room—a connection between Peter and Lily that couldn’t be easily erased.