As I walked past everyone, I noticed no one seed to recognize . They were all too busy with whatever was more important to them.
A wave of anger surged inside . I couldn’t believe how insignificant I had beco. It felt like I didn’t matter at all anymore.
*For every pain and sha I am going through, I will make them pay. I will get my honor back. They will have no choice but to notice and acknowledge as the most important person in the room,* I thought, walking with renewed courage and determination.
When I reached the table, I joined the other maids, working on the tables near the Alpha’s. I carefully avoided serving the Alpha’s table, not wanting to risk being seen by him or Mona.
After an hour of continuous work, I was exhausted, but there was no ti to rest. I stayed alert, standing beside the table, waiting for any requests. That’s when I heard a voice from the Alpha’s table.
"Young lady, could you bring more wine for the Alpha?" It was an old man sitting near the Alpha. He smiled as he made the request.
My heart raced, but I kept my face down. I grabbed the wine and walked towards the Alpha’s table, making sure not to lift my head. I focused on keeping my eyes low, doing everything I could to avoid eye contact with the Alpha or Mona.
I placed the wine on the table, thinking I had succeeded in going unnoticed. But just as I turned to leave, I heard soone call my na.
"Kimberly, how are you doing?"
It was a masculine voice—one I knew all too well. It was the Alpha.
I hesitated, pretending I hadn’t heard, and continued walking. But then, I heard my na again, this ti from Mona.
"Kimberly!"
I stopped. I had no choice now. I took a deep breath, trying to gather every bit of courage I had left. I forced a smile, turned around, and walked towards them slowly, my steps asured and controlled.
"Greetings to you, Alpha," I said with a polite smile, bowing slightly as I approached them.
"It’s good to see you, Kimberly. How have you been?" the Alpha asked, his face lighting up with a friendly smile.
"I’ve been well, thank you," I replied, keeping my voice calm.
"Are you enjoying the celebration?" Mona asked, her eyes boring into mine. I could feel the hidden mockery behind her words.
"I’m here to do my job, not to enjoy a celebration," I said, still smiling. "If you’ll excuse , I’d like to get back to work."
The Alpha nodded, his tone gentle. "Of course, Kimberly. You may go."
I bowed my head slightly, then walked away from them, keeping my posture strong. I didn’t return to the table I was working at; instead, I headed straight to the room where I had cried earlier.
As soon as I reached the empty room, I let out a deep breath. I had been holding everything inside during that brief interaction. I clenched my fists, trying to calm my nerves.
*You did great, Kimberly. Now, stay focused on what matters most,* I thought to myself, smiling a little as I steadied my breathing.
Just as I was about to head back to the hall, I heard footsteps behind . I quickly turned around, curious to see who had followed . To my shock, it was Mona.
"I know you despise ," she began, her voice cold and sharp. "But I want you to understand sothing. In life, we do whatever we can to stay happy and keep winning. I’ve won, and you’ll have to live with that. Don’t even think about planning anything, because it won’t work."
I stared at her in silence for a mont, my eyes locked on hers. Then I stepped forward, looking directly into her eyes.
"You say you’ve won," I began, my voice steady, "so why are you so worried about ? Are you afraid your victory won’t last?"
Mona’s face tightened, but she forced a smirk. "I’m here to warn you. Don’t get any ideas. I have eyes on you at all tis."
"Good luck to you and your watchdogs," I replied with a confident smile, leaning in slightly. Then, without waiting for her response, I walked past her and out of the room.
As I returned to the hall, I knew deep down that I was facing a battle—not just with Mona and the Alpha, but with many unseen enemies. I had to be careful, vigilant, and unpredictable.
---
The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly alive. A sense of fulfillnt lingered in my chest, but I wasn’t sure why.
*Why do I feel like this today?* I wondered as I got out of bed, my mood lighter than usual.
"Kimberly," I whispered to myself, standing in front of the mirror, "today is a new day. You’ll face obstacles, but you won’t let them break you. You’ll win. You’ll achieve all your goals."
With a smile on my face, I left my room and headed for the open field where the daily work assignnts were given to the maids. As I approached the gathering, I noticed that Ma’am Elena, Morgana, and so elders from the park were standing in front of the group. Everyone looked concerned.
I hurried over to join the others, curious about what was going on.
"Good morning, everyone," one of the elders began. "We’re not here for a long discussion, but to remind you of what we spoke about so ti ago."
He paused, then continued. "There have been more security issues. Last night, there were disturbances again, and we don’t know what’s against us. So of you may have heard noises while others slept through it, but we cannot be complacent."
Ma’am Elena, her face serious, stepped forward. "Please, everyone, stay alert. Don’t go out alone at night. Stick together. This is not the ti to take risks."
After a few more words, Ma’am Elena dismissed us to return to our duties. As I was leaving to get my work assignnt, I heard her call my na.
"Kimberly, wait."
I turned back and walked toward her quickly.
"Kimberly," she said, her eyes searching mine, "what did you think about seeing the Alpha and his wife yesterday?"
Her question caught off guard. I lowered my head, unsure of how to respond. The words wouldn’t co.
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