Kneel for You

Abandoned in London for three years.
While I was being beaten on a cold, unfamiliar street, Josh Rojas was back home, sending a lavish bouquet of Valentine's Day roses to Serena Dalton, the woman he cherished.
While I was wasting away in a damp, rented flat, waiting to die, Josh Rojas was throwing a magnificent birthday gala for Serena.
Just when I was sure I would breathe my last in England, one of his assistants came for me.
"Miss Shaw," he said, his face impassive. "It's time to go home."
On the private jet, I wiped the condensation from the small, round window. His assistant approached.
"We're preparing for landing, Miss Shaw." He paused, his voice softening slightly. "Once you're back, let go of Josh. He and Miss Dalton are about to be engaged."
My hand froze against the cool glass.
After a long moment, I shook my head. "That was then. I was young and foolish."

1
I stood at the gates of the Shaw estate, my luggage laughably small. From inside the grand house, I could hear my parents raw, furious argument.
A teacup shattered on the marble entryway just outside the door.
"How dare she come back looking like that? Why didn't she just die over there?" my mother shrieked.
"From the very beginning, she was never as good as the Dalton girl," my father roared back. "Look at the state of her! Serena Dalton is already the brilliant, accomplished heiress to the Dalton fortune!"
The sky bled from dusk to black before Martha, our housekeeper, finally opened the door. She wiped tears from her eyes and pulled me inside. As we passed my parents' bedroom on the way upstairs, I hesitated.
"Father, Mother," I called out softly. "I'm home."
The only reply was the thud of something heavy hitting the door from the inside.
Martha quickly pulled me away. "Oh, my dear girl," she whispered, her voice thick with pity. "Why are you still so naive?"

2
The next day, I was ordered to find a job at a hotel. As I was leaving, my father stopped me.
"Wait." His voice was cold steel. "When you get there, you drop the pampered princess act. You are not a Shaw anymore; you're just another worker. If I hear that youve told anyone who you are, youll regret it."
I nodded and left.
It took a long walk to get out of the wealthy district before I could catch a bus. As we moved through the city center, the bus jolted violently.
"We hit something!" someone yelled.
"What kind of car is that? It looks expensive."
"The driver is done for. That's a Maybach. He'll be paying that off for the rest of his life."
I looked up from the resume I'd been studying. Our bus had sideswiped a multi-million-dollar Maybach while changing lanes.
I recognized the vanity plate instantly. My fingers clenched around the paper in my hands.
It was Josh's car.
The bus was out of commission. As I queued up to get off, I saw the driver of the luxury car open the rear door.
A perfect couple emerged: the impeccably dressed Josh Rojas and the elegant, long-haired Serena Dalton.
A murmur went through the crowd.
"Who are they?"
"He's handsome enough to be a movie star."
"She's gorgeous, too. They look perfect together."
Standing at the back of the crowd, I instinctively touched my earlobe. The hole from the piercing I once had was long gone.
Three years ago, Josh had admired a pair of pearl earrings at an auction. Even though I was terrified of pain, I went and got my ears pierced. On his birthday, I wore them, hoping he would like it.
But by a cruel twist of fate, Serena wore an identical pair that day. My presence seemed to deeply upset her. To appease her, Josh ripped the earring straight from my ear.
"A pathetic imitation," he'd sneered.
The snow-white pearl fell to the ground, stained by crimson drops.

3
Shaking myself free from the memory, I clutched my portfolio and hurried toward the next bus stop.
Last night, my phone had buzzed with warnings from their friends.
Aria, you idiot. How dare you come back.
Listen up. The title of Mrs. Rojas belongs to Serena. Get that through your thick skull.
If you ever hurt Serena again, we'll skin you alive.
You worthless snake. Even your own parents say you're an ungrateful wretch.
I blocked each number, one by one. They were worried for nothing. For me, the word "love" had long since lost its meaning.
As I boarded the next bus, I had the strangest feeling that a pair of eyes from the accident scene was fixed on me. I didn't turn to look. I just got on the bus and disappeared into the city.

