Chapter 1 Maid

“R-Rihav!” 

I couldn’t help but groan at what Rihav was doing to me.

He moved swiftly on top of me. The last thing I remembered was that Rihav and I got into a fight because I met up with Amer, my childhood friend from Fera Island. I didn't know what happened next, but here I was now, beneath Rihav and was pumping his dick inside me. 

“Don’t you dare cheat on me, Fayre,” he said sternly, kissing me deeply right after.

I couldn't even reply to what he said because his pace atop me grew even faster. Driven by an entirely new sensation, I accepted every single movement Rihav made over my body.

I knew what we were doing was wrong; I didn't come here to fool around. I was here because I had dreams for myself and my family. Yet, it seemed I couldn't bring myself to refuse Rihav. He was my very first boyfriend, the first person to kiss me, and the first to make me feel this kind of heat in my body.

I love him, I really do love him. 

I was only twenty years old. If I had been able to go to school, I might have been in college right now. But fate was not on my side. As much as I wanted to study, I couldn't, because my family would starve and drown in debt.

“Ah!” escaped my lips from the overwhelming sensation.

My mind drifted back to what Rihav and I were doing… we were having sex, and this was my first time. He wasn’t gentle at all. I could feel pain at my center; I could sense something inside me, and it hurt so much. 

“This is your punishment for breaking our rule,” he said huskily, gasping for air himself.

After a few more seconds of Rihav moving up and down, I felt a sudden warmth inside me. Rihav, still on top of me, froze for a moment. He kissed my lips before finally pulling away. I grabbed the blanket beside us and covered my entire body.

“Explain yourself. Why the fuck did you two meet again? Don’t you dare lie to me, Fayre. You don’t know what I'm like when I’m angry,” he said, glaring at me with sharp, cold eyes.

I had never seen Rihav like this before. He was always sweet, caring, and gentle whenever he spoke. But right now, his attitude was completely different. This wasn't the Rihav I fell for and grew to know. It was as if he were possessed by something that turned his whole personality upside down.

He didn't even use the affectionate call sign he usually used for me; now it was just plain "Fayre." I didn't know why, but a sharp pang pierced my heart.

“He just told me some news about how Mom and Dad are doing back in the province. He didn't do anything wrong, Rihav,” I replied softly, reaching out to touch his hand, but he immediately swiped it away.

What was happening to him? Why was he acting like this? Didn't he love me anymore?

My lips parted as my heart ached even more from the questions flooding my mind. I knew I was nothing compared to Rihav, but I could never do the things he was accusing me of.

“Liar! I told you not to lie to me, Fayre!” he snapped at me.

“It’s the truth, Rihav…” I choked out, tears welling up in my eyes from his painful accusations.

Never in my life had I thought about lying to him. I loved him way too much to do that. Besides, lying wasn't in my nature; it was the thing I hated most. My parents taught me never to tell a lie.

“Fuck you!” he cursed at me, which took me completely by surprise.

I could see the pure rage written across his face, so intense that it felt like he could hurt me right here on this bed at any moment.

Was this really Rihav? This wasn't the man I fell in love with. Not him... The Rihav I knew could never say such awful things to me. He promised he would protect me, that he would never hurt or abandon me. Why did that promise feel like it was about to break now?

I couldn't tell if everything in the past was real or just a lie.

“Rihav, what's wrong with you? Why are you being like this? I didn't do anything wrong to you, so why are you treating me this way?” Tears automatically streamed down my cheeks.

He stood up from the bed. “Stop your fucking drama, Fayre. You can’t fool me with your act anymore. You managed to wrap me around your finger before because of my money, but that’s not going to happen again.” The anger in his voice was palpable.

“W-What are you talking about, Rihav?” I asked, wiping my tears away.

I heard his sarcastic laugh before he spoke. “And you're really going to pretend you don't know? Well, I won't let you use me anymore, Fayre. Now that I’ve had a taste of you, I can finally kick you out of this house. Fits a bitch like you.”

Holding the blanket wrapped around my body, I stood up and slapped him as hard as I could. I felt my chest tighten from the intense pain his words caused me. I wasn't that kind of woman. I had never betrayed him, not even once. He had no right to talk to me like that.

