I really felt like the man who is now my husband was crazy.
Yes, crazy! Samuel De Leon had absolutely no compassion. My whole body felt shattered, especially my lower back, which felt like it was about to snap from having to rake up thousands of fallen leaves in that vast yard all this time.
I let out a long sigh as I lay down. At least there's one thing I can be grateful for: tonight I can sleep on a soft bed. My suffering doesn't feel quite as bad as it did at my parents' house. Here, I can also eat as much as I want without having to wait for their leftovers or ask Mom for permission.
"It seems I really am not their biological child," I murmured softly.
That thought always crossed my mind whenever I recalled how they'd treated me over the past twenty-five years. But I quickly pushed it aside. It's all in the past now. I'm free from that hell and am officially part of the De Leon family.
Now, I have only one focus: survival. But how? Am I going to let myself continue to be a lowly servant, just as Samuel wants? Or should I fight to make him see me as a wife?
I closed my eyes, letting a faint smile play on my lips. I decided to try something crazy-I'm going to seduce my own husband.
Even if it turns out he's truly cold or can't give me what I want because of his condition, at least I'll have tried. I want to see just how far that arrogant man's defenses will hold when I start entering his world.
***
The next morning, I was awakened by a loud knock on my bedroom door. I jolted awake-it wasn't like me to sleep in. Maybe it was because my whole body felt like it was falling apart from yesterday's grueling work, or because the mattress was so soft?
"What is it?" I asked curtly to the guard behind the door.
"The master is waiting for you by the pool right now," he explained briefly.
I nodded while letting out a long sigh. Without changing my clothes or even taking a shower, I immediately stepped outside. All along the hallway, the servants stared at me with various expressions. Some bowed respectfully-after all, I was the homeowner's wife-but others sneered cynically at my disheveled appearance.
I didn't care. I was determined to change. I was no longer the weak, easily bullied Emelia Perez.
"What?" I asked immediately upon reaching Samuel.
"That's rude. It's this late and you've just woken up and haven't even showered yet!" Samuel snapped, glaring at me with a condescending look.
"It's your own fault. Yesterday I was forced to clean that huge yard all by myself-it's only natural that I'm exhausted," I replied calmly, without a care in the world.
"Now, clean this swimming pool!" he ordered sharply.
I turned toward the pool and my eyes widened instantly. How could this be? The pool was full of floating dry leaves, even though I'd seen it perfectly clean yesterday afternoon. Besides, there weren't any large trees growing right at the edge of the pool. This was clearly done on purpose.
"Why is the pool this dirty?" I asked, demanding an explanation.
"Clean it up. Don't talk so much!"
I let out a huff. I knew this was definitely his doing, just to torment me. But instead of complaining, I gave a faint smile. Cleaning the pool meant I could play in the water to my heart's content.
Without a moment's hesitation, I ran straight over and plunged into the clear water. I swam back and forth nimbly, letting the cool water wash away the fatigue from my body.
"What are you doing?! I told you to clean the pool, not swim!" Samuel's loud voice stopped what I was doing.
I just clicked my tongue. I moved toward the edge to grab the cleaning net, but my steps halted when I heard Samuel's next command.
"Stop right there!" Samuel turned to his men. "All of you, get out of here now! Don't anyone dare look in the direction of the pool. If anyone's caught peeking, I'll gouge out your eyes!"
I swallowed hard at that brutal threat. The guards quickly scattered. Once it was quiet, I realized something. I was wearing thin white pajamas. Soaked as I was, the fabric clung tightly to my body and had become see-through. I wasn't even wearing a bra.
The curves of my body and my breasts were clearly visible through the wet fabric. Oh, so that's why he chased everyone away?
Suddenly, a crazy idea popped into my head. Instead of grabbing the pool cleaning supplies, I stepped closer to Samuel with slow, seductive movements. I deliberately unbuttoned one button on my pajama top to expose more of my cleavage.
"What are you doing, Emelia?" Samuel snapped as I stood right in front of him. His breathing seemed a little ragged.
