It was clear to Miguel from Lucas’s cocky expression that he’d missed the entire gist.“I think it’s clear that you do not know where I came from or how this entire cake-making saga will cause Antonio to overthrow you in the long run.”Lucas paused mid stride.“I just explained everything to you. What else is there to understand?”Miguel got to his feet, holding his hands firmly behind his back, and paced in Lucas’s direction.“I guess we did not introduce ourselves properly when we first met.”He paused in front of him and lifted his chin. Even Lucas was surprised at the swift change in his character. “My name is Miguel Santorini and I’m the head housekeeper of the Guerrero household.”Lucas' eyeballs nearly popped and fell from its sockets.“What?”Miguel shrugged, enjoying his reaction.“You heard me.”He shut his eyes and held out a hand.“Wait for a goddamn second. When you say the Guerrero household, I know there’s only one Guerrero household in Spain. Do you mean…”“Exactly.”
Alex was nervous but not scared as the guards pushed him towards the arena.When they arrived, the place was already packed. The arena was built like a stadium, just not as big. It had a field in the centre and bleachers where all the servants and workers of the Guerrero mansion sat and waited to watch the spectacle. When Alex appeared from underneath the arena gates, whispers and shouts rippled through the crowd. The atmosphere was rife and choked with tension.Alex looked up, quietly surveying the arena. On his right, his gaze clashed with some of the members of his cleaning team and they promptly looked away, their expressions riddled with guilt. Amanda sat amongst them, he mind buzzing with ways to save Alex from being whipped. If that whip touched him today, she’ll have to live with the guilt for the rest of her life. She had to do something. Alex was led to the middle of the field where a wooden contraption sat waiting. The guards released him from the handcuffs and immediat
The arena was rigid with tension as the strongest guard uncurled one of the long whips. Alex could already feel the hairs on his back rise with the expectation of pain. “Rufus,” Mrs. Maria called. “You will give him forty strokes and no less. If he dies before the fortieth stroke, we’ll bury him at the mansion’s dumping ground.”Gasps of horror swept through the crowd. They all knew their boss never made empty threats. This was as real as it got. Amanda turned to her colleagues.“Did you hear that?” She said tearfully. “David is about to be beaten to death. We all know he’s not at fault. We need to do something!” She whisper-yelled.They all heard her but pretended like they hadn’t. This was bad. Very bad. Mrs. Maria stepped out of the arena for a water break and deciding to take matters into her own hands, Amanda got to her feet and confronted her co-workers, her shoulders squared with determination.“This is the last time I’m going to say this. I will not let David suffer horrend
“…so you’re telling me that David did not push the cake?” Mrs. Maria asked, her face twisted in a confused expression.Emilia nodded.“No, ma’am. He didn’t.” “Why did he take the blame, then? Why did he lie to me?”“He just wanted to cover for us.” Emilia said quickly. “He knew you’d punish all of us if you found out that the cake fell because of our commotion. His act was purely heroic. I’m sure he didn’t mean to lie to you.”Behind them, Miguel’s lips curved in a wicked smile. His army was greater than theirs. This was a war they were never going to win.”Mrs. Maria turned to Caleb.“Is that true? Did David really take the blame when he wasn’t at fault?”Caleb nodded. “It’s One hundred percent true, ma’am. We’re the ones at fault. We’re ready to take whatever punishment you decide to give us.”Mrs. Maria was still confused. Something was very fishy about the entire story.“Do you all understand that you haven’t even answered my question? All you’ve done since you interrupted my are
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as everyone waited impatiently to see the cleaners’ next move. Amanda looked at Mrs. Maria who shrugged.“I accept his idea. What are you all waiting for?”Without wasting time, Caleb stepped aside and said boldly;“I know and believe that David did not push that cake. Those who believe the same should come over to my side.”The cleaners who’d already declared their support for Alex all stood behind Caleb. But there was a problem. Those who were not in support of David outnumbered his supporters. Miguel stood aside, smiling wickedly.“I said it, didn’t I? The number of people on my side is greater than those on your side because the majority of us know that you all are lying. David is guilty.”Caleb gave him a confident smile.“Uh… you may want to retract that statement.”Miguel’s smile disappeared instantly.“What do you mean by that?”“You can turn around and see for yourself.”Miguel turned quickly and his eyes widened in disbelief when he saw s
“Ethan,” Mrs. Maria sounded outright exasperated at that point. “Why are you doing this?Without responding, Ethan calmly inspected Alex’s chains. When he was done, he turned to the guard beside him and gave him a hard stare.“Where’s the key?”The guard blinked in surprise.“But, sir…”Ethan turned to his mother.“Seems like you have very disobedient staff on your payroll, mother. If you cannot control the people whom you pay to work for you, why then would you expect that I can be controlled?”He turned to the guard once again.“I’m asking for the last time. The key. Give it to me.”The guard bowed. “Of course, sir. Right away.”He fumbled in his pants pocket and produced a rusty key holder which held two keys. Ethan pulled it from his grasp and hurriedly attacked the chains on Alex’s wrists and ankles.Miguel was pretty sure he was experiencing a heart attack in slow motion.“Ma’am.” He called Mrs. Maria, sounding absolutely horrified. “Are you really going to stand back and watch
Camila hated the sight of blood. Just like she hated David Wyatt before today. Or not.She didn’t know why, but when that whip had landed on his back, something inside her had shifted. Something feral. An emotion she’d been trying so bloody hard to hide curled through her veins, fueling her with the need to run into the arena, snatch the whip from the guard’s fingers and burn it to pieces.Unable to control her emotions, after he was whipped the first time, she ran back to her room, not willing to sit there and watch him take the other thirty-nine strokes.It was whilst she was just sitting there and staring at the wall that she realised why she’d felt that way, why her chest felt like it would burst when she saw David chained to that wooden beam.No matter how hard Camila tried to convince herself that she hated David’s guts, she didn’t.But deep down, she knew she did not look to see him hurt. She hated that hazy look of pain in his eyes. She hated seeing him suffer.Camila knew sh
Miguel seemed to have passed out but the problem was, Philip seemed not to care. Before anyone could stop him, stormed to where Miguel lay in a pile of rubble and pulled him upwards with brutal force. Alex was shocked when the former opened his eyes and stretched his lips in a wicked smile.“What you’re doing right now, Philip, is putting yourself into even deeper trouble.” Miguel sneered, the smile on his face disappearing in a flash. “If you lay those filthy hands on me one more time, I promise I’ll make sure you leave this house today.I’m the closest to Mrs. Maria amongst all of you. Trust me, when I say something, I will never stop until I get it accomplished.”Philip’s shoulders trembled with rage at Miguel’s heartless threats.After what seemed like an eternity, he released him and stepped back.“I thought we were friends, Miguel.” He said, his voice filled with anger and hurt. “I supported you despite knowing that most of your plans were wrong.I stood with you when everyone