When I got to the bedroom, Mary helped me take off my clothes. I went into the bathroom and took a long shower. When I came out, I put on some pajamas and lay down.

About ten minutes later, I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said with a flat voice.

It was Mary, holding a tray in her hands.

“Ma’am, I brought you your dinner,” she said kindly.

“Thank you, Mary, but I’m not hungry at all,” I replied, disheartened.

“Don’t say that. You need to eat or you’ll get sick.”

Not wanting to argue, I did as she asked and started eating.

Twenty minutes later, I finished, and Mary took the tray, closing the door behind her. I stared at a fixed point on the wall until I heard firm footsteps approaching my room.

Seconds later, the door burst open, and Alexander’s cold face appeared in my line of sight. I immediately sat up and backed into a corner of the bed.

“What do you want now?” I asked, feeling the anger rising inside me.

“I warned you clearly that I didn’t want that man near you,” he