"Nothing. I just wanted to say good morning to my husband," I replied calmly, looking him straight in the eye.
I smiled smugly as Samuel looked away when I bent down in front of him. Boldly, my hand brushed against his thigh, clad in expensive slacks. I knew his leg was paralyzed, but I was curious if the rest of his body was numb too.
"Why are you looking away? Are you scared?" I asked teasingly.
"Get away, Emelia!"
"Get away where? I just want to see my husband's face up close. Turns out you're really handsome, especially when touched like this..."
Just as my hand was about to touch his cheek, Samuel swiftly grabbed my wrist. "Don't you dare touch me!" he snapped, his gaze sharp enough to kill.
Far from being scared, I actually chuckled softly. I pulled Samuel's gripping hand toward me and pressed it firmly against my damp chest. I wanted to see just how long this man could hold out.
The corners of my lips turned up as I watched Samuel's face suddenly go pale. His eyes widened in shock when he felt the warmth of my skin beneath his palm.
"Why? I'm your wife, aren't I? Didn't you send all the bodyguards away because you didn't want them to see this asset of yours? So, don't you want to give it a try?" I whispered right into his ear.
THUD!
My body was sent flying backward as Samuel shoved me roughly. Without saying a single word, he immediately spun his motorized wheelchair around and left me there.
"Ouch! Damn it!" I groaned in frustration as I rubbed my butt, which had slammed hard against the floor. "That guy is really stubborn!"
***
"Hey, you! You're just sitting here enjoying your meal. Go work like everyone else!"
I was in the middle of enjoying a slice of fresh fruit when I turned my head. I looked at a female waitress who seemed younger than the others, standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Hurry up and go work-don't just freeload on food!" she snapped again.
I didn't budge. I had absolutely no intention of getting up from this plush chair. My principle now was simple: I would only work if Samuel told me to. Otherwise, I would enjoy the amenities of this palace like a queen-at least until Samuel showed up again. Ever since the incident by the pool this morning, that man had vanished without a trace.
None of the other servants actually dared to reprimand me. They were probably confused or hesitant, seeing how bold I was to be relaxing during work hours. However, the girl in front of me seemed to have lost her mind. Or did she not know who I was?
"This new girl is crazy! Told to clean up, and she's turning a deaf ear! You have to work like the rest of us-don't just sit around and eat! You're just a servant here!" she yelled as she grabbed my wrist and yanked it roughly.
"Ow!" I yelped as her grip squeezed my skin so tightly.
"Feel that! So you know what it's like. Get to work! You're just a servant!" he said, shoving me with all his might until I fell to the floor.
I let out a harsh breath. Rage was boiling in my head. I was just about to get up to retaliate, but that intention vanished when a deep, baritone voice echoed from behind.
"What's going on here?"
It was Samuel. The man appeared in his wheelchair, staring at us with an icy glare. Behind him were several bodyguards following him.
"Sir, I'm sorry for causing a commotion," the young servant immediately bowed his head in fear, his voice trembling. "I was just trying to tell this new servant to do his job properly, instead of sitting around relaxing and munching on snacks."
I remained silent. I slowly stood up, wincing in pain. Damn it, today my butt had already hit the floor hard twice because of that man and his servant.
"Do you know who she is?" Samuel asked in a flat, inscrutable tone.
I curled my lips into a cynical smile inside. My heart suddenly began to race. This was the moment. I couldn't wait to hear Samuel announce in front of this insolent servant that I was his wife, the lady of this house.
However, the words that came out of Samuel's mouth hit me harder than the servant's shove earlier.
"She's my personal servant," Samuel said firmly. "She only works when I tell her to. Otherwise, she doesn't have to do anything. Don't you ever dare give her orders again!"
My lips instantly curled into a pout. The pride that had briefly surged in my chest vanished instantly, replaced by a suffocating tightness.
Personal servant?
I wanted to laugh bitterly. It turned out that even in front of others, Samuel was still reluctant to acknowledge my status as his wife. To him, I was still nothing more than collateral who had merely been promoted to the rank of special servant.
***
