Why Her:The shadow of the past

The Summonings

As the days passed, Mel grew closer to the other maids, including Bella. One evening, as they were preparing for bed, Bella approached Mel with a curious expression.

"Mel, I've noticed you're always so secretive about your past," Bella said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What brought you to Placid Mansion? You can trust us."

Mel hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Bella's kind eyes put her at ease. She took a deep breath and began to spin a tale.

"I came from a small village in the countryside," Mel started, her voice laced with a hint of sadness. "My parents were ill, and I needed to find work to support them. I heard about Placid Mansion and its generous employer, Mr. Lucas. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to try when I heard he was in need of a new maid"

The other maids listened with sympathetic ears, their faces filled with concern. Mel's story was a convincing one, and they had no reason to doubt her.

But what they didn't know was that Mel's story was a clever fabrication. Her real mission was to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances at Placid Mansion. And she was determined to see it through, no matter the cost.

Later that evening, during the drinking game, Lucas's eyes locked onto Mel. "And what's your name, my dear?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

Mel's heart skipped a beat. She knew she had to think fast. "I'm June," she replied, a bright smile spreading across her face.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "June? I like it. You know, June, you look familiar. Have you changed your appearance recently?"

Mel's pulse quickened. She knew she had to tread carefully. "Oh, yes! I cut my hair and dyed it. I wanted a fresh start."

Lucas's gaze lingered on her, as if searching for any inconsistencies. But Mel's disguise had done its job. She looked nothing like her true self, and Lucas seemed none the wiser.

As the night wore on, Mel continued to play the role of June, laughing and smiling alongside the other maids. But beneath the surface, she remained vigilant, her eyes and ears open for any clues that might lead her closer to the truth.

Mel, along with the other maids, was instructed to meet with Lucas, the infamous mafia lord, in his study later that evening. The atmosphere was tense as they gathered outside the door, exchanging nervous glances.

Damien, one of Lucas's loyal guards, stood watchfully beside the door, his eyes lingering on Mel. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she recalled the incident earlier that day when she was caught peeping through the door by Damien and another maid. Unbeknownst to them, a hidden camera had captured the entire scene.

Lucas's voice boomed from within the study, "Enter!" The maids hesitated before stepping inside. Lucas, seated behind his massive desk, gestured for them to approach.

"I've summoned you here today to discuss a matter of great importance," he began, his piercing gaze sweeping across the room. "From now on, I expect you all to dress more... appealingly. Your current attire is far too plain for my taste."

The maids exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to make of Lucas's demands. Mel, in particular, felt a sense of unease wash over her.

Later that night, Mel reported back to Lilah about the meeting the maids had with Lucas. "He wants us to dress more provocatively, Lilah. I don't feel comfortable with this."

He is a lunatic,he asked us to dress more appealing and sent us 350k claiming it was our salary and we are not to return under any circumstances .Lilah's expression turned grave. "We'll need to be careful, Mel. Lucas is not a man to be trifled with. And we still have no leads on the missing girls."

Mel's thoughts turned to the missing girls, and a sense of determination washed over her. She was more determined than ever to uncover the truth behind their disappearance.

Drinking game

The maids were instructed to gather in the grand ballroom that evening. Lucas stood at the center of the room, a charming smile plastered on his face.

"Tonight, we'll be playing a little game," he announced, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Each of you will be required to drink a glass of wine. It's a simple test of loyalty."

The maids hesitated, but one by one, they began to drink. Mel, however, refused. "I'm allergic to alcohol," she explained, her voice firm. "It makes me... break out in rashes."Forced to drink the alcohol she began to feel the unsettling reaction of her skin,her lungs gasping for air.

As the other maids continued to drink, Mel began to feel a creeping sense of unease . She tried to

excuse herself but Lucas guards

blocked her path.

She tried to hide her discomfort, but it was no use. The itching became unbearable, and she felt her skin burning.

Desperate for relief, Mel made a split-second decision. She rushed to the window and threw it open, the cool night air enveloping her like a shroud. Without hesitation, she climbed out onto the windowsill and leapt into the darkness.

Time seemed to slow as Mel plummeted toward the ground. She landed with a sickening thud on the pool deck, the impact sending shockwaves through her body.

As she lay there, Mel felt a warm sensation spreading across her skin. She looked down to see a pool of blood forming around her, her skin raw and broken from the itching.

Just as she was starting to lose consciousness, Mel saw a figure looming over her. Lucas's icy eyes stared down at her, his expression unreadable.

"June," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "What have you done?"

Later that night

As Mel lay on the pool deck, her vision began to blur. She felt Lucas's strong arms scoop her up, lifting her off the cold stone. He cradled her against his chest, his icy eyes filled with a hint of concern.

"Get the doctor," Lucas barked, his voice echoing through the night air. "Now."

He rushed Mel to the infirmary, a state-of-the-art medical facility within Placid Mansion. The doctor, a bespectacled man with a kind face, was already waiting.

"Don Lucas, what happened?" the doctor asked, his eyes widening as he took in Mel's condition.

"She jumped out of the window," Lucas replied, his voice tight with tension. "She's allergic to something. I don't know what."

The doctor quickly got to work, assessing Mel's injuries. "We need to act fast," he muttered. "Her life is in danger."

Lucas's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Do whatever it takes," he growled. "She is important to me and I don't know why"

The doctor nodded, already administering medication and tending to Mel's wounds. Lucas watched, his eyes fixed on Mel's pale face, as the doctor worked to save her life.

For a moment, Mel's eyes flickered open, and she saw Lucas's face above her. She tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper.

"Don Lucas..." she breathed.

His eyes locked onto hers, and for an instant, Mel saw something there, something that looked almost like... concern. But it was quickly replaced by his usual icy demeanor.

"Save your strength, June," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "You're going to be okay."

As the news of Mel's accident and Lucas's heroic actions spread through Placid Mansion, Natasha's eyes narrowed with growing unease. She had always been Lucas's favorite, the one he pampered and adored. But now, it seemed, his attention was focused on someone else.

Natasha's jealousy simmered, slowly building into a raging storm. She couldn't bear the thought of Lucas caring for another woman, especially one as insignificant as a maid. Her pride and ego were wounded, and she lashed out in anger.

Storming into the infirmary, Natasha's eyes scanned the room, her gaze locking onto Lucas, who stood beside Mel's bed, his eyes fixed on her pale face. Natasha's anger boiled over, and she dashed toward Lucas, her fists clenched.

"How could you?" she spat, her voice venomous. "Why were you so quick to defend her, to save her. What about me? Don't I matter to you anymore?"

Lucas's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched. "Natasha, this is neither the time nor the place. June is injured and needs medical attention."

But Natasha wouldn't be silenced. She continued to rant and rave, her anger and jealousy consuming her. Lucas's patience finally snapped, and he turned to the guards stationed outside the infirmary.

"Take her away," he growled, his voice icy. "Lock her in the dark room. She needs to calm down."

The guards hesitated for a moment before moving to restrain Natasha. She struggled and kicked, but they were too strong, and they dragged her away, locking her in the dark room.

As the door slammed shut behind Natasha, Lucas turned back to June, his eyes softening. "Don't worry about her," he whispered. "You're safe now."