The curtains were half-drawn, and the evening sun streamed in through the high window. He had apparently just finished a hot shower, sitting in a lounge chair by the window. His golden hair was still slightly damp, and he wore a white nightgown, the collar of which was unbuttoned low, revealing the golden hair on his chest, shimmering in the sunlight.
“Come here,” he said to her, who stood frozen at the door.
Androgynous! She rolled her eyes, silently repeating this phrase in her mind, as it was the only way to muster the courage to approach him, holding the tray.
She placed the tray in front of him on the small tea table and turned to leave.
“Did I let you go?” As expected, he called her back.
She froze in place, unsure of what to do. He rose from the lounge chair and unfastened the belt of his nightgown in front of her. Nhanyi instinctively closed her eyes, wondering if this androgynous man had exhibitionist tendencies.
He merely tightened the belt around his waist, and her tension made him chuckle inwardly. “Don’t worry, darling, I would love to eat you, but right now, I want dinner more.” He opened the metal lid and glanced at the fragrant steak. “Thank you for bringing me dinner; now you can leave.”
Was he really letting her go? She found it hard to believe, opening her eyes to see him eagerly picking up a spoon and finishing the potato soup like a hungry wolf, focused solely on the food before him, letting her go. A glimmer of hope filled her heart, and she immediately turned to run. But just as her foot was about to step out of the room, his damned voice rang out again, “In half an hour, please come back to take the tray.”
Oh God, he was indeed plotting something. In half an hour, after he finished eating and satisfied his appetite, he would come for her…
She sat stiffly in a chair in the hall downstairs, her eyes fixed on the large clock on the wall.
“Dong… dong…” The clock chimed heavily; it was now past ten o’clock in the evening, more than half an hour had passed. Nhanyi knew very well that she was like meat on a chopping block, at the mercy of others. If she remained silent, it seemed he would not unleash his wildness to harm her body. If she did not obey his orders, the outcome would be dire. Being a maid was not so bad; it was much better than being sent into the hands of that witch, Margaret, in a camp. As long as she was alive, there was a glimmer of hope. It was a blessing, not a curse; if it was a curse, she could not escape it. Nhanyi steeled herself and quickly ascended to the second floor.
She opened the door a crack and quietly peered inside, only to see him lying bare on the bed, completely enveloped in soft white blankets. His breathing was steady; he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. Nhanyi finally let out a sigh of relief. She took off her shoes at the door, stepping barefoot onto the carpet, bending down, and crawling into the room.
Suddenly, he turned over in bed, making a slight sound. Nhanyi froze in place, but fortunately, he did not wake up. She tiptoed to clear the plates and utensils from the small tea table and then dashed out of the room.
A night of fear left her hardly able to sleep. Just as she was dozing off, the curtains in her bedroom were suddenly pulled open, and a blinding light flooded in.
“Ugh… Abigail, no.” She instinctively raised her arm to shield her eyes. For the past few days, maid Abigail had been pulling the curtains open without her consent, rudely waking her up…
“Good morning. Did you sleep well? I was too tired last night to properly attend to you.” It was his voice! This nearly made Nhanyi jump out of bed. The entire house had only her room without an internal lock. Even if there was a lock, he held the key and could come and go as he pleased.
Seeing the terrified look on Nhanyi’s face, he smiled and approached her, resting his elbow on the bed, saying with interest, “You must be hoping I never come back.”
“You…” Under his piercing gaze, Nhanyi kept retreating until she was cornered against the bed.
