"Do you mean she just collapsed?" Rylan asked, his tone edged with confusion.
Zylan let out a sharp hiss, irritation flickering across his face. He clearly wasn't in the mood for pointless questions. "Her friend," he said coldly. "Did you handle her?"
A flicker of something passed through Rylan's eyes before he answered, "Yes, I did, but it wasn't easy. She'll still be coming tomorrow. I told her to,she's too stubborn."
Zylan turned toward him, disbelief lacing his voice. "Are you telling me you couldn't handle her?"
Rylan sighed in frustration, his jaw clenched. "She's not easy," he muttered under his breath, still incredulous. This was the first time he'd encountered someone this stubborn, and he couldn't fully understand how Rose had managed to push him so far.
"Call the doctor to take care of her."
"Okay," Rylan replied.
Without another word, Zylan turned on his heel and headed toward Naomi's room. Once there, he carefully pulled the blanket over her to shield her from the cold. A dangerous smile played on his lips as his eyes caught sight of the small notebook resting on the bed. Picking it up, he let his fingers glide over the cover for a moment, and then, without a sound, he slipped out of the window and disappeared into the night.
Naomi stirred, feeling something strange on her hand. As her eyes fluttered open, she realized there was an IV drip attached to her arm. The events of the previous night rushed back to her—the last thing she remembered was Zylan saying something to her before everything went dark. The reason for her fainting became clear: it was a sense of fear that stemmed from her harsh childhood, where she had been constantly beaten by her parents and others. The overwhelming fear that it might happen to her again had consumed her, leading to her collapse.
Just then, she heard Rhea's gentle voice. "Good morning, Ms. Naomi. How are you feeling? Do you feel any pain?"
Naomi turned toward her, replying softly, "Good morning. No, I don't. Thank you for asking." She wasn't used to such care, and the warmth of Rhea's kindness brought a small smile to her lips, a momentary reprieve from her heavy thoughts.
Rhea smiled back, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "The IV is finished. Be careful now, and have your bath. Afterward, please come for breakfast downstairs." Rhea then helped remove the empty IV drip, her movements gentle and respectful, before bowing slightly and leaving the room.
Naomi stood slowly, feeling the remnants of last night's fear still clinging to her. She walked to the bathroom, needing to freshen up and clear her mind. As she sank into the bath, her thoughts swirled chaotically. She didn't know what to feel anymore. Her plans were in ruins, and she had no idea where her best friend were. What had happened yesterday? Was Rose okay? A tremor passed through her body as tears welled in her eyes. The thought of having put Rose in danger gripped her heart—what if something bad had happened to her?
She sighed deeply, dipping her face into the water in a desperate attempt to drown her worries, but it didn't work. As she pulled her face out, gasping for air, the unease only intensified. Rising quietly, she dried her body, determination bubbling within her. She had to find out where Rose was.
Her heart sank as she remembered her small notebook. Zylan had read it. If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have focused solely on her escape plan. At least that would have been better. The notebook contained many things she had vented about—her frustrations since entering the mansion. The idea of Zylan reading her most private thoughts felt like another cruel blow she wasn't ready for.
After drying off, Naomi dressed in a simple brown v-neck gown with elbow-length sleeves, the hem just brushing her knees. Her hair, left loose, fell freely around her shoulders; she didn't have the energy to bother tying it up. She glanced at her hand, still sore from the IV, before stepping out and descending the stairs.
It was time to face breakfast, but the last thing she wanted was to see Zylan after the incident with the notebook. Yet, as she entered the dining room, he sat there, looking every bit like a mighty king, commanding the space with his intimidating presence.
Naomi steeled herself, telling herself she wouldn't let this man intimidate her. Never. Not in this life, or even in the next—if she ever encountered him again, which she prayed she wouldn't. She walked into the dining room, not bothering to greet him. He wouldn't respond anyway. Sitting down at the table, she closed her eyes and muttered a silent prayer. She didn't care if he hate her for it or not. It was her way, and no one could change that—not even this devil.
With that, she began eating. As usual, the chefs bowed continuously leaving when she picked the meals. Then he spoke.
"I'm not done with you."
His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to look up. The atmosphere around her darkened, growing more oppressive and intimidating, but she kept her focus on her food, pretending that Zylan wasn't there at all.
A dangerous smile tugged at his lips, as if he were barely holding back his true intentions. Naomi's appetite vanished. Every bite felt like sandpaper in her throat. All she wanted was to leave. Eating felt like nothing—just going through the motions. Maybe she could send for something later.
Finally, she stood and left the dining room. As soon as she stepped into her room, she sighed with relief, the weight of his intimidating presence lifting.
But now what? She didn't know what to do. She couldn't make promises she wasn't sure she could keep. That was the last thing she wanted—to make vows she knew she wouldn't follow. Two more days. There was still hope, right? Could she still escape? Maybe this time, she wouldn't choose any planned escape route. What if she just needed freedom? She wanted to experience life outside these locked doors. Was that too much to ask for in this cruel world?
And then her mind spiraled. What does he mean by he's not done with me? What did I ever do to deserve this? She spoke the words out loud, unable to contain them any longer. It was as if her mind had overflowed, and she needed to release something—anything—to feel a little lighter.
Just as she lay back down, trying to calm herself, there was a knock on the door. Naomi turned slowly, not really wanting to acknowledge it.
Rhea's voice came softly through the door. "Miss Naomi, someone is here to see you."
Naomi turned again, this time trying to avoid the reality of it. She didn't want to face anyone right now, especially not after the morning she'd had.
She forced herself to ask quietly, "Who is it?"
Rhea hesitated. "She said her name is… it's Miss Rose."
Naomi stood abruptly, her eyes sparkling with a mix of emotions. "Let her in."
The door opened, and Rose rushed in, her voice filled with concern as her eyes fell on Naomi's hands. "Who did this?" Just as Naomi was about to speak, Rose continued, "Is it Rylan?"