bChapter /bb158 /b

    ra’s POV

    黃常:74%b粉 /b

    I couldn’t help but let out a quiet breath as my eyes locked with the maid’s. The chill that ran down her spine was almost palpable.

    For a second, the look on her face was all shock, like she’d just seen a ghost. Then it twisted into something desperate. “M–Master, she’s threatening me!”

    Thorne just raised an eyebrow, unbothered, though there was a sh of something–amusement?-dancing in his eyes.

    Itsted only a second, then his expression hardened back into that cold, distant mask he wore so often. I swear, sometimes he felt like a stranger.

    “Master, you have to punish her! She’s being so disrespectful,” the maid whined, pushing her case as if it would somehow make him care.

    “How did she threaten you?” Thorne’s voice was icily calm. “I didn’t notice.”

    The maid stammered, unable to find her words, but her face was turning red. “B…but you heard her talk about her sword training… and how many rogues she’s killed…”

    “She was simply stating the truth,” Thorne interrupted, his tone cutting through the air. It was as if he hadn’t even considered her words.

    The maid’s lips twisted, but she didn’t argue. “Then why didn’t you punish her?” she muttered under her breath.

    Thorne didn’t give her a chance to speak again. “Go take a shower.”

    It was the kind of dismissal that made me feel like I was invisible. And that meant he was going to bed with her tonight. I fought back the

    bitter taste in my mouth, trying not to let it show.

    The maid’s face lit up at themand, and she scrambled off the couch, her eyes burning with disdain as she walked past me. “Bitch.”

    I held my breath, pushing down the urge to snap at her. The sound of the bathroom door closing behind her was deafening in the silence that

    followed.

    I turned back to Thorne, gathering myposure. “So, master, if there’s nothing else—”

    “Hold on.”

    Thorne’s hand shot out, grasping my chin with unrelenting force. He tilted my head up to meet his gaze, eyes dark and intense.

    “I’m going to fuck that woman tonight,” he said, the words like ice slicing through the space between us. “Do you have anything else to say

    about that?”

    I tightened my grip on the hem of my skirt, fighting the urge to recoil. “You’ve made your decision,” I said quietly, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. “So that’s it.”

    He looked at me for a long moment, searching my face. “And you’re fine with that?”

    I lowered my eyes, biting back the words that wanted toe out. Silence was all I gave him.

    “Look at me!” he snapped, his grip tightening painfully. “You told me you didn’t love me. So who is it? Dorian? You’ve known him for less than

    a week, yet you can barely breathe when he’s around! We’ve known each other for years…b” /b

    I yanked my chin out of his grasp and stood up, fury rising in my chest. “Then you can imagine how it feels, being betrayed by someone

    you’ve known for years.

    I didn’t wait for him to respond. “Master, please… let me excuse myself” My voice was calm, controlled, despite the storm swirling inside me. “Have a good night”

    I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I walked out of the room, the sound of the tea set crashing to the floor echoing behind me, a sign that i had finally done something that rattled him.

    The evening air was cool as I made my way down the stairs. I needed to eat something, get my head straight before facing Wendy again. She and I still had that room arrangement to sort out.

    As I reached the dining hall, the sounds ofughter and cheering filled the air. I peeked inside and saw Wendy and Dorian sitting across from each other, a messy array of dice, cards, and coins spread across the table.

    “Wendy, you got a pair! Dorian, time for the showdown! Show us what you’ve got!” someone shouted.

    I pushed the door open just a crack.

    “Dorian, if you have something bigger than a pair, you win. You can take all my money. But as promised…” Wendy shot him a cheeky grin, “… I’m giving you a kiss.”

    Dorian didn’t even blink, just smirked. He nced up, his gaze locking with mine immediately.

    “ra!” His face lit up, and he shot up from his chair. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

    He waved off the group with a chuckle. “You all have fun. I’ve got something else to do.”

    “B–but you haven’t shown your cards yet! The game!” Wendy stuttered.

    “I fold,” Dorian said with a grin, tossing his cards aside. He pushed his coins across the table toward Wendy. “You win. Congrattions.”

    The crowd groaned in disbelief. “You’re so close!” one maid eximed.

    “I don’t mind losing a bit,” Dorian shrugged, winking at me. “I’ve got better things to do.”

    “Later, guys,” he called as he headed toward me, his steps quick and purposeful.

    When he reached me, he shed a yful smile. “Shall we? I’ve got a surprise for you.”

    I followed him down the long hallway, curiosity gnawing at me. “Where are we going?” I asked.

    Dorian was all mystery, his eyes twinkling. “Just follow me.”

    I couldn’t help myself, “What did you have in your hand, back there?”

    “A full house,” he said nonchntly.

    I gasped, the realization hitting me hard. “You’re kidding! You’d have won everything if you stuck around.”

    “Like I said,” he shrugged, offering me a gentle smile, “I don’t like to keep you waiting. Not even for a second.”

    I blinked, not sure whether to be ttered or annoyed at how effortlessly he could charm his way out of everything.

    “And besides…” He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “…If I won, Wendy would want to kiss me. And I don’t want that. So I’d rather lose some money and just walk away.”

    2 13:14b. /bbThu /b7 Aug 0

    Trolled my eyes, trying not to smile, “Walking away from a pretty girl’s kiss? I didn’t know you were such a gentleman.”

    His lowugh echoed through the hallway. “Wrong. There’s only one woman I want kissing me. And it’s not Wendy.”

    My heart skipped a beat, the words sinking deep. I had to be imagining things.

    Dorian paused in front of a door and turned to me with a smirk. “This is it.”

    Hooked up at the door, confused. “What’s this ce?”

    He gestured for me to open it, his smile widening. “Go ahead.”

    I pushed the door open, and the sight before me stopped me in my tracks.

    The room was small but serene, bathed in soft moonlight through a skylight above the bed. On the nightstand, a fresh bunch of red roses sat

    in a small vase.

    My breath caught in my throat. “This… this is for me?”

    Dorian nodded, stepping inside. “I won this room for you after a few rounds of poker with Wendy. You deserve it.”

    I stood there, frozen for a moment, the memories of my brother, Cael, rushing back. He used to be the only one who did things like this for ollime. /li/ol

    Turning to face Dorian, I couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you… for all the trouble.”

    Dorian shrugged, the yful grin never leaving his face. “It’s nothing. I’m good at poker, remember? And I’ll take advantage of that gratitude… so yeah, you’re wee.”

    I couldn’t help butugh. “Do you always say exactly what you’re thinking?”

    “Yep,” he said matter–of–factly, taking a step closer and cupping my face. “And right now, I’m thinking… it’s probably the right time to kiss

    you.”

    Before I could even react, his lips met mine, warm and steady, and all the world outside this little room seemed to vanish.