Milena's POV
The icy splash of water jerked me awake, and I shot up in bed, blinking furiously as Evangelina's voice pierced through my foggy mind. "Milena, that useless girl, is still sleeping!"
Useless. Always useless.
I gritted my teeth, bolted out of bed, and dashed out of the room, my bare feet thudding against the cold floor. The echo of my footsteps ricocheted through the hallway, but it wasn't enough to drown out Lina's determined voice closing in behind me.
"Milena! Stop running! You've still got chores to finish before you head to the bar!"
I glanced over my shoulder, my heart hammering against my ribs. She was gaining on me. Great. I skidded to a halt, turning to face her with my hands firmly planted on my hips.
"Why are you always on my case?" I snapped, the frustration spilling over. "Can't I just have a little break?"
Lina stopped a few steps away, catching her breath but not backing down. Her eyes burned with that all-too-familiar mix of exasperation and determination. "Because if you don't do your chores, they'll pile up, and we'll both end up in trouble. It's not just about the work, Milena; it's about pulling your weight."
Her words hit a nerve, as they always did. The guilt and the longing to just breathe warred inside me, tangling my emotions into a messy knot. I sighed, letting my shoulders drop slightly. "Fine, I'll do it. But can I at least have a little time to myself before I go to the bar?"
For a split second, I thought she might relent. Her posture softened, but her tone stayed firm. "Sure, but make sure everything's done before you leave. We've got a lot riding on this."
"Got it," I muttered, turning away before she could see the resentment flicker across my face.
As I trudged back to my chores, the weight of it all pressed down on me. The endless cycle of demands, the lack of time to just be... it was suffocating. I worked through the tasks with my mind elsewhere, thinking about what little escape I might find at the bar later.
By the time I finished, I caught sight of Thomas heading toward the dining table, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. He didn't even glance my way as he barked out his order. "Milena, you have a lot of work waiting for you at the restaurant. Go take your bath so you won't keep the costumers waiting."
No acknowledgment. No thanks. Just commands.
I swallowed my frustration and nodded, my voice caught somewhere between defiance and defeat. Another day in the life of Milena.