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Chapter 1

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Where life is dark, where no light breaks through, where everyone wounds me—this is where I exist. And sometimes, I can't control myself...

"Oliver, wake up!" a voice called softly, piercing through my restless thoughts.

"Oliver, Madam is calling you," Clara said again, shaking my shoulder. Her voice was firm yet concerned. I blinked my eyes open, finding myself in the small, cold room that had become my world. The mansion loomed around me like a prison, and I was just a servant within its shadows.

Clara stood by my bed, her brown eyes filled with a mix of urgency and worry. "Ms. Sara wants you downstairs," she added, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I sighed, sliding out of the bed. The floor felt icy even through my thin slippers. Clara was the only friend I had in this suffocating house, and even she couldn't save me from the wrath of its inhabitants.

"Did something happen?" I asked as I pulled on my worn slippers.

"Yeah... Ms. Sara is angry. She's in the living room with Ms. Katherine and Mr. Ward," Clara replied.

Her words sent a shiver through me, but I nodded and followed her down the dimly lit hall. The house seemed alive, breathing darkness into every corner. Shadows danced across the walls, and the faint light from a window barely illuminated the path ahead.

When we reached the living room, it was as though the air thickened with tension. A single beam of light illuminated the center of the room, casting eerie shadows over the faces of those waiting for me.

"Ms. Sara. Ms. Katherine. Mr. Ward," I greeted, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

Katherine, Sara's daughter, glared at me with contempt. Her hatred was palpable, though I'd never wronged her.

"Oliver," Sara began, her tone sharp enough to cut through steel.

"Yes, Madam?" I replied, lowering my gaze.

"Mom, she broke my things," Katherine accused, her voice filled with faux innocence. I clenched my fists. She was lying, as always, but there was no point in arguing.

"Oliver, I brought you here to work, not to meddle with my daughter's belongings," Sara snapped. Her anger was unjust, but I had no choice but to endure it.

"I'm sorry. It was my mistake. It won't happen again," I murmured, kneeling before them. The cold floor bit into my knees, but it was nothing compared to the humiliation.

"I told you, Mom. She knows her place," Katherine said with a smirk.

"Ward," Sara called, but he said nothing. He sat silently, his dark, piercing eyes fixed on me. His gaze was unnerving, like he could see through to my very soul.

"Make her kneel outside for the rest of the day. No food, no water," Sara ordered.

Before I could react, servants dragged me outside, forcing me to kneel under the blazing sun. My stomach growled in protest—I hadn't even had breakfast.

I bit my lip to hold back tears. Mom, Dad... where are you? Why haven't you saved me from this hell?

"Oliver," a deep voice rumbled behind me.

I froze. My heart raced as the voice grew closer.

"Oliver," it repeated, this time a whisper in my ear.

I turned my head slowly, trembling. It was Ward.

"Mr. Ward," I stammered.

He stepped in front of me, towering like a predator. His presence was commanding, and his pale skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. "You're new here," he said, his voice calm but unsettling.

"No, I've been here for years," I replied cautiously.

Ward tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. But it wasn't kind—it was chilling.

Before I could say more, Sara and Katherine appeared.

"Ward, what are you doing here?" Sara asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

"I'm taking my new servant," Ward said, pointing at me.

"Her?" Katherine sneered.

"Any problem?" Ward asked, his gaze darkening as he stared her down.

"She stole my things!" Katherine exclaimed.

"So?" Ward replied indifferently.

Katherine's face twisted in frustration. "Don't take her. I can help you with anything," she said, her voice dripping with desperation.

"It's not your business," Ward said sharply.

Sara finally relented. "Fine. She's yours," she said.

Ward's words sent a chill through me: "She is mine. Only I can kill or punish her."

The servants helped me to my feet, and I followed Ward upstairs to his room. My legs felt weak, my mind racing. When we entered, he turned to face me, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked, gesturing to a table laden with food.

"I... I can't eat this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Then get what you need," he said dismissively.

I slipped out of the room, moving quickly and silently through the house. Once outside, I sprinted toward the nearby mountains, my instincts taking over. I hunted a goat, its warm blood energizing me, before racing back to the mansion.

When I returned to Ward's room, I froze. The door creaked as I stepped inside, and there he was—half-naked, his back turned to me. Deep scars carved patterns across his pale skin, each one telling a story I dared not imagine.

He turned slowly, his golden eyes locking onto mine like twin flames. For a moment, the air felt heavy, suffocating.

"Why are you staring?" he asked, his voice low and sharp, cutting through the silence.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, my gaze darting to the floor.

But he stepped closer, the heat of his presence pressing against me. His eyes burned brighter, almost glowing, as a sly, chilling smile curled on his lips.

"Do you fear me, Oliver?" he asked softly, the question hanging in the air like a noose.

My heart thundered in my chest. The room felt darker now, the shadows stretching and shifting around us.

"You should," he whispered, leaning in closer. His breath was cold against my skin, and for the first time, I realized the truth—I wasn't sure if he was human.

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Author Note:-Hello, my lovely readers! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you enjoyed it, please drop a comment to let me know your thoughts. Your support means the world to me! Don't forget to vote if you loved this chapter, and stay tuned for the next one.

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