Chapter 3 A tour

The old lady smiled warmly and neatly kept the fruit-sliced plate, presenting it to her. Wafa innocently blinked her eyes, fisting her dress. The nervousness was so visible on her face. The old lady smiled at her innocence and asked politely, "Honey, what's your name?"

"Wafa," she mumbled, fidgeting with her fingers and casting her eyes down. The lady squealed and caressed her hair, saying, "What a lovely name! Won't you ask my name?" The lady asked, acting all sad. Wafa chuckled cutely at her words and asked in her honey-coated voice, "What's your name?" Her voice seemed so soothing to the ears.

"Amanda, I have been a maiden here for the last 30 years. Come on, have these fruits. You seem too weak," Amanda said worriedly. Wafa ducked her head down, embarrassed by her poor status. She slowly had two apple pieces without saying a word. The fruits were fresh, juicy, and melted in her mouth. She moaned at the sweetest taste. She was eating proper fruits after a very long time. She barely had any proper food.

She smiled, being thankful to the Almighty for blessing her with such tasty fruits which she barely had. Amanda stood up and asked, "Why don't you have a tour of this mansion?" She proposed the idea. Wafa chewed her lips, thinking hard. What if that beast gets angrier? But on the other hand, she wants to escape, so it's best to have a tour of this mansion. She nodded, agreeing.

"Sure, Aunt. Can I call you Aunt?" she asked innocently. Amanda squealed with excitement, "Oh, that's lovely, my child! And yes, finally, I have someone here who would call me Aunt! I always wanted to be an aunt, but alas, my fate," she said, pouting at last, making Wafa giggle. Wafa found this woman full of joy and enthusiasm. She was absolutely a carefree soul with a caring nature.

"Come, follow my lead," the woman said, singing, making Wafa chuckle more. As Amanda and Wafa strolled downstairs, Ehab's girlfriend Nancy, who was just reading a magazine after getting humiliated by Ehab, paused upon seeing the timid Wafa. She glared at her.

Glared at her as if she would eat Wafa raw, Wafa fidgeted with her fingers and bowed her head, avoiding eye contact. Nancy stood up, her heels clicking on the shining marble floor. She smirked at Wafa, scanning her from head to toe. Amanda glared at Nancy with pure hatred. She despised it when Amanda visited Ehab.

"Let's go, dear," Amanda said, gripping Wafa's small wrist and pulling her along. Wafa innocently followed Amanda, starting in the kitchen. Amanda squealed, introducing her to every maid. The workers and maids welcomed her half-heartedly. They knew Ehab had brought a girl here and suspected he was up to something.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Amanda squealed, making Wafa smile slightly.

The maids rolled their eyes and one of them said, "You need to visit an eye specialist, Amanda." The others laughed. Wafa felt humiliated. Amanda glared at them and then side-hugged Wafa. "Don't mind them, they're just unwanted humans," Amanda said, leaving the maids stunned. Wafa tried to control her smile.

Amanda giggled, leading her towards the big lounge. Wafa gasped at the expensive interior design. It was designed in Italian style with all the modernization. Wafa smiled at the portraits. She loved colors. Amanda was blabbering about how Ehab had not allowed anyone to enter here, not even Nancy. Wafa found it strange and just bobbed her head at her words.

Her eyes widened at a painting where there was a timid girl, just like her. She shivered at the painting as the girl was in the arms of a bulky, strong man holding her closer, so close that their breath must be mingling for sure. She shivered when her eyes traveled down to the waist; the grip of that man seemed too strong. He was holding her so tightly like his life depended on it. She gulped nervously as the man in the portrait was so much similar to Ehab. It resembled him in every possible way.

Amanda tapped her shoulder, making her flinch. Turning around, she gulped nervously. Her small almond-shaped face was covered with sweat now.

"Oh my God, why are you sweating, honey? Are you sick?" Amanda said, frowning and checking Wafa's temperature. Wafa shook her head. "Huh, I am fine. Can I just have a glass of water?" she asked, gulping with fear. It seemed like she was fearing to face him again. She strongly felt something between him and herself. She slowly turned back to the picture and gulped nervously.

Amanda quickly brought a glass of water. Wafa choked twice while sipping the water, taking deep breaths. Amanda caressed her back. "I think you need to rest, honey," said Amanda, worriedly. "No, I am fine. I just want to go back home. Please help me, please let me go," she said in a pleading tone.

Amanda's eyes softened as she looked at her. She caressed her cheek. "I wish I could," she mustered, looking down. Wafa's tears found their way, rolling down her cheeks as she sobbed about her fate. "Please, Aunt, let me go, please," she said, sobbing hard and requesting her. Amanda felt so bad that she couldn't help this innocent soul. "I wish I could help you" Amanda said being helpless.

Wafa frowned even more. She looked down at her palms, trying to read her fate. Why was life so cruel to her? What was her fault? Why did she always end up suffering, and that too all alone? And why couldn't she go back home? What did that beast want from her? She had multiple questions, but not a single person was there to help her with them. She felt lost in this cruel world. She wobbled her lips and cried harder. She knew she was in deep trouble, and he would surely harm her in every sense.

"Why can't I go back? I am just an ordinary girl. Just why am I stuck here?" she asked, crying hysterically. Amanda has no answers to her questions.