The sound of the door opening made both Liana and Gareth freeze. They turned their heads sharply, their faces a mix of shock and alarm.
One of the maids assisting Liana stood in the doorway, her eyes widening in horror at the scene before her. “L-Luna Liana?” she stammered, her voice trembling.
Liana pushed Gareth off her, her movements frantic as she scrambled to her feet. “Get out!” she snapped at the maid, her voice sharp with panic.
The maid didn’t wait for further instruction. She turned and fled, her footsteps echoing down the corridor as she disappeared from sight.
Liana whirled on Gareth, her fury erupting. “You fool! Do you realize what you’ve done?”
Gareth chuckled, unbothered by her anger. “Relax, Liana. She’s just a maid. No one’s going to believe her over you.”
“You don’t understand,” Liana hissed, pacing the room. “If she tells anyone what she saw, everything we’ve worked for will come crashing down. You’ve jeopardized everything!”
Gareth stood, his demeanor calm despite the storm of emotions swirling around Liana. “Then we deal with her,” he said simply, his tone cold.
Liana stopped pacing, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Gareth replied, stepping closer, “just trust me, dear.”
Liana hesitated, the weight of his suggestion settling over her. “You think you can make this disappear?”
“Trust me,” Gareth said with a smirk. “I’ll handle it.”
He turned and strode out of the room, leaving Liana alone with her thoughts. She sank onto the edge of the bed, her mind racing with possibilities. The maid had seen too much, and the risk of exposure was too great.
Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as Liana waited for Gareth’s return. Her nerves were frayed, her stomach twisting in knots. Finally, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Gareth entered, his expression smug as he closed the door behind him.
“Well?” Liana demanded, rising to her feet. “What happened?”
Gareth leaned against the door, his smirk widening. “She’s dead.”
Liana’s breath caught, a mix of relief and unease washing over her. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Gareth replied confidently. “No one will ever hear what she saw.”
Liana exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Good. That’s one problem dealt with.”