CHAPTER 10
C HAPTER 10
ALLYN
“Why am I only finding out about this now?”
“I’m just following orders, Miss,” Lara replied, placing her hands neatly behind her back. “Would you like me to help you choose a dress for the evening?”
“No, Lara, thank you.” I sighed, sinking into the bed. “If I need anything, I’ll call you.”
Lara nodded without a word and left the room, the door clicking softly behind her. I lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to process the whirlwind my life had become in just a few short days.
I still couldn’t believe how everything had shifted so quickly. The party two days ago—what a joke— was only the beginning.
What better way to start the day than to find out that Mr. and Mrs. King are joining us for dinner tonight?
And I found this out from Lara—not even Angelo. I was beginning to think Angelo had some serious communication issues.
But oddly enough, I didn’t care as much about that as I did about Maddox’s disappearance.
I haven’t seen him since that night on the balcony.
Everything about The Kings is so mysterious and enchanting.
Well, except for Lydia. She’s different.
Thank God for that.
Lydia’s the only reason I haven’t completely lost my mind in this mansion over the last two days.
She’s kept me company, and we’ve had a great time together. Honestly, I’ve found her to be the only normal one in this family, the only one who doesn’t send my nerves into overdrive.
I’m pretty sure she didn’t know about this dinner either. If she had, she would’ve told me last night when she was in my room watching Gossip Girl.
I shook off the dark thoughts swirling in my head and decided to take action. I got up, grabbed a quick shower, and threw on the first pair of jeans and a shirt I found. My hair went into a messy high ponytail, and then I made my way downstairs.
As usual, the mansion was filled with people buzzing around, doing their jobs like clockwork. Everything felt like the same routine every day, a monotonous loop I couldn’t escape.
I wandered through the rooms, looking for Lara, and finally found her in the kitchen, wiping down the table. When she noticed me, she glanced up with a questioning look.
“Do you need anything, Miss Delgado?” she asked, continuing her task as I stood behind her, watching her movements.
“Actually, yes.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “I need you to come with me to the mall.”
Lara’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Me?”
“Yes,” I said firmly, despite the hesitation I could see in her eyes.
“I’m not allowed to leave the house during work hours.”
“Your job is to be here when I need you, right?”
Lara chewed on her lip, a crease forming on her forehead as she hesitated.
“We could wait for Sir Maddox? He will be home soon.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I assured her. “Dylan will accompany us.”
Dylan was the man assigned to look after me in Maddox’s absence. A simple man—no arrogance, no hidden motives. Just someone who did his job and kept to himself.
Lara glanced at me, still unsure, her eyes darting nervously to the rag in her hand.
“Get dressed. I’ll wait for you here.”
I took the rag from her hands and set it down on the counter. She looked down at her now empty hands before she finally nodded and left the kitchen.
As I watched her go, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one in this house who felt like a prisoner. But the bigger question remained — Why ?
Lara returned shortly after that, dressed in a plant shirt and jeans. The first time I see her wearing something different than her work clothes.
Then we left the mansion. Being outside of The King’s residence felt like I could finally breathe again.
It wasn’t just me—Lara was a completely different person outside the confines of that house. The moment we stepped out into the fresh air, she seemed to transform.
Back at the mansion, Lara was quiet, always looking down her words clipped and cautious as if trying not to draw any attention to herself.
It was like she was living under constant surveillance, the weight of the family’s expectations always on her shoulders.
But now, out here, she was more herself. It took her a couple of hours to warm up, shake off the fear, and start speaking freely. The walls around her came down slowly. She smiled a few times, and when she spoke, her voice didn’t sound frightened or rushed anymore.
I could tell how different she was, and part of me wanted to protect her from whatever had made her act the way she did back in that house. She’s stunning, effortlessly so. No makeup, nothing to hide her features.
It’s as if she’s been trying her best to blend into the background, to make herself invisible.
We took a quick walk around the city, the cool air refreshing after the stuffy atmosphere of the mansion. We went to the nearby mall, where she helped me choose a dress for tonight’s dinner.
She shared little bits about herself along the way. Not much, but enough to satisfy my curiosity, at least for the time being. I learned that she’s eighteen, just two years younger than me. And that she lives in the mansion full-time, bound to this place, like me.
