Chapter 5 {First Aid}

"Thud."

Alice rose to his feet, his hand connecting with Alisha's cheek in a resounding slap. With a firm grip on her hand, he pressed her against the wall, his voice seething with anger.

"How dare you leave," he exclaimed, his voice laced with fury.

Confusion clouded Alisha's face as she asked, her cheek swollen from the impact, "Is this some kind of truth or dare game we're playing?" She struggled to comprehend the sudden assault.

Frustration etched on his face, Alice retorted, "Damn it, why do you have to be so clueless?" His voice dripped with exasperation.

Defending herself, Alisha replied, her voice filled with determination, "I'm not clueless. I'm right because you said 'how dare,' but we're not playing a game, so why would I dare? Yeah, I have to go."

Alice sighed, his mind swirling with questions. "Why does she have to leave?" he wondered, his thoughts racing.

His conscience taunted him, reminding him, "Because she doesn't belong to you. She can go wherever she wants. What do you want, huh?"

Another sigh escaped Alice's lips as he responded, "Are you planning to go outside naked?"

Alisha demanded, her voice firm, "Oh yeah, give me my clothes."

Relinquishing his grip on her hand, Alice instead held her waist, causing her to wince in pain. She pleaded, "Let go of me. You are hurting me with your nails here yesterday. Please, it's painful, just leave."

Releasing her waist, Alice attempted to inspect her wound, but Alisha grabbed his hands, asserting herself. "Hey, nobody is allowed to touch me without my permission. I told you that before, and you're doing it again," she reminded him, her annoyance evident.

Frustration welled up within Alice as he retorted, "How dare you try to stop me."

Alisha stood her ground, her voice unwavering as she replied, "It's not about daring. It's about what's right."

In a fit of anger, Alice grabbed Alisha's hair, his voice laced with menace as he threatened, "If you open your mouth again, I'm going to cut your tongue."

Silent and fearful, Alisha remained quiet, her heart pounding in her chest at his menacing words.

Releasing his grip, Alice commanded, "Go take a bath. I am going to send someone with clothes." Alisha obediently left the room.

Entering the bathroom, Alisha proceeded to take a bath. When she emerged, she found a girl waiting for her. Judging by the clothes she held, Alisha deduced that she was the maid.

Polite and respectful, the maid handed her the clothes and said, "Ma'am, here are your clothes."

Alisha expressed her gratitude and inquired, "Whose dress is this? How did you know my size?"

"The dress was ordered by Sir from a boutique. Please wear it now," the maid replied, her tone courteous.

Alisha proceeded to change into the dress, feeling a sense of curiosity about how they knew her size.

Alice entered the room and casually stated, "You can leave now."

The maid trembled slightly, quickly exiting the room.

"I told her your size," Alice stated matter-of-factly.

Perplexed, Alisha asked, "How do you know my size?"

"When I bathed her, I memorised every inch of her body. Her red hair and red eyes are simply captivating, as if they were a gift from God," Alice pondered, his thoughts drifting.

Interrupting his musings, Alisha repeated her question desperately, "I'm asking you something."

"I don't like it when people ask me questions," Alice replied, his eyes narrowing as a smirk played on his lips.

Innocently blinking her eyes, Alisha countered, "Why? Didn't your teachers ask you questions in school or college?" She brushed her hair aside, her gaze fixed on him.

Changing the subject, Alice suggested, "Let's go eat."

Alisha shrugged, following him to the dining table.

As they sat at the dining table, Alice's mother arrived home, her eyes immediately drawn to Alisha's beauty.

Curiosity piqued, Alice's mother inquired, "Who are you? And why are your cheeks swollen?"

Alisha pointed towards Alice, her voice tinged with pain, as she replied, "He slapped me," the memory of the assault still fresh in her mind.

Shock registered on Alice's face at her bold honesty, his anger intensifying.

Fury consumed Alice's mother as she scolded him, "Why on earth did you slap this girl?"

"Alice, she's still a child! Why can't you understand that you can't raise your hand against women? First, you injured the servant's arm, and now you slapped this girl. Why can't you control your anger? Why do you always end up fighting?" Alice's mother exclaimed, her voice filled with disappointment.

Gasping, Alisha asked, "What? He injured a servant's arm?"

Alice clenched his teeth, pleading, "Mom, please don't bring up that topic again, okay?"

Sighing, Alice's mother thought, "He's not going to listen. Let it be."

Turning her attention to Alisha, she asked, "Child, what is your name?"

"I don't tell my name to strangers," Alisha replied, her voice firm.

Alice's mother's stern gaze met Alisha's, as she asserted, "Child, I am older, and you must respect your elders."

Apologising, Alisha conceded, "Sorry," before adding, "My name is Alisha."

Curiosity getting the better of her, Alice's mother questioned, "Why are you here, Alisha?"

"Yesterday, my dog accidentally entered your house. I came to retrieve him, but your son shot and killed him. I fainted, and when I woke up, he had changed my clothes and made me sleep in his room. He also injured my waist by digging his nails into it," Alisha explained, leaving no detail unmentioned.

Shock washed over Alice as he witnessed her boldness in speaking the truth.

Growing angrier, Alice's mother demanded, "How could you kill a dog, Alice? Why did you change this girl's clothes and make her stay in your room? And why did you hurt her?"

In a fit of rage, Alice shouted, his hand slamming onto the dining table, causing the glasses to shatter and his hand to bleed.

Fear gripped both Alisha and Alice's mother at the sudden outburst.

"Mom, I don't want to answer. You're irritating me," Alice shouted, his frustration evident.

Stepping forward, Alisha reached out and held his injured hand, concern etched on her face. "You're injured," she stated, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Alice was taken aback, as his mother had never approached him when he was angry. Yet this little girl had the courage to do so.

As Alisha's dress became stained with his blood, Alice attempted to pull his hand away, but Alisha held on firmly.

Alice's mother watched in astonishment, realising that her son had never allowed any woman to touch him, let alone change his clothes or tend to his injuries. Yet here he was, allowing this girl to do so, even in his anger.

"Aunty, please give me the first aid kit. His injury needs to be treated first,”