I said ‘sorry’

It was night time and in fact the perfect time to get the hell out of here, shrouding the mansion in darkness, and I knew this was my chance to escape. I was in black clothes and mask, to keep anyone from recognizing me. I cautiously emerged from my room, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. My heart pounded in my chest as I tiptoed toward the front door. The guards were sleeping, and one even snored loudly with his legs obstructing the path. Nervously, I stepped over him, holding my breath as he stirred slightly but didn't wake.

As my fingers curled around the cold doorknob, a voice cut through the silence. "Stop right there." My whole body froze, fear coursing through my veins. Slowly, I turned, only to see the guard sleepwalking towards a completely different direction. I raised an eyebrow, baffled at the sight. Xender's guards indeed had their peculiarities.

Relief washed overly face as, I slipped through the door and into the night. However, my ease was short-lived when I realized that one of the guards was someone I recognized from the group that had kidnapped me before. Anger surged within me, and I seized the opportunity to give him a taste of his own medicine. My open palm met his cheek with a resounding slap, causing him to stumble and awaken in surprise.

In an instant, his eyes locked onto mine, but and my eyes doubled when I recalled that my face was concealed by a black mask. Crap. I watched him reach for a large piece of wood in nearby, and my heart raced as I made a split-second decision to flee.

Adrenaline surged through my veins as I sprinted towards the door, my legs aching with every stride. The commotion coming from outside was a wild one of me screaming at the top of my lungs and dashing here and there in search for safety.

I was still breathing heavily when the unrest outside reached the ears of Xander, who emerged from the mansion, his expression that of confusion. His eyes fell on the figure in the black mask, and he wasted no time in giving orders to the 'criminal'. "Stop! Don't move a muscle!"

Frozen in place, I watched as his guards aimed their weapons at me. Terror and regret flooded my thoughts, but it was too late to turn back now. The cold wind rustled through the trees, and I was acutely aware of my rapid breaths and the pounding of my heart.

Xander's voice cut through the tension. "Remove your mask slowly."

I hesitated for a moment, tension thickening in the air, I stood before Xander, my masked face turned towards him. His piercing gaze seemed to bore into my very soul as he motioned for me to remove the mask. My heart raced, and I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I contemplated my next move.

I was so close to freedom, yet the weight of his presence held me captive. With a surge of determination, I made a split-second decision. I would run past him, sprinting for the door with all the strength I could muster. Maybe this time, I would make it.

Without warning, I lunged forward, my muscles tensed and ready to propel me into motion. But as I moved, my fist connected with something solid—Xander's jaw. Shock registered on his face, and the impact sent a jolt of pain through my knuckles. In my desperation to escape, I had accidentally punched him.

Time seemed to slow as he staggered back, his hand rising instinctively to his jaw. His eyes widened in surprise and disbelief, and for a moment, everything hung in the balance. My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn't bring myself to look away from the expression on his face.

then carefully peeled the mask from my face, revealing myself to him with a nervous grin creeping up my lips.

"Sorry"

I muttered, waving slowly at his obviously pissed figure. He took a step forward, his gaze scrutinizing me. "Amelia?"

It was a mere whisper, but it felt like a shout in the stillness of the night.

"Why are you causing so much trouble now?"

He muttered, tiredness evident inside his tone.

"Maybe if you let me go.. Then your life would be back to peaceful"

He sighed. "You know that I wouldn't do that"

I smirked, giving me a nice smile after that. "Well then. Live with it"

I walked toward the door, looking behind at his frame. "and… good night"

***

I figured that I didn't have to escape again. I found xender's loophole and I was going to magnify on it. After seeing the look on his face yesterday from the so much ruckus that I have caused, I realised that all I needed to do was to cause a great amount of disaster in his lovely mansion, in no time, he would be ushering me out himself.

I washed myself clean in the bathroom, the cool water soon soothing my still-racing thoughts. A long bath followed, the scent of strawberry shampoo lingered in the air as I washed my golden hair. I changed into clean clothes, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

As I moved about the room, a knock appeared on the door and I told the person to come in, it was the maid who delivered fresh attire to me, She informed me that Xander had left for something urgent. I couldn't help feeling betrayed. He had promised not to leave me alone, and yet he had broken that promise without a second thought. I always knew that wealthy men weren't reliable.

Determined not to remain idle, I requested the maid to summon twelve potential maids to meet with me. Swiftly, the girls assembled before me, their nervousness evident. I addressed them, walking here and there and looking them over.

"Good day, ladies"

I greeted and nervous grins was all that returned to me, I continued with my speech outlining my intention to seek vengeance on Xander. Trembles ran through their forms as I spoke, but I reassured them that their efforts would be well rewarded. My words, laced with sweetness and irresistible promises, gradually overcame their hesitations.

With a reluctant agreement from the twelve girls, I began to explain my plan. Their eyes widened as they absorbed my strategy—one that revolved around making Xander's life in this mansion as uncomfortable as he had made mine. I could sense their apprehension, but the opportunity to financial compensation seemed to outweigh their doubts.

I took a deep breath and revealed the first part of our plan—to seduce Xander. The room was filled with gasps of shock and fear. I could see the terror in the eyes of the girls, their worries etched across their faces. I needed to convince them that there was nothing to be scared about. After all, they were all remarkably pretty.

I addressed their concerns, my voice soothing yet resolute. "Ladies, there's no need to be afraid. We're simply playing a game, and you all have the power to make this work." I scanned their faces, hoping to see a glimmer of understanding.

It was clear that they were still hesitant, so I took a step forward, determined to lead by example. "Look, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure nothing goes wrong. And let's remember, we're not alone in this. We're a team, and together we can turn the tables on Xander."

Gradually, their expressions shifted from fear to reluctant determination. Their willingness to participate gave me a spark of hope. I needed their support to execute this audacious plan.

Among the girls, I selected a fair lady who seemed to possess both the charm and the courage for the assignment. I approached her, offering an encouraging smile. "You've got this.

When Xander comes home, I want you to engage in some flirty remarks and do it with confidence. If you can pull this off, I promise you a substantial reward."

She hesitated, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "But what if he gets angry?"

I reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I've got your back. And if things don't go as planned, don't worry—I'll make sure you're well compensated for any trouble."

Reluctantly, she nodded, anxiety still in her eyes. The plan was set in motion, and we had to wait for the perfect moment.

As the day progressed, tension went round the mansion. I could literally hear gossip here and there among the staffs but I didn't care as that was my goal anyway.

When Xander finally returned, I descended the stairs, almost in sync with his arrival and I took a cover bending slightly to watch the scene unfold.

Just moments after he stepped through he door, I observed from the shadows as the chosen girl approached him, her eyes batting flirtatiously. She executed her role with impressive finesse, delivering flirty remarks that were designed to capture his attention.

However, the scene took an unexpected turn. Only a few seconds after her approach, his voice cut through the air, laced with anger and frustration. "You're sacked."

Shock surged through me as I watched the fair lady flee from his presence in an instant. I was struck by a combination of horror and astonishment. The plan had backfired in the most unexpected way.

I walked into my room, secretly leading the girl inside and giving her a good compensation for the loss of her job from the money that xender transferred into my account. Her eyes widened at the sum, thanking me profusely for it and I waved at her, sad that I had cause her to lose her job.

But… one good thing, Xender was definitely noticing the bad things of recent and if he wasn't paying enough attention to it. I'd help him to.