I didn’t push her for more details. She was still so guarded, and I didn’t want to make her feel trapped or unsafe.
Instead, I let her share what she was comfortable with, hoping that she’d open up more as we spent time together.
We lost track of time as we wandered through the mall, browsing stores and chatting casually.
After a while, we found ourselves sitting in a small restaurant, relaxing. Dylan took a table nearby, always keeping an eye on us. He seemed like a watchful protector, though it was clear he wasn’t thrilled about the situation.
Lara sat across from me, her eyes constantly darting around the busy restaurant, her face tense as if waiting for something to go wrong.
We ordered food and spent a while there, enjoying the escape from the mansion. By the time dessert arrived, I was on my third glass of wine, feeling lightheaded and a little buzzed. Lara, in contrast, was sipping on water, as expected.
Lara looked down at her phone before glancing back at me, concern written all over her face.
“Miss Delgado, I think it’s time to go back to the house. Mr. and Mrs. King will be expecting us.”
“They can wait.” I waved my hand dismissively, taking a bite of my chocolate cake. I nearly moaned out loud—it was so good, the chocolate melting in my mouth.
“Miss Delgado—”
I interrupted her before she could finish.
“Allyn. My name is Allyn.”
“Allyn.” The word slipped from her lips as if it were forbidden. “Let's get back before someone finds out you’re gone. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Lara opened her mouth to say something again, but her eyes shifted, drawn to someone—or something. A look of genuine fear crossed her face as she sprang to her feet, as if scalded.
“Sir Maddox.”
The moment the name left her lips, the familiar scent filled the space around me from behind. My blood froze, and I shut my eyes.
Now I’m really screwed.
“Allyn.” His voice rang with dominance, yet without force. My head cleared instantly.
I turned around to face him, the sensation as if someone had just punched me in the stomach. His hands casually rested in the pockets of his expensive pants, his cruel eyes narrowed, drilling holes into me.
Dylan stood next to our table now, his expression anxious. I could almost see the sweat on his forehead.
“Sir, I—”
“Shut up.”
Dylan nodded without hesitation.
Lara’s face was a mask of terror, her cheeks flushed, as though on the verge of tears.
‘‘Let’s go.’’
“But the bill is not—”
“The bill is paid.” he cut me off. “Now go.”
Saying anything more would only make things worse, so I gathered my things and left the restaurant, Lara following me with everyone’s eyes on us. Like a child caught doing something bad, now being grounded. I felt terrible—not for what I did, but for dragging Lara into this with me. But the last thing I expected was for Maddox to appear out of nowhere.
How the hell did he know where I was?
Is he stalking me or something?
In front of the restaurant, two black SUVs waited for us, with two men standing beside each one, dressed in all black.
Maddox walked to the first car, said something to the driver, and then returned to us.
“You will go with them.” His eyes locked onto Lara. “They will drive you back to the house.”
“No,” I snapped. “She’s coming with me.”
Maddox groaned.
“Stop being such a fucking brat, and for once, shut your mouth”
“It’s not her fault,” I said. “I asked her to accompany me.”
“Did I ask you a fucking question?” he hissed.
“Fuck you,” I spat back. He clenched his jaw. “I won’t let her be punished for something she didn’t do.”
“No one will do anything to her.”
I laughed sarcastically.
“And I should believe you?”
“I’m many things, but dishonorable is not one of them.” he casually added, as if we were discussing business.
‘‘Go, Miss Delgado, please. I don’t want to cause more trouble.” Lara broke into the conversation from next to me.
She was on the verge of tears, and that was the only reason I decided to surrender. I didn’t want to put her in another ugly situation.
“I’ll find you as soon as I can, okay?”
I reassured her, and she nodded.
I just hoped Maddox kept his word because if anything happened to her, he’d see what kind of brat I could turn into.
The man by the car opened the door for Lara. She looked at me one last time before getting inside, and the door slammed shut behind her. All the other men, Dylan included, got in as well.
Then the car sped off.
I had no choice but to watch it drive away, my eyes fixed on it until it disappeared from view.
Maddox opened the door to the other car.
“Get in the fucking car, Allyn.”