Chapter 125: Gamble
The walk back to the main house was awkward. That was the best way to describe it. It was different from when she had walked around the town with Winnie. Her presence kept Maya from noticing the townspeople’s coldness.
However, as she walked with Arlo, all she got was stares, whispers, and people stepping out of the way to avoid her. Children stopped playing to stare, and more than a few times, someone pointed.
Arlo kept a steady distance between them and she kept her eyes glued to his back, trying her best not to see around her. She was sure everyone here knew exactly who she was and what her family had done. They were showing her exactly how they felt about it.
When they finally arrived at the main house, she could hardly hide her relief and wanted nothing more than to rush in. As memorable as her first trip outside the main house was, Maya was certain she would never do it alone.
Arlo climbed up the stairs and stared at her briefly before pushing the doors and walking into the house. He had looked back at her a few times during their walk but never initiated any conversation, nor did he seem to want to speak.
He constantly kept a distance between them, and if she tried to close it, he walked faster than she could keep up. She eventually got the hint and stayed back.
He had enough reasons to avoid her and as much as she wanted to make amends, it wouldn’t be beneficial to try to force it.
As they walked through the open door and into the entrance hall, Arlo immediately turned toward the kitchen and ran off.
She lifted her hand to wave but stopped herself. She watched him until she couldn’t see him anymore. Only then did she walk further into the house and make her way to the first floor.
The house was quiet and since it was close to lunch, it was safe to assume the servants were busy in the kitchen. Halfway up the stairs, she suddenly had an uneasy feeling and looked up. Alaina stood at the top, sneering down at her.
"If it isn’t the whiny piggy?" She loudly said.
Her instinct was to look away from her and try to continue up the stairs without drawing her attention but she knew that wouldn’t work. Alaina was not going to let her through without doing anything.
She tightly gripped her dress and held her stare as she continued up the stairs. Alaina’s eyes twitched and then her expression darkened.
"Aren’t you a little confident, piggy? Perhaps warming the Alpha’s bed and my sister fussing over you have given you some ideas. You’re nothing more than the spawn of evil, and you will never be accepted."
Maya continued up the stairs without saying a word. She didn’t even have to try to be unaffected. Things weren’t what they used to be. Did Winnie’s presence give her this much confidence? She almost smiled. It felt very nice.
Besides, Winnie told her Alaina was bothered by her presence and was using her to get to her sister. Perhaps, she should also lean into it.
She reached the top of the stairs and moved to the side. She moved carefully to avoid bumping into Alaina, who stood immovable in the middle of the path.
Just as she would step away, Alaina reached for her right arm, tightly gripping her injury. Maya gasped as pain surged and quickly spread all over her arm.
She bit down to keep from screaming as she turned to face Alaina. "Unhand me," she snapped. "Did you forget how whiny I can get?"
Alaina’s eyes widened but she moved her hand almost immediately and stepped away from her. She stared at Maya with a dumbfounded expression but that quickly changed to malice.
"What do we have here? You’ve grown wings, Penn. It will be my pleasure to clip them."
Maya pulled her hand closer to her body as she turned her gaze away from Alaina. She didn’t like hearing her childhood nickname from her lips but more importantly, it was hard to ignore her threatening words.
She rushed forward, feeling her heart slam against her chest. She didn’t believe what she had just done but Alaina’s reaction proved that it was the right choice.
If she hadn’t spoken to Winnie and if Keenan hadn’t chased Alaina from his room, she never would have considered it.
Alaina seemed to believe it too—despite the fact that Keenan didn’t know she was Penn, they both knew if she screamed, Keenan would step out of his room.
He might not be on her side but it wouldn’t be a good look for Alaina if she was caught in this act—especially for an injury that Keenan was willing to keep her in his room for. She didn’t care if it was simply from guilt; she was willing to take advantage of that.
They were on the floor of his room. She didn’t have to scream loudly for him to hear her voice. Alaina was also aware of that. It was a gamble that paid off.
She couldn’t help but smile to herself as she made her way toward his bedroom. However, she didn’t go in; instead, she turned to the next door and knocked twice.
She knew enough about his routine to know he would not be in his bedroom at this time. He would most likely be in his study room with work piled on his desk.
"Come in."
His voice faintly reached her through the heavy mahogany doors and Maya felt her heart slow down from the spike of having to deal with Alaina.
It had been scary and a part of her was worried things would go wrong, but it hadn’t—even though she had done things she normally would never think about.
She turned the handle and slowly walked into the room. Keenan didn’t look at her immediately; rather, he kept his gaze on his desk as he scribbled away.
She stood unmoving two feet away from the door as she waited for him. There was no point speaking; he was aware of her presence and had told her to come in. If he wanted to address her, he would have already.
She held her hand closer to her body as time went on and he didn’t even glance in her direction. Why was he so mean to her? She knew why, but it didn’t stop it from hurting.
He had called her from the workshop, and he wouldn’t even look at her. He just concentrated on his work.
"Alpha Keenan," she called after waiting more than she could take.
If he had no reason to call her here, he could have let her stay at the workshop a little longer. It was the most fun she had had in a long time.
No response.
"Alpha Keenan," she called with more urgency as she stepped forward.
He flicked a glance in her direction but immediately returned to his task. Maya froze, and her arms around herself tightened.
How was she supposed to tell someone who couldn’t bear the sight of her that they used to be close? Winnie’s conversation must have made her a little too confident.
Perhaps last night and this morning had made her think things were slightly better but Keenan had married her for his revenge.
"You called," she mumbled as she looked to her feet. Her voice had lost the confidence it had when she spoke to Alaina.
"Come closer," he said suddenly.
"What?" She yelled as she jerked her head up.
"I said come closer," he stated without looking at her.
Maya felt a hand reach into her chest and grip her hear and she was moving before she could stop herself. She got to his desk, and he finally lifted his gaze to look at her.
His gaze was dark as he met her eyes and Maya instinctively looked down. But it didn’t help much, as she was standing and he was sitting. She saw him stretch out his hand and shut her eyes.
"Tch," he said and grabbed her cheek.
Maya’s eyes flew open as different emotions fluttered through her. She was unsure what she was supposed to feel.
"Just what were you doing?" He asked with clear irritation as he pulled his hand away from her face—clay had stained his thumb.
She instinctively reached out to touch her face, the same place he had touched, as she felt her face grow hot.
"Ah, well, I—I got distracted. I was helping—" No, she wasn’t really doing that. "At the workshop, Winnie said I could."
Maya tried to gather her thoughts, but it was impossible. She was completely flustered. He seemed angry, but he had touched her cheek and cleaned off a stain. Where he touched still burned.
She had not pulled her hand from her cheek, and now she wanted to cover her whole face. How was she supposed to react in this situation?