“I am not that kind of woman, Rihav! Because if I were a bitch, you would have gotten what you wanted from me a long time ago, and I would have run off with all your wealth by now!” I shouted angrily, slapping his other cheek.

I was furious. I was angry at him, and I was angry at myself for letting his sweet talk fool me back then. I never imagined we would end up like this. I said yes to him not because of his money or his power, but because I saw how hard he pursued me just to get my 'yes.'

But goddamn it... Pain was all I got in return for that single 'yes.'

“It’s a good thing your true colors are finally showing, Rihav. I never thought you would be the person to say those things to me. I gave you my love with all my heart! I obeyed everything you wanted, even when I felt suffocated! I gave you my purity, the one thing I guarded most, and this is all you have to say to me?! Where is the Rihav I knew and loved?!” I blurted out between sobs.

His expression shifted slightly, but anger still lingered in his eyes. What was he so mad about? I couldn't recall doing anything wrong to him.

“Lies!” he yelled. “You just want to wring money out of me, don't you?!”

“I am not that kind of woman, Rihav!” I screamed back, no longer caring if anyone outside heard us.

He was staring at me.

“You knew that! So why are you acting like this now? Why are you hurting me? What did I ever do to you for you to hurt me like this?!” I wiped my tears again.

“You broke my trust in you, Fay! You ruined all of it. Yeah, you changed me into a good man, but you also changed me into a beast! Was it really that hard when I told you not to meet up with that guy?!” he said, his voice still filled with rage.

“Rihav, it was just a quick meeting because he had news about my family! Is that really so hard to understand?!” My voice rose again.

I didn't know if anyone outside was listening to us. Both Rihav and I were raising our voices. Almost no one here knew about our relationship, except for his twin sisters, Zavia and Zoena.

“Did you really just meet up? Or did you do something else? I wasn't there; I know you two did something!” he said emphatically.

“We didn't do anything, Rihav! You're so narrow-minded! Go ahead, say whatever you want to say to me, but remember this, Rihav.” I pointed to the mark proving I was no longer a virgin. “This blood proves that I am not that kind of woman. And remember this, too: I am never coming back to you. Ever. I know you're going to break up with me anyway, so I'm leaving you first. We're over!”

I grabbed the ring he gave me on our first anniversary, along with the necklace bearing his name.

I tried to hand them to him. When he just stared at them for several moments, I had no choice but to throw them onto the floor, not knowing where they landed. I quickly found my clothes, threw them on, and stepped out of his room.

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw no one nearby. I rushed back to my room and finally let out all the pain I was feeling. I cried and cried until I heard a knock on the door.

I composed myself before opening it. When I did, my eyes met Zavia and Zoena. They immediately walked in and hugged me tightly. I couldn't even hug them back because I didn't know why they were embracing me like this.

“We heard everything, Fay. I happened to pass by earlier, so I called Zoe. Rihav is such an asshole!” Zav said as she pulled back from the hug.

We were all the same age; Rihav was four years older than the three of us. I never thought much about the age gap since it didn't really matter.

“If you need help, we’re right here. We're not going to abandon you. You’re our only friend. You know how moody Zav can be, so we don't have any other friends. I'm sick of looking at her face, but honestly, no one else wants to be friends with us,” Zoe said, making me chuckle softly. Zav yanked her hair in response.

“I’m okay. I can’t leave this job because my mom is sick and I need to work, but not in this house for sure.” I said.

“I have money, Fay. I can g—”

I cut Zav off. “No, it's fine; I can manage. Maybe I'll take extra shifts at my previous workplace again.”

I saw Zav roll her eyes. “It’s totally Rihav’s fault! Didn’t you earn a good salary there? You would've had money saved up by now if he hadn't forced you to quit!” she grumbled.

“Don’t worry about it. I can still go back there,” I said with a faint smile.

EVERYONE inside the Madrigal Mansion was busy. There was a celebration today, which was why we maids were bustling around preparing for their party. Almost everyone was dressed in lavish, elegant attire. Knowing my place, I stayed where I belonged and didn't wander off.

It had been two weeks since the huge fight between Rihav and me. We hadn't talked or even made eye contact. I avoided him, and I could feel he was doing the same. Only the twins kept my spirits up inside the mansion.

“Can I have a juice, please?” a woman said to me, even though the juice was right in front of her where I was stationed. Others were just helping themselves, so I couldn't help but be taken aback.

