“Then why did you?” Celine screamed at her then, her anger making her body shake. “Why did you lie to me?”
The maid stared back at her silently, her face unreadable. “Because I had to.”
Celine frowned as she stared back at her. “What does that mean?”
The maid walked forward, her eyes on the weapon.
“You don’t know your husband at all, miss.” She spoke as she stopped in front of her. “You don’t know him at all.” Celine blinked up at her in confusion and the maid smiled as she looked back at her. “And that’s a good thing.”
“What does that mean?” Celine whispered, her body frozen with fear. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” the maid reached forward and took the gun out of her hand, her smile soft. “I’m saying your husband is a bad person, miss.” Her voice was cold and Celine shivered at the look in her eyes.
“I don’t think so,” Celine whispered as she stared up at her. “He loves me.”
The maid laughed, the sound loud in the silent room. “Love?” She shook her head.
“Armand doesn’t love you.” Celine felt her chest tighten at her words and the maid nodded. “He doesn’t. He just wants to control you, like he controls everyone else.”
Celine felt hot tears roll down her cheeks as she stared at the maid. She didn’t want to hear that. She didn’t want it to be true.
“He’s evil,” the maid shook her head and looked back at her. “He’s evil. He doesn’t deserve you. You deserve so much better than him. I know.” The maid cocked her head then and stared at her harder.
“And I can get you out of here, miss. You just have to let me.”
Celine didn’t know what to do as she stared at her. The maid was lying to her, she had to be. But what if she wasn’t? What if Armand really was evil?
A tear rolled down her cheek as her mind turned with thoughts of what to do. Part of her wanted to believe the maid and run away with her. Part of her just wanted to stay with Armand and marry him again.
She looked up at the maid and spoke through a dry mouth.
“What if you’re lying?” She asked, her voice breaking on her lips. “What if you’re making it all up?”
The maid cocked her head again, a smile pulling at her mouth.
“What if I’m not?”
Celine stared at her silently and then dropped her eyes. What if she was telling the truth? What if everything was all a lie?
“Please,” the maid said again, reaching out to her. “Let me help you. I can help you escape. Let me.”
Celine stayed silent for a few more minutes before looking up at her.
“If you’re lying to me,” she spoke softly, “I will kill you myself.”
The maid smiled, a smile so like her father’s that Celine felt a pang in her chest.
“I’m not lying.” The maid nodded. “Let’s go, miss. Let’s get out of here.”
Celine nodded then and walked towards the maid.
“I’m ready,” she whispered as the maid took her hand. “I’m ready.”
Armand walked up the steps of his home, a smile on his mouth.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Celine. He can't stop remembering everything she had said that day and everything he had told her.
He was going to marry her again and he knew they were going to make it work.
She loved him and he loved her. Nothing else mattered now. Nothing else came in between them.
He walked inside, tossing his coat on the sofa before heading up the stairs. He had told her he would be back for dinner and he wanted to check on her first.
“Dinner ready?” He called out as he walked up.
“Yes, boss,” the chef came out of the kitchen. “We’ll be serving in twenty minutes.”
Armand nodded and walked past him to her door. He stopped for a second as he reached it, remembering what she had told him.
She had tried to run away because she was scared. Because she thought he hated her.
Because she thought it was her fault that her father had died.
He could still feel anger rolling through him at the thought. She was his and no one was going to touch her again. No one was going to hurt her again.
He pushed open her door and walked in.
“Celine,” he called out. “Dinner is in twenty minutes.” He stopped in the middle of the room, his brows drawing together.
Where was she? Why wasn’t she there?
He walked towards the bathroom and pushed the door open. She wasn’t there either.
His brows drew together even tighter as he turned to the other side of the room.
Had she left? Had she run away again?
He could feel his chest tightening as he searched the room, but he already knew she was gone. She wasn’t in the house anymore.
He walked out of her room and ran down the stairs, his heart pounding harder. Where had she gone? Had anyone seen her leave?
“She’s not in there, boss.” The chef spoke behind him and Armand spun around.
“What?” He stared at the old man. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know,” the chef shook his head. “She wasn’t in her room when I went to give her her food.”
Armand could feel his heart slamming in his chest as he ran back down the stairs.
“She’s gone.” He spoke out loud. “Find out where she went. Now.” He turned to one of his guards. “Call the others. Get her back.”
“Yes, boss.” The guard nodded and turned to walk away.
Armand’s body shook as he watched him, his mind turning with thoughts of where she had gone. Had someone taken her? Had someone snuck in the house and taken her?
He was going to kill whoever had taken her from him. He was going to find out where she was and get her back.
She was his now. No one was going to take her from him again. He was going to protect her like he had promised.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his body shaking even harder with anger and worry. He needed to find her now. He needed to get her back now.
His body jerked when a man answered, his voice cold on the line.
“What?” The voice spoke on the other end.
“They took her from me.” Armand spoke. “They took her from my house.”
There was silence on the other end.
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.” He tightened his grip on the phone. “But I’m going to get her back and I’m going to kill who ever took her from me.”
“Good,” the voice came back on the other end. “Do it, Armand. Do it and do it well.”
Armand nodded even though the man couldn’t see him, his anger making his body shake.
He was going to do it. He was going to do it well. He was going to get Celine back and then he was going to end who ever took her.
But little did he know that his enemy was already in his house, watching him from a window.
Watching him from above.
The woman who had taken Celine away from him and had made her leave was standing right above him. And he had no idea.