The sound of the ambulance swallowed everything else.
The siren was loud— pressing into my ears until my head felt heavy and my vision blurred. Red and white lights flashed around me and people in the company stared at me.
And all I felt was guilt.
I had beaten the wrong person.
The realization hit me so hard my chest tightened. My throat burned, and my eyes stung. I almost cried right there, standing uselessly as the injured man was rushed into the ambulance.
He was one of Raisem's model.
His hands were broken because he slammed them on the table when I attacked him.
This is all my fault.
Raisem stood beside me as the ambulance doors slammed shut. The cold metal echoed, sealing my mistake inside with him. As Raisem stepped forward, his personal assistant rushed over and stopped him.
"Go with him and make sure he's okay." Raisem said and his PA followed the ambulance.
I watched him leave, my heart sinking deeper.
I felt terrible. Completely horrible.
"I'm so sorry I caused so much trouble, I..." I wanted to explain I was so stupid.
The words rushed out of me, messy and weak. My hands trembled as I tried to talk. I wanted him to understand. I wanted to undo everything.
He didn't say a word but he seemed so upset by what I did.
His silence hurt more than shouting would have. His jaw was tight. His eyes were dark and distant.
"Raisem, I'm so sorry." I apologized.
"I made a mistake. I can't believe I brought you to my work place." He said trying to hide his anger.
The disappointment in his voice cut deep.
"I..I.. I didn't mean to." I struggled to say a word..
My voice cracked. My chest felt heavy, like I was drowning.
He scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter, then turned and walked toward his car. Panic rushed through me. I didn't want him leaving like this.
I ran after him.
"Can I go with you, I think I owe him an apology." I said.
He didn't respond. He just got into the car and turned on the engine.
"Are you coming or not?" He said and I hurried in.
******
We got to the hospital not long after. The moment we stepped inside, the sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nose.
The place felt too quiet, too cold, like it swallowed people's pain and never gave it back. Nurses moved around quickly, machines beeped softly, and everything felt tense.
We were led into a special ward. My hands were shaking as I clutched the flower tightly. I had forced Raisem to stop at a flower shop on the way here. I didn't know if flowers could fix anything, but I needed to do something, anything to apologize.
Raisem's model, Alex, lay on the hospital bed, his hands wrapped in thick white casts. His face had small bruises, and seeing him like that made my chest ache with guilt.
He noticed Raisem immediately.
"Uncle." Alex replied quickly. " You brought this witch?"
My heart dropped straight to my stomach.
Uncle?
My mind froze for a second. Raisem was his uncle?
Oh shit. What have I done?
"I think you have something to say." Raisem said.
Raisem turned to me slightly, his expression unreadable. My throat tightened as all eyes slowly shifted toward me.
"I am so sorry, I didn't know it wasn't you, I made a mistake." I said.
My voice was low and shaky. I bowed my head slightly, gripping the flowers harder as shame washed over me.
"You ruined my pretty face. Uncle are you going to let her go freely?" Alex pouted in pain.
He tried to exaggerate his suffering, even though the pain was real. Raisem didn't look moved at all.
"What'll do to her is none of your business just get healed. I had to move the shoot because of you " Raisem said.
"It was that witch's fault." Alex screamed at me as I dropped the flower on the table beside his bed.
The flower slipped from my fingers and landed awkwardly beside him. I didn't even try to pick it back up. Shame surrounded me like a heavy shield.
I couldn't believe I had hurt an innocent man. Why would they even wear the same outfit in the first place? What was wrong with these people?
Just then, the door burst open.
A woman rushed in, dressed in expensive clothes, her face filled with panic. I recognized her immediately, the woman I saw with Raisem at the runway. Her stomach was round. She was pregnant.
"Alex." She screams and ran towards him.
"Mum." Alex said and cried out.
She cupped his face gently, her hands shaking.
"What happened? I came immediately I got your call?"
She turned sharply to Raisem, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Raisem what were you doing watching your brother get hurt this way?"
"I told you not to come that he's fine. But you still insisted on coming." Raisem said casually.
His calm tone only made her more emotional.
"My poor baby, look at your hands and cheeks. I will never forgive whoever did this. I will break their bones and make them suffer for causing my baby this much pain ." She said.
I swallowed hard. My heartbeat raced. I felt like sinking into the ground.
She finally noticed me standing there quietly.
"And who's the damsel Raisem?" Alex's mum asked.
"She's the witch who..."
Before Alex could finish, Raisem quickly shoved a big apple into his mouth, cutting him off.
"She's my new maid." Raisem blurted out.
My eyes widened in shock.
A maid?
"Oh woah, I thought she was your girlfriend then I forgot you are actually a relationship hater." Alex's mum said.
Raisem rolled his eyes.
So this is my life now.
I stayed quiet and played along. I didn't want her finding out the truth.
Her phone beeped suddenly.
"It's Alexa." She muttered.
"I thought she was coming today?" Alex said looking confused.
"Yes, I didn't know she was going to arrive so early and I'm so tired I just got back from my anti natal." She groaned.
"Does Alexa know about your pregnancy?" Raisem asked raising his brows.
"No, I haven't told her about it. She would be so mad. She was really serious about being the last born ." Alex's mum said looking exhausted.
I stood quietly, watching them talk about family. It felt strange, almost painful. I had none though.
"Uncle Raisem can go pick her up in the airport." Alex blurted out.
Raisem shot him a deadly glare, and Alex instantly went quiet.
"You can just order some of the men to do that. I'm busy." Raisem said, his voice firm.
"She doesn't like them coming to pick her up. She wants you. " Alex's mum said with a smile.
Raisem breathed out slowly, clearly annoyed.
"Okay."