I kept quiet, remembering I was just a housemaid here. I handed her the juice, but since she wasn't looking as she took it, it spilled onto my dress. Her black gloves got wet, too.

“Gosh! You’re so clumsy!” she exclaimed, catching me off guard.

My mouth parted at her accusation, but I didn't say a word. I was about to help her clean up when I heard a familiar voice.

“What happened here?” Rihav’s voice came from behind the woman.

I watched as he wrapped his arm around her waist. That used to be my favorite thing Rihav did to me, now he was doing it with another woman. What was I again? Just a maid.

“This clumsy girl poured juice on my expensive gloves,” she explained dramatically to Rihav.

Rihav glanced at her expensive gloves. He didn't even spare me a single glance before speaking.

“Don’t mind her, Babe. Let’s go.” Holding her by the waist, the two of them walked away together.

It felt like a dagger plunged into my heart at that moment. Now, I was just a worthless girl in his life. I was so foolish for letting myself be fooled by him. If I had only listened to Mom, I wouldn't be hurting like this right now.

Next time, I’ll save some love for myself. I will never play the fool again!

“Ladies and gentlemen, before this event begins, may I ask Dyessie and Rihav to come up on stage? Rihav has some good news to share for tonight's occasion.” I looked toward the stage upon hearing the announcement.

I saw Rihav and the woman who claimed I spilled juice on her walk up to the stage. Rihav’s hand was still wrapped around her waist, and they looked like they had known each other for a long time. I had never seen her visit the mansion before; she wasn't familiar to me, and I didn't know who she was.

Both of them were smiling. A sharp ache throbbed in my heart, it hurt so much.

Just because of that meeting with Amer, fate seemed to be punishing me. Why? We were already penniless and struggling through life, so why punish me like this? Was it possible to die from sheer pain?

I discreetly wiped away the tears streaming down my cheeks. A man handed the microphone to Rihav. The woman beside him clung tightly to his arm. Cheers echoed from the crowd inside the mansion before Rihav finally spoke.

“Good evening, everyone. I don’t know where I should start...” He paused. “...But today, Dyessie and I are officially engaged!” he announced, as the woman showed off her ring.

I gasped at the sheer pain I felt. Dammit! Right in front of my face! I wasn't prepared for him to say that in front of so many people, and right in front of me. I felt my heart ache at the announcement coming straight from Rihav’s mouth.

Our relationship was kept secret because I was just a maid and he was rich... It hurt, but there was nothing more I could do. We were over, and he already had someone new.

Rihav continued speaking, but I didn't hear another word. I stepped out of the mansion and headed straight for the garden, where I broke down in tears. I had been crying non-stop for two weeks over everything that happened between Rihav and me.

He used to say he would never hurt me, that he would never make me cry, and that he would take care of me until we grew old because the two of us were going to get married in the end. But now! He was marrying another woman! What was I supposed to do now?!

After being played by a rich man, here I was, left in tears. It was hard enough being poor, but getting hurt like this made it so much worse!

“If you want to leave right now, Fay, we’ll help you escape.” I looked up and saw the twins standing there.

I stood up and wrapped them in an immediate embrace. “I-It hurts... I-it hurts so much...” My sobs poured out continuously to the two people who never tired of helping me.

“We saw your reaction earlier, and even we were shocked. We didn't know about this, Fayre. Promise! If we had known, we would have told you away long ago so you wouldn't have to hear it or get hurt like this. We're sorry…” Zav said gently.

I sniffled before speaking. “It's okay. Now I’ve proven that the poor and the rich really don't belong together,” I said through my tears.

“Don’t say that! We know how much Rihav loves you. Something is definitely wrong here. We’ll find out what it is for you,” Zoe said.

I shook my head. “Don't bother. I think I'll just leave and head back to the province where I belong.”

I saw the sadness wash over their faces. They never treated me like a housemaid; they treated me like a real friend… a family. I owed them so much, and I would never forget how they helped me today.

Nor would I ever forget the immense pain Rihav put me through. I wouldn't seek revenge against him, because I simply never wanted to see his face ever again.

“Pack your things. Zoe’s car is in the garage. We’ll drive you to the terminal,” Zav said, helping me walk.

I will forget you, Rihav. I’ll make sure our paths never cross again...