The morning sun peeked through the curtains, and I slowly opened my eyes, grateful that Marcus was nowhere to be seen.
I whispered a silent thank you to God for sparing me from another night of torment. The pain from yesterday's events was a harsh reminder of the cruel reality I was trapped in.
As I sat up in bed, I couldn't help but wince at the soreness in my body. My shoulder throbbed, and my jaw felt tender from Marcus's rough handling. I knew the bruises were probably dark and ugly, but I forced myself to get up and face the mirror.
Looking at my reflection, I gasped at the sight of the dark marks on my skin. I traced my fingers gently over the bruises, wincing at the pain they still caused.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional scars that were now etched deep within me.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to wash away the pain in the shower. But as the water cascaded over my body, I couldn't help but be reminded of Marcus's touch.
The water seemed to amplify the pain rather than wash it away. It was as if his cruel hands were still on me, haunting me at every moment.
Finally, I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around me. I felt raw and vulnerable like a wounded bird struggling to fly.
But then, I knew that I had to be strong for myself and my mother. I couldn't let Marcus break me completely.
A gentle tapping emanated from the door, "Come in," and afterward exposed Lady Carmen.
"Good morning, Madam," She closed the door behind her and walked towards me. Her face was full of concern, though she tried not to show it. "How are you feeling?"
My gaze flickered over to the large windows that overlooked the gardens outside my bedroom. Even with heavy shutters drawn down, the sunlight shone brightly onto the lush greenery below. "I'm fine.
I wasn't fine. Not after what happened. The fact that everyone in the house could also be aware of my condition made the whole situation unbearable.
Carmen made a slight sigh, trying her best to mask her shock when her eyes landed on the red bruise on my shoulder. She cleared her throat.
"I just wanted to inform you that breakfast is ready. If you do not feel well, the maids can bring it to you here,"
"Thank you, Lady Carmen," I murmured in response, not knowing how else to reply without sounding like an invalid. Lady Carmen gave me a brief nod.
"And please, just call me Carmen," She smiled gently before exiting the room.
Sighing, I looked into the vanity mirror, which held little interest for me. My dark hair was slightly wet and hung below my shoulders.
I brushed the strands back, tucking them behind my ear. Taking my towel off, I glanced at the bruises covering my chest and abdomen, reminding me of what took over Marcus last night.
The words he spat repeated themselves in my heart once more.
"You're just a whore!"
I closed my eyes. I wanted to hide from myself. I wanted to keep my emotions from spilling.
I dressed in a simple yet elegant knee-short dress, covering the dark spots of my bruised body, ready to face the day.
As I walked through the mansion, my feet grew heavier with each step. The maids and other workers greeted me politely but I noticed as they stole glances in my direction.
It only took two steps forward before I heard the sound of hushed whispers and gasps coming from some of them.
It was obvious. They knew about it already. I went to the dining room. There were several servants there who stood rigidly straight at attention, "Good morning, Madam," They greeted in union.
My eyes landed on the maid who stormed into my room yesterday. Noticing that I looked at her, she bit her lip and looked down. Her hands clenched tightly together.
"Good morning. What are you three doing here?" I asked them.
"We are here to assist if you need anything during your breakfast, " One of them answered.
I sat down for the breakfast. The table was filled with appetizing aromas but I didn't feel like eating. Not when I still noticed stolen glances from everyone who passed nearby.
I closed my eyes before deciding to storm outside. At the disposal of an air polluted with smoke, I noticed the burnt cottage in the distance.
The sight tugged at my heart, and Curiosity made me walk towards it, eager to understand the tragedy that had struck Marcus's brother.
As I approached the burnt remains, The sense of traces of smoke became stronger as I got nearer. The fire must have been intense, as it had left the surrounding earth scorched and barren.
The interior of it was exposed to the elements, revealing the burnt remnants of furniture and personal belongings. The fire had taken everything, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
I couldn't help but wonder what had caused the fire and who Marcus's brother was. It seemed like there was a deeper mystery surrounding this incident.
Why burn the cottage when only his brother was inside? Why would his brother be inside the cottage?
As I was staring at the burnt remains, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was the dark-haired man, the same one I had seen working in the garden before. He looked up, his deep, mesmerizing eyes meeting mine, and he offered a small smile.
"Hi," he said softly, his voice gentle yet carrying a sense of mystery.
"Hello," I replied, trying to steady my nerves. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Camilla."
His smile widened, and he extended his hand. "I'm Juan. I just started working here in the mansion a week ago. It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam Camilla."
"That's... Good for you,"
" Well, I am not even sure if it is alright to talk to the first lady of the house as informally as this," He stepped a bit further.
" Come on! Don't be dramatic. I'm not from high society. A little bit of hint about me." I said, feeling a sense of relief that he treated me like a normal person.
"Do you know anything about the burnt cottage? They say Marcus's brother was inside."
Juan's expression turned somber. "I'm sorry, Madam Camilla, but I don't know much about it. As I said, I'm relatively new here, and Marcus rarely shares anything about his past with the staff, if you think the incident is related to it."
I nodded, understanding his position. Marcus was a man of secrets, and it seemed like everyone around him was kept in the dark.
"It's alright," I replied, trying to hide my disappointment. "I just can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this fire."
Juan looked concerned as well. "I agree, this didn't look like the type of fire that started accidentally," he said, taking a few steps closer to the burnt cottage.
"Yes, but how did it start?" I asked, confused.
"That I can't tell you," Juan replied, shrugging helplessly. "But a little bit of hint that this fire was not an accident, it's like the fire followed a certain pattern. Perhaps, someone spilled oil in some places.
"Why would someone do that?" I questioned, looking at Gabriel skeptically.
He hesitated and looked down at his feet, obviously reluctant to answer me. Suddenly, he shook his head and looked back up at me. "If I knew what happened to the cottage, I would tell you. But I'm afraid I don't have any information for you."
"I appreciate the one you gave me, still," I replied, offering him a small smile. "Thank you for helping me with my predicament."
He returned my smile with a reassuring nod. "Anything to assist such a lovely woman in her search for peace."
We both laughed and for that brief moment, all was right with the world. I needed to find the truth. I needed to know more about Marcus' brother. I need to prove my nightmare wrong.
Juan's POV
A little bit of punishment for someone who caused harm to the woman I'm interested in wouldn't hurt, would it?
I, Juan, or Alejandro, Whichever name I have, will make sure Marcus pays for any pain he causes. Tit for tat. Blood for blood. Bruises for bruises. Pain for pain.
Satisfaction was the ultimate goal. It's always better when people pay the price. I never understood why the innocent had to suffer.
I would have done it all for Camilla. I was glad she was no longer in pain. At least for now. The fire was just a simple start. I'm glad the target was set.
And this Pablo. I will make sure he pays dearly too, regardless of the fact that he's my half-brother.