**Chapter 10: Last Day (2)** “Please be alright,” Alessandra whispered fervently to herself, her heart pounding in rhythm with her hurried footsteps as she burst through the door, hoping to find the tiny kitten safe and sound. Today, Kate had sunk to a new low, cruelly throwing the defenseless creature as if it were nothing more than a rag doll, all because of some petty jealousy sparked by a conversation with the Duke. Alessandra knew that if she uttered a word of what had happened, no one would believe her. They would only see the forbidden kitten she’d attempted to hide in a house where Katrina despised any sort of pet. “W-Why is she running around?” a whisper trailed behind her, but Alessandra wouldn’t allow the gossiping maids to deter her. This day was supposed to mark the end of her sorrows, where she and the kitten would soar away to a new life with the Duke. But why did everything feel so irrevocably wrong? “No,” tears pricked at her eyes as she discovered the kitten trembling beneath the tree from which it had been mercilessly thrown. It looked so frail and small; she despaired at the thought of it not surviving such cruelty. She kneeled down, reaching out gently. “Kitty, I’m here.” Her heart shattered as the soft wails of the tiny creature reached her ears, shuddering in pain. “What do I do?” she wondered aloud, the weight of guilt pressing heavily on her chest. “I don’t want to hurt you any more. This is my fault. I should have hidden you better... or brought you with me.” “We have to get you help,” she murmured, cradling the kitten delicately in her hands. Desperation clawed at her insides. Surely, there had to be someone who could assist. Her father could arrange for a vet to tend to the poor thing—after all, this was all on Kate. Alessandra dashed back inside, the kitten nestled close to her heart. “Hang in there, little one. I’ll make the pain go away,” she pleaded, glancing at a maid who passed by. “Have you seen my father?” The maid turned her head away, avoiding her gaze, her silence screaming volumes. “Where is he?” Alessandra’s voice broke with frustration. The maid hesitated before finally speaking. “He’s not here. The baron left ages ago.” In that moment, a familiar voice cut through her despair. “Why are you screaming at a servant? Have you lost your senses after your little trip?” Katrina appeared, a frown knitting her brow as she surveyed the scene. “What’s that thing in your hand, Alessandra? I’ve made it perfectly clear—I do not want animals in this house.” “Fix this,” Alessandra pleaded, pushing the kitten slightly forward. “Kate threw it out of my window. It just needs to see a doctor, and then I’ll find a new owner.” “You expect me to believe your sister did this? Why was it here in the first place? Just throw it out—it looks dead already!” “Your daughter did this!” Alessandra’s voice surged with indignation. “For once, have some accountability for her actions!” Katrina glared at her, eyes narrowed. “You insolent child,” she seethed, striding over and delivering a stinging slap across Alessandra's face that nearly knocked off her mask. “Never speak to me of my parenting!” Alessandra felt the slap but refused to back down; she expected nothing less from Katrina. The world had cast her as the villain while Kate played the angel—a cruel and twisted masquerade. A laugh bubbled up from her throat, the absurdity of it all breaking free, catching Katrina off-guard. “This house is maddening,” Alessandra muttered after her laughter subsided. No one in this wretched place would have the compassion to mend the kitten’s wounds. She realized her father would never defy Katrina's authority to save the little creature. ‘This is futile,’ she thought, embarrassment welling up inside her. What had she expected from a family so engrossed in their own social standings? There was no escape for the kitten right now. She had no resources to seek help, no coins for a doctor, and with a mask that clouded her identity, the doors of care would remain shut to her. So, she would simply care for the kitten until tomorrow when the Duke would arrive, and perhaps he would possess the means to save it. “Are you not going to apologize for your insolence, Alessandra?” Katrina’s voice dripped with anticipated disdain, waiting as she often did for a contrite response. If it had been up to her, Alessandra would have been sent away long ago—a plan crafted by Katrina to rid herself of the burden, perhaps to a distant relative’s small farm, or into the arms of a suitor who cared little for the tales spun about her. “There’s nothing to apologize for,” Alessandra shot back defiantly, beginning to turn away to retreat to her room. The Duke was her only hope, and she needed to keep her focus on what truly mattered—the kitten. “You there,” Katrina barked at a maid passing by. “Take that creature from her and dispose of it, or you will lose your job.” “What?” The maid’s eyes darted between the two women, anxiety tightening her throat. She had no desire to get caught in the crossfire of their confrontation. Alessandra’s anger was a storm ready to break. “Do you need me to spell it out? Either you dispose of the animal, or you can find yourself without a place to work. Do it now,” Katrina’s voice brooked no argument, her arms crossed as she waited like a hawk ready to strike. “M-My lady,” the maid stammered, torn between fear of the wrath of both women. “Touch me or my kitten, and I swear I will make you regret it,” Alessandra growled, a fire igniting in her eyes. She cared little about the maid’s job—her priority was the fragile life she held. “Threatening servants now? Wonderful; you’ve truly lost your mind,” Katrina said coldly, seizing the opportunity to turn Alessandra’s own words against her. “I’ll inform your father, mark my words. As for your punishment,” she ordered the maid, “confine her to her room. No one interacts with her, and no food shall reach her until she learns her place.” “Be sure to claim her last payment while you’re at it. It will be reduced for your ineptitude. Now, get out of my sight, both of you,” Katrina declared, her tone final. Today marked the end of her tolerance for Alessandra’s insolence. Katrina’s resolve to rid herself of Alessandra was clear. Whether through banishment, unwanted marriage, or even darker schemes, she was determined to cut away the last remnants of a past that threatened her own reputation. Yet Alessandra rushed from the unfolding scene, unshaken by the threat. She was familiar with the emptiness of having no food and being locked away, practically treated like a ghost in her own home. In a twisted way, Katrina had inadvertently granted her a reprieve. By isolating her, she allowed Alessandra the freedom to care for the kitten uninterrupted. Tomorrow, she would be the shoulder for both herself and the small creature in need, waiting for the Duke to arrive, bringing with him the hope of salvation. “Hold on till tomorrow, little one. He will come for us.”