At the Celestial Hotel, the interview concluded, and the General Manager walked over to me. "You interviewed very well. Work hard, and you'll have a bright future here."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "Thank you. I can start immediately."
She looked surprised. "Excellent. Head over to HR and get your paperwork started."
The hotel was constantly busy, a whirlwind of guests and staff. I never had a moment's rest, but I didn't feel tired. My salary was commission-based; the busier the hotel, the more I'd make. I was energized.
"Mr. White, what kind of tea can I get for you?"
"Mr. Rojas, you're too kind. It's an honor just to have you pour."
I was passing a private dining room, taking notes on a clipboard, when the voices from within made me freeze. The door was slightly ajar. Inside, Josh Rojas sat at the head of the table, commanding the room. Business documents were spread out before him.
A nearby staff member saw me and hurried over. "Manager Shaw, aren't you going to go in and serve them personally?"
In the competitive hotel world, when a major client was present, the area manager was expected to make an appearance, perhaps offer a complimentary dessert or a bottle of wine.
But this was Josh Rojas. If I walked in there, his face would turn to ice.
"No, that's not necessary," I said quickly. "Just make sure they have everything they need."
I turned to leave, but as I did, my eyes met Josh's through the crack in the door.
Our gazes locked.
His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and I felt as though I'd been turned to stone by some immense, terrifying force. The world went silent.
Three years of torment abroad had conditioned me to run, to put as much distance as possible between myself and this man.
But I couldn't make a scene. I forced the same polite, professional smile I used when a guest was screaming in my face, gave a slight nod, and walked away.

4
Two hours later, the staff was cleaning the private room.
"Manager Shaw, the guest left a fountain pen behind."
I was about to say, "Take it to the front desk..." when the staff member added, "Manager Shaw, I think it has your name on it?"
I walked into the room and took the pen. When I saw it clearly, a tremor went through me.
Could this be the handmade fountain pen I gave him for his birthday all those years ago?
I had a tiny 'A' engraved on the pure gold nib.
"Manager Shaw, should I still take it to the front desk?"
My hand tightened around the pen. "I'll handle it."

Back in my office, I didn't send the pen to the lost and found. I couldn't figure out if Josh had left it on purpose or if it was a genuine mistake. And I certainly couldn't understand why he would ever use something I had given him. To him, my gifts were like cursed objects, tainted by an evil he refused to touch.
After a moment of internal struggle, I placed the pen in my desk drawer. Logically, it should have ended up in a trash can years ago, just like everything else I'd ever given him.
Just then, an employee rushed in, looking flustered.
"Manager Shaw, the guest is back! He's asking for you."
I didn't understand. "What guest?"
"Mr. Rojas. He came back for the pen."
I frowned. "That pen doesn't belong to him."
The employee paled. "I... I accidentally mentioned that you had it. He said he wants to see you. Immediately. Manager Shaw, he seems... very powerful."

5
My hand trembled as I entered the meeting room.
Josh Rojas turned from the floor-to-ceiling window. "Where is it?" His gaze was sharp, landing on my empty hands.
With me, his aura was always brutally cold, without a fraction of the warmth he showed Serena.
But it was fine. After being abandoned by them for three years, unable to reach anyone by phone, my heart had long ago frozen solid.
I forced myself to remain calm. "Are you referring to the fountain pen? It's not yours."
His cold eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to destroy your family's flagship hotel?"
My fists clenched, a subtle tremor running through them. It took a moment before I could find my voice. "Mr. Rojas, perhaps you've forgotten. When I was eighteen, I flew halfway across the country and apprenticed with a master craftsman to make that pen. My hands were raw for weeks. It's my creation."
I looked him straight in the eye. "You must have mistaken it for a gift from Serena, didn't you?"
I knew how hard his heart was. I wasn't naive enough to think he would ever use something from me. The only logical explanation was that he'd forgotten its origin.
As I expected, he stood there, tall and silent, offering no reply.
I bowed my head slightly. "My apologies for the confusion, Mr. Rojas."
He walked past me, pausing for a few seconds without a word, before striding out of the room.

6
The atmosphere at home that evening was surprisingly calm. My mother's expression had softened, and for once, my father wasn't angry.
My mother gestured for me to sit. "How is work? Are you settling in?"
I nodded. "It's fine."
She reached out and stroked my hair. "The hotel's Vice President called. He said you're doing an excellent job."
It had been so many years since I'd felt this kind of warmth from her. It felt like a dream from another lifetime. I sat stiffly, unsure how to react.
After a few minutes, my mother spoke again, her tone hesitant. "Aria, Josh's grandmother has invited us to dinner tomorrow night."
I froze, looking at her in confusion.
She averted her gaze. "You've been back for a while now. You must have heard about the Rojas and the Daltons. They're getting engaged. The Rojas feel they owe us something, so they've invited us for a meal before the official announcement."
My fingers curled into a tight fist.
My father's temper flared instantly. "What's that look on your face? You're not still hung up on him, are you? Serena is a well-educated, gentle, and understanding young woman. You're a failure. You can't compare."
I clutched the documents in my lap. "Father, Mother, may I please not go tomorrow?"

