After a long day full of surprises and tension, Ella returned to the Marivan mansion. She stepped into her room, intending to set aside her wedding clothes and return to the comfort of her true self. But before she could, a knock at the door startled her—it was Martha.
"Martha: Mr. Kay is requesting your presence in his room."
Ella froze.
"Ella: What does that man want from me at this hour?"
She changed her clothes quickly and made her way to his room. When she knocked, Kay's voice called out:
"Come in."
Ella opened the door and stood before him.
"Did you call for me?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes," Kay replied. "I wanted to share the celebration of our wedding with you. The ceremony was wonderful… not that you organized it, of course."
Ella remained rooted in place, unwilling to engage in his provocative banter. Anger still simmered from their first encounter, and she refused to respond. Her coldness only irritated Kay, a man used to the flattery of women drawn to his status and his family's influence.
"Which side of the bed will you sleep on?" he asked provocatively.
Ella turned to leave, uttering calmly, "It seems there's nothing for us to discuss. Good night."
Suddenly, Kay's voice rose sharply:
"If you leave this room, your father's debt will double."
Ella stopped in her tracks and turned to him, her face flushed with anger.
"That's not in our contract, and you have no right to add terms on your own, sir," she snapped.
Kay's gaze turned icy.
"I decide the terms and when they change. Enter, and close the door behind you. Your presence must be useful, right?"
He unbuttoned his shirt slowly, folding it neatly, then loosened the top buttons of his undershirt, sitting down with one leg crossed over the other. He commanded her to kneel on her knees before him. Ella's body shuddered at the horror of his request. Is he deranged? she thought, but the image of her grandfather's smile steadied her mind.
Ella knelt before him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She tried to hide them to appear strong, but it was futile—she felt herself breaking bit by bit. Kay reached out, lifting her chin. Her eyes sparkled with tears like scattered pearls, and her cheeks burned with anger, shame, and sorrow.
At that moment, Kay felt his chest tighten, his heartbeat quicken, and the same strange sensation he had experienced before returned. He rose, covering his face with his large hands, and asked her to leave, claiming her tears had spoiled the mood.
Ella left the room, dabbing at her eyes, retreating to her own sanctuary. Maria, Mr. Martin's wife, watched her exit from Kay's room, curiosity flickering in her eyes. What just happened there? she wondered.
Several days later, Ella was having breakfast in her room as usual when she received a call from her mother, requesting her presence at the family home. Ella hesitated, sensing a difference in her mother's tone. She sought permission from Mr. Martin, who agreed on the condition that his driver would take her and return her, and that she would not stay overnight anywhere.
Ella had no choice but to comply. Under different circumstances, she would never have spent the night anywhere but with her family.
When she arrived, an eerie silence filled the house. Strange looks from her parents immediately made her uneasy.
"What is happening here? Someone speak! What's going on? Did something happen to my grandfather?" she cried, tears welling in her eyes.
The truth hit her like a crushing weight: her grandfather had passed away. He had been the kindest, most loving figure in her life—the anchor of her parents' and her own world.
Ella collapsed unconscious, only to awaken alone in a hospital bed. Memories of the last events flooded back, and she broke into uncontrollable sobs, her eyes swelling as she drowned in her own black sea of grief.
Why… why did my sacrifice fail? Why, why, why? she whispered over and over, repeating the question into the emptiness.
A nurse entered and administered a sedative to calm her.
Days passed. Ella remained in shock—refusing to eat, smile, or speak. Mr. Martin arranged for her to be returned to the mansion under strict medical care until her condition improved.
Her grandfather's funeral had yet to take place; repatriating his body required lengthy procedures. Ella watched the clock tick slowly, her eyes glazed, her soul heavy with despair.