HIS RULES, HER SILENCE (THE MAFIA'S CHOICE)

Episode 3: THE NIGHT OF THE ESCAPE

Lily had already made up her mind: tonight, she would escape.

When the house felt silent, she would take Fiona and run.

Earlier that evening, she had told Fiona to remain in the basement while she slipped upstairs, looking for the kind-hearted maid.

She found her sweeping the corridor near the maids' quarters.

Lily hid quietly behind a pillar and softly called to her.

Startled, the maid turned. The moment she recognized Lily, her eyes widened; she quickly pulled her inside the maid's quarters, shutting the door.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered anxiously. "If anyone sees you..."

"I'm sorry," Lily interrupted softly, "I need one last favor. I promise this will be my best favor," Lily said as she glanced towards the door.

"Please, can you lend me your phone? I want to call home." The maid's face fell.

"I'm sorry, I can't," she replied quickly. "We are not allowed to use communication devices; we're not even allowed to write letters."

Lily sank to the floor, tears burning her eyes. The maid hurried to lift her up and guided her to sit on the edge of a narrow bed.

After a moment of silence, the maid spoke.

"Five years ago, fifty of us were hired," she began slowly. "We were told that we would work in a wealthy man's house, and the pay was unbelievable. We were all competing for the job, but only fifty were hired. The ones who were not hired were told to withdraw. We all came from a long distance; they sponsored our transport, clothes, our everything... We spent almost a week on the road."

She paused and swallowed hard.

"When we arrived, Luca introduced himself. From that day on, we began living a life that we never wanted.”

Lily's heart tightened. "What about your family? Didn't they look for you?”

The maid gave a hollow laugh. "That's the cruelest part. Our families were told that the plane we boarded had crashed.”

Lily stared at her in horror.

“They declared us dead,” the maid whispered, “but we're alive… trapped here."

Her voice broke. “It's been five years. I have a baby boy, and he believes his mother is gone."

Lily hugged her gently, rubbing her back and comforting her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

The maid quickly wiped her tears.

"Oh!" she suddenly said, "I remember, one of our maids secretly has a phone! I'm not sure if it still works, but it's something... the maid."

Lily was overjoyed as she grabbed her hand. "Thank you so much! Please… can you get it?"

"She's my friend,” the maid said. "I'll bring it to the basement tonight."

"Thank you! What's your name?"

"Zoe," she replied with a soft smile.

Lily hugged her gracefully before slipping downstairs.

That night, the basement was cold and silent.

Fiona slept peacefully beside her, but Lily remained alert; every small sound made her heart pound.

Suddenly, she heard slow, heavy footsteps approaching.

A faint crack as the basement door opened made her hold Fiona tight and grab a stone for protection.

The footsteps moved closer; Lily was ready to attack.

"It's me!" she whispered. "Zoe, I brought the phone."

Lily exhaled in relief.

Zoe slipped inside and handed her the device.

"I don't know if it works. Be quick."

"Thank you so much," Lily said gratefully as she dialed Tony's number.

It rang.

Then …

Luca's car suddenly honked as the gate cracked open.

"Oh no!" Zoe exclaimed. "Luca is back!"

Panic surged through Lily. The call connected.

"Hello!" Tony's voice answered.

"It's Lily," she whispered hurriedly. "I'm trapped somewhere; I don't know where I am. A mafia boss adopted Fiona and me. I'm trying to escape tonight."

There was a pause on the other end, then Tony spoke in a strangely calm voice.

“Don't move; I'll handle it.”

Before Lily could ask what he meant, footsteps approached, and she hung up immediately.

Zoe took the phone and instinctively hid behind an abandoned chair.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Lily lay beside Fiona, pretending to be asleep.

The basement door opened fully, and Luca stepped inside.

His eyes sharpened as he looked around the room. Lily held her breath; Fiona sounded asleep.

He walked closer, staring down at them.

"Useless fellows," he muttered. "Heaven knows why you were being chased, but you're in my territory now." He looked down at Lily and Fiona.

"You belong to me now."

He smiled slightly.

"Sleep well. Tomorrow will be a big day."

He turned towards the door. Just as he reached it…

Beep.

A message notification sounded. Lily and Zoe's hearts nearly stopped.

Luca froze.

For a second, silence filled the basement.

Then Luca’s own phone beeped in his pocket. Annoyed, he glanced at it and walked away, assuming the sound came from his own device. Without any words, he shut the basement door and headed to his room tiredly.

The sound of his footsteps faded away.

Zoe came from behind the chair and let out a sigh of relief.

"That was close," she whispered.

Lily sat up slowly. "I have to escape this place..."

Zoe looked at her seriously.

"Are you really planning to escape?"

"Yes," Lily replied quietly, "this place is not meant for us."

"Fredric once said the same thing," Zoe murmured. "He believed he could outsmart the boss." What happened to him? Lily asked quietly.

Zoe's face darkened. "He was shot … and fed to the dogs."

Fear crept into Lily's heart.

"What if Luca catches me?"

Zoe placed a firm hand on Lily's shoulder.

“Then don't get caught.” Zoe walked toward the door. “Once you start running… don't look back."

After Zoe left, the basement fell silent again.

Lily looked down at Fiona and held her close.

“No matter what,” she whispered, “we're leaving tonight.”

A door slammed upstairs.

Lily froze.

Luca was still awake.

She tightened her grip on Fiona.

Tonight, they would either escape or never get another chance.