Chapter 17
1431 Words
Alessandro's POV
Rage was written in every step I took.
My fists were clenched. My jaw was tight.
“Alessandro... you don’t have to do this,” Dimitri said as he walked behind me.
What.
I stopped and turned to him so fast he almost stepped back.
“You have something with her?”
“No, I don’t,” he said, his eyes flickering behind me like he was looking for an escape.
I stomped my foot. The sound echoed down the marble hallway.
“Then why are you trying to talk me out of punishing her? You know she has connections with one of the rival gangs out there. Another i***t we caught today is from the same gang as her.”
My chest was rising and falling. I could feel the anger burning in my veins.
“I know, but..”
“He even mentioned her name!” I cut him off. “And you expect me to let that slide? No. Never.”
I turned and stormed toward the punishment room again.
The moment I got there, I kicked the door open. It slammed against the wall.
Inside, she was there. Alice.
She looked like she had just woken up from a forced slumber. Hair messy. Eyes wide.
The second she saw me, she scrambled to her feet.
“G-good... good evening, sir,” she whispered. Her voice was barely audible.
I walked toward her slowly. Deliberately. And I took off my belt.
“You vixen. Who are you?”
She pressed herself further into the corner. Her thin nightgown slipped off one shoulder. Her eyes were swimming with fear.
“I’ll ask you again. Who. Are. You?”
“Sir, please... I’m only Alice Brooks. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sobbed.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. And I won’t go easy on you if you don’t tell me the truth.”
The belt came down.
A sharp lash cut across her shoulder.
“Arrh! Arrh! Sir, please stop!”
“i***t. This is the price you pay for lying.”
***
*Writer's POV*
Screams echoed from the punishment room and traveled through the cold halls of the Vittorio estate.
Dimitri paced outside the door, his hands in his hair.
“I need to stop him before he does something he’ll regret,” he muttered to himself.
On the other side of the mansion, in the kitchen, Nena was washing dishes when Ann burst in, panting.
“Nena!”
Nena didn’t even look up. “What? Why are you calling my name like you own me?”
Ann grabbed her arm. “Nena, I know we’re not on good terms, but Alice is in trouble. She needs help.”
Nena’s face darkened. She dropped the plate in the sink.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Sir Alessandro is punishing her. Brutally.”
That was all it took.
Nena dropped everything and ran.
By the time she reached the punishment room, Dimitri was already inside, holding Alessandro back by the arms.
Alice was crumpled in the corner, shaking and crying.
Nena rushed in and dropped to her knees beside her friend.
“Alice... Alice, are you okay? Please talk to me.”
But Alice just kept crying.
“Leave. Now!” Alessandro roared, struggling against Dimitri’s grip.
“Man, calm down,” Dimitri said through gritted teeth. “You don’t need to keep doing this. You might kill her. And remember, the old madam is coming at dawn. She won’t want to find this place a mess.”
Those words hit.
Alessandro froze. His breathing was ragged. Slowly, he came back to himself. Dimitri let go, but didn’t move away.
Alessandro stared at Alice for one long second. Then he spoke, voice cold.
“Nena. Get up. Call Maria. Take her to the maids’ quarters. Give her the clothes of the lowest-ranked maid in Alascroll Villa and a little food. Make her clean the entire first floor of the mansion. Am I understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Nena said quietly.
Alessandro threw the belt to the floor with a crack and walked out without looking back.
The butler, Mr. Hale, appeared in the doorway moments later. His eyes widened behind his glasses when he saw Alice.
“Oh my God, child... I feel so much pity for you.”
Nena helped Alice to her feet. Alice could barely stand. Together, they left the room.
---
In Nena’s small room, Alice finally broke down completely.
Nena held her as she sobbed.
“It’s okay now. Don’t worry. I’ll help you, okay?”
Alice lifted her head, eyes red and swollen.
“Help? How do you plan to do that?”
Nena took her hand. “The old madam will be coming tomorrow. And she’s coming with Julie. Remember, Adrian and Julie are now engaged. If we can talk to Julie, maybe she can ask Second Master Adrian to beg for your forgiveness from Sir Alessandro.”
Alice blinked. “Wow. I didn’t know things moved that fast. When did they get engaged?”
“That doesn’t matter right now,” Nena said quickly, trying to lighten the mood. “What matters is that this might be our only chance.”
Alice nodded weakly. “That... that might work.”
“I hope so,” Nena whispered.
The door flew open.
“And why are the two pathetic morons talking, hmm?”
Maria walked in like she owned the entire mansion.
Nena shot to her feet, furious. “Maria, how many times have I warned you? The next time you barge into my room again, I’ll—”
“Report me to Sir Alessandro, the First Young Master?” Maria finished for her with a smirk. “Go ahead. Let’s see if that works.”
Nena bit her lip to keep from saying something they’d both regret.
“Anyways,” Maria said, brushing past Nena. “I didn’t come here for you.”
She stopped in front of Alice and looked her up and down.
“Hi, Fall From Grace. Oh, I think that’s a really good name for you. Haha.”
Alice looked up at her with pure disgust.
“I know you’re behind all of this. But let me make one thing clear. By the time he finds out the truth, you better be ready to rot in hell.”
Maria threw her head back and laughed. “Well, my dear, I’m not here for that. But let’s see if he finds out. For now, move it. I have an assignment to complete.”
Nena helped Alice to the door.
“Thank you, Nena. I can take it from here,” Alice managed, though her legs were trembling.
“Are you sure?” Nena asked, concern laced in her voice.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Alice walked away with Maria.
Down the hall, Alice spotted Ann cleaning the walls. Ann looked up and opened her mouth like she wanted to say something. But then Maria gave her a threatening look. Ann immediately went back to scrubbing.
Alice noticed everything.
Something fishy is going on here, she thought.
---
Maria dragged Alice all the way to the maids’ quarters. The room was small, damp, and smelled of bleach. A pile of old uniforms sat in the corner.
“Here,” Maria said, tossing her a rough gray dress. “Lowest rank. Just like you deserve.”
Alice changed slowly, wincing with every movement. The welts on her back burned.
“Now,” Maria said, checking her nails. “First floor. Every hallway, every room, every corner. And you better finish before sunrise, or I’ll tell Alessandro you were slacking.”
Alice didn’t answer. She just picked up the mop and bucket.
As she worked, the mansion was quiet except for the sound of water and her own breathing. The moonlight came through the tall windows and lit up the blood on her dress.
She thought about Alessandro’s face. Cold. Merciless.
She thought about June’s whisper in the courtyard.
She thought about Ann’s almost-warning.
And she made a silent vow.
I don’t know what game you’re playing, Maria. I don’t know what June wants. But I am not a pawn. And I will not break.
By dawn, the first floor gleamed. Alice was exhausted, her hands raw. She leaned against the wall just as footsteps echoed.
The old madam had arrived.
And with her, Julie.
Alice lowered her head.
The next move was no longer hers to make.
- Writer
