HORROR/THRILLER SCENE

Ashley pushes her body to get closer to Cole's sleeping body but to her surprise, his space was empty. She opened her eyes to see Cole's space completely vacant. The room was dull as the thick curtains reduced the bright rays of morning sunlight into mere glows.

She wondered where he had gone to. As far as she knew, he didn't have any reason to go to the office at least, not now. He had also promised to pose for the continuation of the portrait she started weeks ago.

She turned to her sleeping orange and black striped pet which was well tucked in its little bed. She stroked its bright soft fur with a smile and stood up from the bed.

She walked down the hall in her silk nightwear with her robe gliding closely behind her. Surprisingly, the halls were emptier than usual. On a normal day, maids were seen bustling around to do their routine morning cleaning.

At a point, it felt like she was in a horror or thriller scene, it was so quiet she could hear her fluffy rabbit slipper squeaking on the marble floor.

"Cole!" she said softly.

Still, there was no answer, it felt like an apocalypse had taken place. She just kept searching around the empty house but still no sign of life except for her and little Kai.

After aimlessly roaming around, she had an idea. This was the only chance she had to be alone, she could examine the secret room.

She searched for the blood-stained fingerprint she had left around. Fortunately, she found it just where she had left it.

She followed the prints just like she had planned and it landed her at the door she had been searching for. The huge door stood gracefully before her very eyes, but something was off. Her eyes turned to the bunch of keys sticking out of the lock. It seemed like someone had unlocked it and was inside.

She had the urge to turn the handle and take a peep but she didn't have the courage. She did the only thing that could ensure her access in her next visitation. She took out the bunch of keys slowly so as not to alert the person inside.

She detached a single key from the bunch of spares dangling in her hand. Then inserted the bunch back into the lock.

She was alert when she heard footsteps from inside coming towards the door. She hurriedly hid in a corner at a safe distance from the door then spied to see who it was.

To her greatest surprise, Cole walked out of the door followed by Aria, Catherine, Austin, some maids, and some servants. Virtually, all the people in the Villa were in there, but what was happening? Why wasn't she involved? What were they doing? Was it a secret association or something?

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Janet flipped the flat dough in the pan, this action was followed by a sizzling sound. Janet could perceive the delicious and nice aroma of the pancake. She waited till the pancake was golden brown then she took it out of the pan and placed it on top of the stack of pancakes she already made.

"I guess that's enough for now," she said to herself with a smile.

She was making a special breakfast for the person who saved them. She called it special because she made it with the foodstuff she bought. She placed the plate with the five pancake stack on a tray and then squeezed a generous amount of whipped cream on it. She placed a tiny cherry and put some juice on the tray.

She looked at the appetizing breakfast on the tray. She and her family had never even had something like that in a long time but she was ready to give it to their savior.

She walked up the stairs with the tray in her hands. She was still in an apron…well she was used to wearing an apron 24/7. As she passed by seeing ladies in traditional maid black and white attire she felt really weird. She wasn't wearing it with them.

She passed by the room Janice had been offered to catch a glimpse of her before a mirror adjusting her high waist skirt. She could see she was in a uniform, a school uniform. The uniform looked really familiar, and that was when she remembered this was the high-class school she had always wanted to go to. Only rich people's children could go there but now Janice was in their uniform.

"Janice, where did you get that uniform for, and why are you wearing it?" she asked.

"I told you last night when you were sleepy," Janice said with an unmistakably bright smile.

This was the first time she was seeing her sister this happy.

"Your boyfriend, Tegan, is sending me to school," she said excitedly.

"Number one, he's not my boyfriend, number two, call him Mr. Tegan or Mr. Fox, number three, are you sure?"

"He told me I could call him Tegan and he preferred being called by his name, he also told me he was your boyfriend," she said with a little bit of sarcasm.

"Did he really tell you we were in a relationship?" Janet exclaimed.

"Yeah, he also told mom and mom told him to call her his mother" Janice chuckled.

"That Idiot!" Janet said storming out in anger.

She planted very aggressive and loud noises on his bedroom door.

"Tegan, you idiot, come out and face me," she said not thinking through her words.

When she was least expecting it, the door opened, and right at her front was a shirtless, breathtaking image of Tegan. Her anger evaporated as she unwittingly stared at him from top to bottom.

His chestnut hair was shaggy and scattered which gave an early morning look. His dark blue eyes stared at her in confusion. Finally, a well-sculpted structure from his chest to his lower abdomen.

"Good morning," she said as a flirtatious smug slowly appeared on his lips.

"Umm…eh...uh..I-i..s-s" she blabbered still under the spell of his looks.

She was unsure of why she had come here until she noticed the tray in her hands.

"I came to give you breakfast as a thank you for your help" she managed to say without stuttering.

"Oh.." he said flirtatiously. "I thought I heard you screaming my name and calling me names"

That was when she remembered what he had done. She placed the tray on his bed and confronted him

"Why did you tell everyone that we were dating?" she said as her former anger surfaced slowly.

