ALANA'S POV
"Where am I?"
I looked around the white-toned room. The facilities looked quite complete, and I immediately noticed an IV tube connected to my vein. My back? I could feel bandages on my body. How did I end up here, and who brought me?
"Where do you think you're going in that condition?"
That baritone voice startled me. A handsome man walked in just as I was about to get down from this bed.
"Who are you? Do I know you?"
I continued using sign language with this stranger.
Sean chuckled softly and walked closer to me.
"Stop! Don't come any closer. Did you buy me from my parents? You better let me go. I'm just a mute girl,"
I moved my hands slowly so this man in front of me could understand and release me, just like the others did before. I was sure it would work this time, too.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand, Alana," Sean said, the smile fading from his face as he reached out to touch my long hair. I immediately swatted his hand away and stepped back.
"What's going on? Why didn't it work? What's with this man?"
I panicked. What if he did something horrible to me?
"Don't be afraid of me. I'm not that scary. Now, come here."
Sean gestured for me to come closer, but I, already terrified, grabbed the IV pole to protect myself.
"Put that down, Alana! You could hurt yourself!" Sean shouted, his expression darkening.
I quickly shook my head and kept motioning for him to step back. But he wasn't fazed at all—he kept moving closer.
Swiftly, Sean snatched the IV pole and set it aside. His eyes caught the blood trickling out from where the IV needle had dislodged from my hand.
"I told you so! Why are you so stubborn, Alana?"
He immediately lifted me over his shoulder and carried me out, even though I was struggling and pounding on his back.
Ben quickly opened the car door as Sean approached, still carrying me.
"Stop hitting me, or I'll kiss you. Hmm?"
His words made me fall completely silent.
"There, stay obedient if you want to stay safe right now,"
he added with a small smirk in my direction.
---
My eyes widened in shock. My jaw dropped when the car entered a vast courtyard filled with beautiful flowers. A magnificent mansion, like a palace, stood tall before me. I could only swallow hard in amazement.
"Why did he bring me here? Is this palace his?"
As I questioned everything in my head, the handsome man quickly grabbed my hand and led me inside.
Inside, there were already ten maids in uniform standing in neat lines, bowing respectfully as we entered.
"What kind of man is he?"
I turned to look at him, observing him closely.
"Never mind, there's no sign of hardship on his face. That must mean he's rich. But then… why would he buy a girl like me?"
"Why are you staring at me? Am I getting more handsome when you look at me without blinking like that?"
Tch. His confidence could pierce through the seventh heaven.
I pouted, still pretending to be mute. I couldn't trust this man until I knew the truth.
"Don't curse me in your head. I can hear it loud and clear," he said again, now sounding far less intimidating than he had back at the hospital.
"Everything is ready, sir, and just as you requested,"
one of the maids said respectfully.
The man opened a bedroom door and led me inside. My jaw nearly dropped again from awe. The room was beautiful, so spacious, and filled with floral paintings that added a feminine touch to the white and pink theme.
I blinked several times, then looked at him.
"This room is beautiful. But shouldn't my room be in the back with the maids?"
I slowly signed again, hoping he'd understand.
"I don't understand, Alana. What are you saying? Are you hungry?" Sean asked, clearly confused.
Huff...
I sighed deeply and searched for my suitcase. I took out a notebook and pen, then began writing what I wanted to say.
After reading it, the man laughed loudly, which irritated me a little.
What's so funny? I'm asking a serious question. What's the joke here?
"Listen, I didn't bring you here to be a maid. Can't you see? I already have more than enough of them,"
he said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with his tie.
I wrote something again and showed it to him.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sean Rajendra. I hope you like my name, Alana."
With that, Sean walked away and gently closed the door.
---
"Who's the girl the young master brought home? She looked so shabby,"
Netty, the head maid, remarked.
"We don't know, Miss. The young master has never brought anyone here before."
"Did you see that girl? She's mute. What if she's trying to gain the young master's pity and use her beauty to manipulate him?"
Netty said with disdain. She was a haughty woman who acted like she ran the house when Sean wasn't around. No one dared oppose her because of how manipulative she was.
---
Netty saw Sean speaking with Ben downstairs. Not long after, they left. She took this opportunity to teach Alana a lesson.
ALANA'S POV
I massaged my temple, feeling a little dizzy. I chose to rest on the sofa instead of lying on that luxurious bed. I didn't feel worthy of it.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Before I could open it, a middle-aged woman stepped in. Her face looked incredibly haughty.
I had a strange feeling that she was glaring at me.
"Put this on and meet me downstairs immediately,"
she said while throwing a set of clothes at me. I had no choice but to obey since I didn't even know who she was. After she closed the door, I grabbed the clothes and put them on.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"This outfit looks just like the maid uniforms. Could it be that the man named Sean changed his mind and gave me this job?"
"It's okay. That would be better anyway."