"Thank you, I'll stay here with Alex, go pick her up." She said patting his back.
As Raisem walked toward the door, I heard Alex whisper.
"That woman is a witch."
******
On the drive to the airport, I finally broke the silence.
"So I'm the maid." I scoffed .
Raisem glanced at me briefly.
"You want me to tell her you almost disfigured her son's face and you broke his arm."
"No," I muttered.
"I had no idea you have a lovely family. It must be so fun."
He scoffed lightly. "Trust me it can be a pain in the ass sometimes."
I smiled softly. For a moment, he looked almost… human.
The airport was busy and loud. People rushed around with luggage, voices echoing everywhere. As we walked toward the arrival unit, my eyes caught something small and adorable.
A little girl, maybe three years old, stood beside a young pretty woman. The same age as Raisem. The little girl was tiny, cute, and holding her small bag tightly.
Then suddenly, I heard a calm and sweet voice.
"Raisem."
The little girl screamed happily and ran toward him with her arms stretched out.
"I've missed you. Mummy didn't tell me you were coming." Alexa said when she got to Raisem.
Raisem lifted her up easily with one hand.
"Hey Alexa."
"Thank goodness you came. I almost vomited at the sight of her." She pointed rudely at the woman who was beside her.
The woman walked toward us calmly.
"Nice to see you again Raisem." Joja said.
Her eyes flicked to me with clear dislike.
"Who is she?" Joja asked.
Raisem didn't give her a reply.
"Uncle, did you bring your girlfriend?"
Hope filled the little girl's face. The woman beside her looked furious. I said nothing.
"Uncle, I have a lot to tell you. I have a crush on this new guy I met in class." Alexa said playing with the silver chain on Raisem's neck.
"I thought you were not allowed to have a crush till you're eighteen." Raisem raised his brows.
"Uncle, he is so hot just like you."
She kissed his cheek playfully, pulling it. I couldn't stop smiling. Seeing someone soften him like this felt unreal.
He was always looking like an angry Lion.
"Ara, take Alexa to the car." Raisem said.
"I don't want to leave you." Alexa muttered.
"I'll be back in a few minutes." Raisem replied.
I lifted her but almost fell under her weight. I felt hands grab me quickly.
My face burned with embarrassment.
I took Alexa to the car and waited for him to come out.
Minutes passed. Then more minutes.
He was taking too long.
My chest tightened as unease settled in. What was going on? Should I go back and check on him? But I couldn't leave Alexa alone—not like this. The thought of abandoning her made my stomach twist.
Luckily, the bodyguards were still around.
"Can you please take care of her? I'll be right back," I said to the female bodyguard, forcing calm into my voice even though my hands were already shaking.
She nodded, and I hurried back into the airport, my footsteps quick and uneven.
When I reached the spot where we had been earlier, I slowed down.
Then I stopped.
Joja and Raisem's voice drifted toward me. I stood frozen at the corner, my heart pounding as their conversation reached my ears.
"Seriously, you can't do this to me, Raisem. After everything I did for you," Joja said, her voice breaking as tears spilled freely.
"I never asked you to do any of it for me," Raisem replied coldly. "I never begged you for anything. So stop, you're just being pathetic."
There was no emotion in his tone. No hesitation. He wasn't moved by her tears at all.
"How can you be so heartless?" she screamed, her voice sharp with pain. "You are indebted to me. Your whole family are!"
"Your crocodile tears won't change my mind," he said, his voice dark and final. "And by the way, never mention my family anymore."
I sucked in a sharp breath.
When I leaned out just a little, I caught a glimpse of his face. His eyes looked evil, mean, almost like a villain's.
There was something terrifying in them, something I had never seen so clearly before.
"You murderer," Joja spat, then laughed maniacally. "You think people won't find out you killed someone?"
My heart skipped. Murderer?
Killed someone?
What was she talking about?
What was I hearing?
"I was the one who protected you," she cried, her voice cracking as she broke down completely. "I stood by you. And now you just want to ditch me like an overused underwear."
Raisem didn't move. He didn't react. Not even slightly.
I felt dizzy.
Could all of this be true? What is going on?
Could he really have murdered someone?
My thoughts were a mess. I didn't even know what to believe anymore.
I tried to move backward quietly, but my elbow accidentally hit a mini sculpture behind me. It tipped, crashed to the ground, and shattered.
The sound echoed. I was quick and hid before they could see me.
My lungs burned as I rushed out of the airport and back toward the car park, forcing myself to act normal, pretending I hadn't heard a single word.
But when I got there, my steps faltered.
Raisem was already standing beside the car.
Fear crawled up my spine.
I paused for a second, then forced my face into a neutral expression.
"Where did you go?" Raisem asked.
"I..I quickly went to the bathroom," I said, adjusting my clothes as casually as I could, swallowing hard.
The funniest thing was, if anyone told me he was a murderer, I would believe it.
I mean, he had tried to kill me three times, all because of that so-called test. I had heard stories too, lots of things. So I wouldn't lie… part of me believed it.
"Take Alexa home," Raisem said to the female bodyguard.
"Yes, boss," she replied.
Alexa looked pissed, her arms folded tightly across her chest, but Raisem didn't even spare her a glance.
He walked to his car.
I stood by the door, staring at it for a moment longer than necessary. My hand rested on the handle as hesitation held me back.
Finally, I opened the door and sat inside.
He drove off. Silence filled the car.
Then the rain started pouring heavily, the sound loud against the roof, almost drowning out my thoughts.
In that quiet chaos, I heard his voice.
"Tell me everything you heard?" Raisem asked.
My heart dropped.
I turned to him slowly, shock washing over me.
He knew.
He knew I had been eavesdropping.
Shit.
I