"I didn't tell everyone," he said brushing off a strand of hair behind her ear. "I only told your sister and my mother"

She felt his fingers slightly brush her cheeks as fixed the hair behind her ear. She tried her best not to take it as anything as she didn't want her cheek to turn red especially not before the playboy.

"Your mother?" she said with disgust.

"Yea, she told me to call her mom," he said with a smile of victory.

Janet felt irritated and walked away towards the door. In just a second, he held her wrist and pulled her back to him. His arms wrapped around her waist and their face was so close that their noses were almost touching. They were staring at each other for what seemed to be like minutes.

Janet snapped out of his trance and pushed him away slowly. She turned her face to avoid him from seeing her red cheeks. She didn't say anything because she was too bashful. she just speed-walked out of the room which suddenly felt stuffy to her.

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Ashley is standing before the easel, trying to add some realistic effect to the painting she started ages ago. Cole looked worn out as he was tired of posing for a very long time.

Suddenly, Aria dashes in without any warning.

"Baby, I missed you," she said to Cole coyly.

Her attempts to make him fall for her were already getting on Ashley's nerves, how could someone be so desperate? It was obvious he wasn't interested in her at all so why was she trying hard?

Ashley felt a fit of jealousy taking over her. She tried her best to avoid watching her.

Aria walked up to Ashley with a sneer that seemed to provoke her.

"Blood bag, what's wrong?" she said provokingly. "You seem to be unhappy to see me"

"Call me by my name," Ashley said looking away from her and continuously focusing on her painting. "Ashley"

Cole stared in confusion, he didn't know what was going on between the two women but he liked Ashley's cold attitude toward Aria. He seemed to like the way she stood up for herself.

"Blood bags don't deserve to be called a name," she said. "They are just properties"

Ashley was getting pushed to the wall with every word but she vented it on the paintbrush she held by squeezing it tight.

"Well…my master treats me just alright," she said. "He even treats me better than he treats you"

Ashley's words hit the bull's eyes making Aria lose her temper. Aria grabbed the painting from the easel and threw it on the ground.

Ashley was alarmed, she didn't want her weeks-old painting to be destroyed. She picked it up in haste and inspected the canvas for any tear or damage. There was one that tore across the corner.

Out of anger she raised her hands and hit the arrogant blonde across the face. The sound of the tight slap echoed in the room making Cole widen his eyes in shock.

Aria held her red cheeks still watching the fuming Ashley in shock and surprise. She was so shocked that a common blood bag had the guts to slap her.

She turned to Cole who seemed to be stifling his laughter by pressing his upper and lower lips together. Aria felt insulted especially by the fact that Cole seemed amused by it.

"Cole, did you see how she slapped me?" she busted in anger which was followed by tears. "She just slapped me"

"Oh please!" Ashley interrupted with sarcasm. "Just seconds ago you were running your mouth like a dam but when you get hit, you behave like you were innocent"

"Shut up!" Aria screamed with a voice that seemed to almost break into tears.

"No, I won't" Ashley replied. "I want to give a few tips to you, maybe, it'll help you become smarter"

"Master, doesn't have interest in you, get that into your thick skull and stop barging into OUR room without knocking. You're no longer his fiancée, you need to understand that, okay?" Ashley finished.

She set her canvas on the easel as if nothing had happened. At least she let out everything in her heart.

Meanwhile, Aria looked at Cole to see his expression towards the way Ashley just talked to her but instead, he gave a burst of stifled laughter which eventually turned into hearty, uncontrollable laughter. She was so embarrassed that she ran out of the room crying.

Ashley felt proud of herself especially when she saw Cole's contagious laughter. She got infected with his laughter and went into a round of laughter.

Cole got up from the bed and slowly walked to her. She felt her cheeks turning red just by seeing him coming toward her.

"Why did you do it?" he asked in a flirtatious manner.

"D-do what?" she stuttered.

The truth was clear, ever since Aria walked in, she had the feeling of jealousy and irritation.

"Were you jealous?" he asked teasingly.

Just the word Jealousy made her ears stand.

"No I wasn't" she snapped insecurely. "How would I be jealous?"

She stepped away from their awkward closeness and turned to the painting. Pretending to be busy she walked to the easel and focused her eyes on the painting but instead she was very nervous on the inside.

"You have to sit with Kai," she said still avoiding his teasing gaze.

Cole walked up to her and took her by the wrists.

He turned her to his piercing gaze and brought his lips so close to her ears.

Ashley felt goosebumps creep up her skin as his lips touched her ears.

"I know you were jealous," he said with a slow, husky, manly voice.

His voice and the way his lips brushed her ears made her legs go weak as waves of pleasure ran through her body. Her face was flushing and burning at the same time.

"Did this guy know what he was doing to her?" she thought.

They were so close that the space left between them was not enough for air to pass. His perfume filled her nose and at that point, all she wanted to do was to bask in it.