I have my freedom

Later in the day, xender came to knock on my door to tell me that he would having an important guest in the house today and that I should be on the best behavior which included me staying off my petty tricks to flee.

Once his feet creaked away from my door side, I made haste to call the maids again. This time, I turned to the maid who was responsible for Xander's wardrobe. She listened intently as I explained our new strategy—to replace his suit with a fake one, leaving a cheap tag on it. The room was filled with gasps and terror as usual.

"But what if he finds out?" the maid asked, her voice wavering with doubt.

I met her gaze, trying to put her at ease. "We'll be careful. And if things go wrong, I'll ensure that you're taken care of."

She nodded, trying to process the situation and with the support of the maids, I knew that our plan had a chance of success.

We exchanged careful glances and discreet signals, making sure that every detail was in place. It was a risky move, but it was my last chance to change my fate.

Finally, the time arrived. Xander was set to receive a supposed business guest in his home. I observed from a distance, a smirk creeping up my lips as I watched them engage in conversation, I held my breath, waiting for the perfect moment.

The guest's eyes flickered downward, and his gaze settled on Xander's suit. His eyebrows furrowed, and I could see the confusion and surprise in his expression. My heart raced as I watched him discreetly examine the tag, his lips curling into a small smirk.

Xander seemed oblivious to the guest's scrutiny, but I knew that the plan had worked. The revelation of the cheap tag had not gone unnoticed.

When the guest finally spoke, his tone laced with amusement, I could hardly believe that our audacious plan had succeeded. "Impressive suit, Xander. I wasn't aware that you've taken a liking to budget fashion."

A moment of tense silence followed, and I held my breath, watching for Xander's reaction. His gaze shifted to his suit, his expression that of complete irritation. A good blow to the ego. I presumed.

The guest's comment seemed to linger in the air, casting a shadow over the room. Xander's jaw tightened, and I saw the wheels turning in his mind. He was known for his impeccable taste, and the embarrassment of being caught in this situation was more than hilarious.

As the tension hung in the air following the guest's comment about Xander's suit, I couldn't help but find a corner of the room to hide my laughter. It was a bold move, and the amusement bubbled up within me, threatening to escape. Xander's expression of embarrassment was a rare sight, and I couldn't deny that a sense of satisfaction surged through me.

The guest excused himself, leaving me alone in my hiding spot, still chuckling softly to myself. However, my amusement was short-lived as Xander's voice cut through the air, and I froze. "You can come out now, Amelia."

My heart raced as I emerged from my hiding place, my smile fading as I met Xander's gaze. He was standing there, his arms crossed and his expression a mixture of annoyance and intrigue. There was no escaping his perceptive gaze, and it was clear that he had seen through my involvement in the recent events.

"You're behind all of this, aren't you?" he stated, his voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation.

I met his gaze, my shoulders straightening as I acknowledged the truth. "Yes, Xander. You shouldn't have kept me here."

His lips quirked into a half-smile, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I have to admit. You certainly know how to enforce words with actions"

My heartbeat quickened as his gaze bore into mine, his words lingering in the air between us. There was tension between us and then he took a step forward, his expression shifting from annoyance to something else—something that I couldn't quite define. "Fine. You want your freedom? You can have it."

His words took me by surprise, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. But then I realized that this was my chance, my opportunity to finally escape the confines of this mansion. With a determined nod, I turned away from him and began to walk towards the door.

"Amelia," his voice called out behind me, and I paused, glancing back at him.

"Just remember," he said softly, "no matter where you go, I'll always find you."

His words hung in the air as I walked away, my heart heavy with the weight of his promise.

***

I couldn't get Xender's words out my head. I still felt haunted by him, even after I've left his mansion. All throughout the ride in the train, I found myself clouded by the appearance of him that stuck very vividly in my mind. His grey eyes that sent shivers down my spine, his penetrating gaze, his jet-black hair, defined jaw and his cologne that intoxicated me very often.

Crap.

What was I thinking of now?

When I arrived home by train, my thoughts was a complete mess. The journey felt long, but eventually, I found myself walking through the familiar front door. Granny was awake, sitting in her favorite armchair by the window. I rushed to her and enveloped her in a warm hug. It had been too long since I'd seen her.

"Amelia, my dear," she said, her voice soft and full of affection. "You're back."

I nodded, a smile on my lips. "Yes, Granny. I missed you."

We settled into comfortable chairs, and the room was filled with the comforting sound of Granny's stories about the neighborhood, the birds outside the window, and all the little trivial matters that seemed to make up the tapestry of our lives.

And then came the inevitable question, the one I had been dreading. "And what about the suitor, dear?"

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "Granny, there's nothing between me and Xander. I left that place for a reason."

"His place?"

She quipped and I gave her a squinted gaze. "Yeah. He abducted me by the way"

Her eyes widened but in muse. "Hope you are still innocent?"

I gasped, gritting at her laughing figure. "Granny!"

"Of cause, I'm very much innocent"

"Ok. Now I feel at ease"

She muttered, giving me a knowing look, her eyes wise beyond their years. "Just make sure you're not making impulsive decisions, my dear. Xander seemed like a great guy."

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to delve into the complexities of my relationship with Xander. "Granny, trust me. He's not what he seems."

With a gentle pat on my hand, Granny offered some of her timeless advice. "Sometimes, young ones like you have a way of misjudging people. Just take your time and be certain of your choices."

After a while, hunger pulled me to the kitchen, and I decided to whip up a quick meal for both of granny and I. We sat at the small dining table, enjoying the simple pleasure of a meal shared with loved ones. As we ate, I listened to Granny's stories of her own youth, of the experiences she'd had and the lessons she'd learned.

When the meal was over, and the evening light was beginning to fade, I retreated to my room. Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Granny's words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but reflect on the situation with Xander.

Was I being too hasty in my judgment? Had I let my own preconceptions blind me to who he truly was?

And the very last question. Was I attracted to him?

No. I couldn't be.

I told myself as sleep began to claim me, I realized that I needed to find some closure and I assured myself that I could find it only when I was far away from Xender Sterling.