oln'

r defiant stride betraying

," I murmure

me. Her boldness was refre

my chair, steep

from my past, someone who

t. Her determination wa

reaking her would be

me for a moment, but I breat

ould surrender to my will," I reaffi

efy me. My rul

as young, stubborn,

the ticking seconds a r

my evenin

, my movements delib

vate quarters, my min

d be extinguished, re

the marble floor gleami

back at me fr

it, reveal

I gazed at m

lines, the we

ghts return

ion was admira

fill the tub, ste

s warmth, letting

ge lingered,

uld not

e would

would be

d elegance. My gaze fell upon the familiar photos on th

at her picture, fu

ful night crept in, b

d distr

, poured a glass, and

ian, her bold question ech

one dared question

wered,

Vi

emed u

hing else – she had

, a plan

test her

that obedience

orders, and s

ce would b

was startled by the

, eyes narrowing

ozen, her gaze

barge in her

knock?" I asked, irri

embled slightly.

ted, my patience thinning. "Yo

ted before tu

he door, I added

ack, her eye

ait for permiss

dded, her

n replied, her voice laced

door, rapped tw

le

ed again.

the room, a testament to

I spoke

ed with annoyance a

ebrow

ve a proble

ce and wait for permissio

fiance. "I did. But you didn't answ

patience worn thin. "Shut up

issive. "I'm here to arrang

trembled

trigued by the sp

ren't in charge of arra

was asked to attend to you since

I said, wav

arranging my roo

s were effic

eyes bet

resentment

ed inw

s far f

nd, shattering it on the floor. The sound echoed

Instead, she continued laying the bed, dusting with precise stro

t intentionally. Her gaze met mine, a spark of defia

ring to ch

hing her with calculated stri

coln?" she asked, her voic

ordered, my tone

ver leaving mine. Her lips

ere deliberate. Each fragment was carefully collecte

trying to

ng too much in

ice low. "You're very..

t waver. "It's my d

d, my eyes narrow

for a moment before sh

ing my job,

't con

Vivian, her scent w

inst mine, sending s

d my arm, her finger

eyes blazing

her body hitting the

didn't

her."You dare to break my rule?" I

idened, fear fl

didn't

didn't

hing," I snarled. "O

er, my face in

ssed. "And went to take my dru

ine, a spark of def

ished, I said w