h4Chapter 66: 66 - touch me/h4

    66

    ~Lisa’s POV

    I walked quietly out of the hall, my heart still thudding from Kael’s words. Keep that up. I like it. His voice still echoed in my ear. I didn’t even know how to feel. Confused? Nervous? ttered? Maybe all of them.

    I made my way toward the kitchen, passing by the long corridor that led to the wine cer. I had to get their favorite wine. Kael and Rowan didn’t like waiting, and I didn’t want to give them another reason to be upset. Not after I’d just somehow earned a smile from Kael.

    When I reached the kitchen, it was mostly quiet. Just a few clinks of utensils and soft murmurs from some of the older maids preparing dinner. I didn’t stop to greet anyone, I just kept walking straight to the wine cer at the far end.

    The hallway to the cer was dim, and a little cold. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying not to think too hard. But the moment I opened the wooden door to the wine cer and stepped inside, I heard footsteps behind me.

    "Look who’s here," a voice said, mocking and sharp.

    I turned slowly. Two of the younger maids, Naomi and Bianca. They stood at the entrance, arms folded, eyes burning into me.

    Naomi took a step forward. "The cursed maid."

    Bianca snorted. "Why are you still walking around like you belong here? After everything?"

    I blinked, not sure what they were talking about yet. "What?"

    Naomi rolled her eyes. "Don’t act stupid. Petra is dead. Cecilia is dead. All because of you."

    My chest tightened. I turned away and walked deeper into the cer, hoping they’d leave me alone. "I don’t want any trouble," I said quietly, reaching for a bottle of red wine.

    But they didn’t leave.

    Naomiughed. "Of course, you don’t want trouble. Trouble follows you everywhere. You’re cursed, Lisa."

    "You should’ve died instead of Cecilia," Bianca added. "You should’ve died a long time ago."

    My hands trembled slightly as I held the bottle. I tried to stay calm. Tried to focus.

    "You’re nothing but a burden," Naomi went on. "Everyone talks about it behind your back. The triplets might be letting you stay, but we know the truth. You’re poison. Everyone around you ends up dead."

    I felt my jaw clench. Still, I didn’t turn around.

    Bianca’s voice sharpened. "Go and die already."

    That did it.

    I spun around, eyes wide, my voice shaking but loud. "Stop it!"

    They blinked, surprised by my outburst.

    "You think I wanted any of this?" I shouted. "You think I nned to be attacked by Cecilia? I almost died!"

    Naomi scoffed. "You’re just ying victim."

    "She tried to kill me!" I said, voice cracking. "Cecilia...she poisoned me. And Petra? She was mean and cruel every single day. She treated me like I was trash. You want to defend that?"

    Bianca frowned. "You think you’re special now because the triplets looked at you?"

    "This has nothing to do with the triplets!" I said, my fists clenched. "I’ve done nothing but survive! Every single day in this ce, I try to do my job. I try to stay quiet. And still, you all find ways to hate me."

    Naomi looked ufortable now. "You... you don’t belong here."

    "Maybe not," I whispered. "But I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere."

    Silence filled the cer.

    I turned back around, wiped the corner of my eye, and carefully lifted the wine bottle.

    "Don’t ever speak to me like that again," I said, softly but firmly.

    Neither of them replied.

    I walked past them, head high, even though my chest still ached.

    I didn’t care anymore. I was done being the quiet one. I was done taking their insults and swallowing my pain like it meant nothing.

    But just as I brushed past the two girls, one of them grabbed my arm roughly.

    "Where do you think you’re going?" she hissed.

    "Let go of me," I snapped, trying to yank my hand away.

    But before I could react, the other girl shoved me hard from behind, sending me crashing into one of the wine cer shelves.

    Bottles clinked, a few toppled over and rolled across the floor.

    "You think you’re bold now, huh?" Bianca sneered. "After ruining everything?"

    "Petra is dead!" Naomi shouted. "And Cecilia too! All because of you!"

    "You want to act big now?" Naomi said again, stepping close. "Let’s see how big you really are!"

    I pushed her back. "I didn’t kill them! Cecilia tried to kill me! Petra almost got me locked away for doing nothing!"

    "Liar!" she screamed.

    Then she pped me.

    I stood there, stunned for a second, my cheek burning. I’d had enough.

    "You know what?" I said quietly. "I’m tired."

    Then I pped her back.

    That was it.

    Naomi screamed andunched herself at me. Her nails scratched across my arm. I yelled and grabbed her hair. Bianca grabbed me from behind and we all went down, struggling, hitting, pulling.

    "Let me go!" I shouted.

    "You’re cursed!" Naomi screamed, trying to grab my face.

    "You should’ve died instead of Cecilia!"

    I elbowed Bianca in the ribs and rolled away, panting.

    One of them jumped on me again, but this time, I was ready. I grabbed her wrist and twisted, forcing her to cry out.

    "You think I’m weak?" I growled. "You all think I’m nothing?"

    I shoved her away, and she tumbled backward.

    Naomi grabbed my dress from behind and tried to pull me down again, but I turned sharply, grabbed a wine bottle nearby, and raised it, not to hit her, just to make her stop.

    She froze.

    I was shaking, breathing hard, the bottle trembling in my grip.

    "Touch me again," I warned in a low, deadly voice, "and I swear, I won’t just stand there."

    They looked at me now with wide, shocked eyes.

    "You’ve gone mad," one whispered.

    "No," I said bitterly. "I’ve just woken up."

    They backed off slowly, muttering under their breath, but noting close again.

    I dropped the bottle back on the shelf, ran a shaky hand through my hair, and picked up the wine I was originally sent for. My hands were bruised, my dress torn at the shoulder, and I could feel a scratch on my neck burning, but I didn’t care.

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