Chapter 11
1051 Words
Vivian
We returned to his home — a place I no longer felt safe in, and one I no longer wanted to be. I had to find a way out. He closed the door behind us, taking my hand and pulling me through the hallway. I couldn't help but notice the door to the room I once slept in had been replaced.
"When did you get a new door?" I asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it does."
"Today. Now let’s go and eat. You know what to wear — and what your place is."
I nodded, but I wasn’t letting it go.
He let go of my hand, and I went into the bedroom to shower and relieve myself before putting on that ridiculous uniform. I had no idea why I was their damn maid. They could easily hire one — they were certainly rich enough.
Had they ever had one before?
Where were their parents? I hadn’t seen them once while staying here. If they were anything like their sons, I would’ve been mocked even worse.
They would never see someone like me as anything other than a servant.
I quickly dressed in the tight uniform and headed to the kitchen to prepare supper. I was only allowed to eat once they were done — or if Alex fed me himself.
Once the food was ready, I served it in the oversized dining room again. Why did they need such a big space when their parents weren’t even around?
As usual, Alex made me feed him, his hands creeping along my thighs as he ate.
"I want to go back into my room tonight," I said quietly.
He glared at me. "No."
"What do you mean, no?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"Don’t question me, Vivian. I said no."
"I’d like to go back to my room. Now that the door’s fixed, you don’t have a reason to keep me in yours anymore."
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don’t disrespect me."
"I'm not. I just— I just want my space back."
"And I said no."
"But you said it was only until the door was fixed. Now it is—"
"And I’m telling you no. This is my house. What I say goes. You stay with me. No arguments. You're mine, Vivian. Don’t forget your place!"
My anger boiled over. All the things he'd said to get me into his room were just lies. I should’ve known.
"I hate you!" I screamed, leaping up. I ran from the dining room to the only place I thought might be safe.
---
Alex
I was stunned. I knew she hated how I treated her, but hearing the words — I hate you — felt like a blade slicing through me.
My brothers just stared, jaws slack with shock. She had never said that before. Now I knew how she truly felt.
"Well, I didn’t expect that," one of them muttered.
"You're not going to let her talk to you like that, are you?"
No, I wasn’t.
I stood abruptly and left the dining room. She hadn’t even eaten. She must’ve been hungry — but right now, I didn’t give a damn.
She was going to learn never to disrespect me. She was mine.
I entered the bedroom — the one she wanted to sleep in without me — and shut the door behind me, waiting. Humiliation burned in my chest. She was going to pay for this.
---
She came out of the bathroom, her face pale, clearly sick again. When she saw me, her body shook. I didn’t care. My hand flew across her face. She crumpled to the floor, her lip split and bleeding again.
"How dare you embarrass me like that? You know the rules. Remember who you belong to — and what you are."
"I'm not a w***e. And I'm not yours—"
Another slap. Her head snapped sideways, nearly knocking her unconscious.
"You’ll pay for that."
"No — please!" she screamed. Then everything went black.
---
Vivian woke slowly, her vision blurry. He came into view, and she instinctively curled into a ball, desperate not to be touched. Her torn uniform clung to her like a symbol of everything she’d lost.
Once, she thought he was helping her. Now she knew better. He was no different from the others — maybe worse. Just another bully who enjoyed control.
She stood up, shaking, but determined. She had to get out before he killed her. She didn’t have the strength to fight him anymore. But she could still run.
"Where are you going, Vivian?" His voice stopped her before she could open the window.
"Away from you!"
"You agreed, Vivian."
"Not to this. Not to you degrading me. Not to you humiliating me."
"How am I doing that?"
"Just look at me!"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Take a good hard look, Alex. Then ask that again."
"I like you like this."
"Well, I don’t."
"I’m in charge, Vivian. Don’t forget that."
"I remember it every day. Every slap. Every punch. Every time you and your brothers laugh at me. You said you'd save me — but you became them. You didn't save me. You broke me."
"Don’t you see, Vivian? That’s exactly what I’m doing."
"No. You think having power gives you the right to destroy people. Not anymore. Goodbye."
She turned and leapt through the window. The glass shattered around her as she dropped from the second floor, landing hard on the grass. She didn’t stop — she ran.
"Vivian!" Alex roared behind her. "Get the f**k back here!"
She sprinted toward the gates. The guards stood at attention, ready. Now or never. They hadn’t seen her strength — not yet.
"Stop her!"
As they moved to grab her, she sprang forward, twisting in the air. She flipped over the gate like a gymnast — because she was one.
Gasps echoed behind her.
She hit the ground running.
Then — tires screeched.
A car.
She hit the bonnet, then the pavement — her head cracking against the road.
---
"s**t," Alex muttered, climbing out of the car.
He walked around to her limp body, scooped her up, and placed her in the back seat. He shut the door, got behind the wheel, and drove away.
- Writer