7
The Rojas Mansion.
When we arrived, the DaltonsSerena and her parentswere already there. The living room was filled with lively chatter, the atmosphere warm and congenial.
The butler cleared his throat. "Madam Rojas, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have arrived."
The conversation stopped abruptly. My gaze met Serena's, who was sitting beside the Rojas matriarch. The air was thick with a hellish tension. Even my parents looked uncomfortable.
But the Rojas family controlled the city's largest conglomerate. No one dared to cross them. My parents presented their gift with forced smiles.
The most important guest of the evening, Josh himself, was apparently very busy. By seven o'clock, he still hadn't arrived. His grandmother looked displeased.
Dinner had already started when he finally walked in. He strode into the dining room, his eyes sweeping over the tense gathering. He seemed to frown. "Grandmother, what is this?"
I felt his scrutinizing gaze land on me. I immediately looked down, stirring the soup in my bowl.
"Josh, what are you waiting for?" his grandmother said sharply. "Sit next to Serena."
As the youngest guests, Serena and I were seated together. But Josh chose the empty seat on Serena's other side, putting her between us.
My hand tightened on my spoon.
I remembered when we were children. I was selfish and possessive, insisting that only I could sit next to him. I would throw a tantrum if anyone else took my spot. Back then, he was like an older brother, always indulging me.
But as we grew up, his patience wore thin. Eventually, my presence just seemed to irritate him, and he would punish me for the slightest annoyance. I learned to be more careful, to walk on eggshells around him. But my fierce, unyielding love for him always made me lose my footing, always made me cross the line.
8
Throughout the entire dinner, my family was invisible. The Rojas elders spoke exclusively to Serena and her parents. We were left in an awkward, humiliating silence.
Perhaps only then did my parents understand. This wasn't an apology dinner. It was a power play. A warning. Our families are about to be joined. Know your place, Shaws. Control your daughter. Don't cause any more trouble.
Even so, my parents swallowed their pride. When you're outmatched, you have no choice but to bow your head.
I glanced up at Mrs. Rojas. There was a time when she would hold my hand and say, "My dear Aria, you're the only granddaughter-in-law I'll ever want. On your wedding day, I'll give you a whole chest of family heirlooms. You're so lovely, my dear."
Looking back, I realized that was only because the Shaw family business was still thriving. A Shaw heiress was a suitable match for a Rojas. But then the Daltons rose to power, and I was no longer their choice.
Lost in thought, my spoon slipped from my fingers and clattered against my plate.
It was a breach of etiquette.
Every head turned toward me.
Mrs. Rojas scoffed. "A few years abroad, and Aria still hasn't learned any grace."
Josh's mother looked at me with a condescending smile. "Aria, dear, you must learn to control your need for attention."
I'm sure my face was ghostly pale. I opened my mouth to explain, then realized there was no point.
But as I looked up, my eyes met a pair of intense ones already fixed on me.
Josh.
He committed an even greater sin of etiquette by pulling out a cigarette and placing it between his lips. His mother shot him a death glare, and only then did he remove it, tossing it onto the table.
Serena leaned closer to him. "Josh, look. Alex and the others are in Norway seeing the Northern Lights. They're asking if we want to join them."
I lowered my eyes, staring at the lines on my own hand. The air in the room was growing thin. I felt like I was suffocating.
My phone vibrated. I used it as an excuse. "I'm sorry, I have to take this call."

9
Once outside, I answered the call, my voice tight with emotion. "Matt?"
A low, magnetic voice replied, "Aria. I miss you."
I forced a smile, but the words felt foreign and clumsy in my mouth. "I... I miss you... too."
"Come on, silly. You promised you'd say it to me often. Don't tell me you're taking it back already."
The words still felt stuck. "Matt, I..."
"I'm getting angry!" he teased.
I closed my eyes. "I... I miss you... too."
Suddenly, there was a clatter behind me. I spun around, terrified, and my eyes locked with Josh's. He was squinting, his expression dangerous.
I quickly lowered the phone. When had he come outside?
A cold sweat broke out on my back.
"Silly girl, what's wrong?" Matt asked from the phone.
Something felt terribly wrong. Josh opened his cigarette case, lit one with a deliberate, menacing slowness, and his face was terrifying. It was the same look he'd had three years ago, when he'd casually destroyed my life with a single sentence.
Mr. Shaw, Aria ran into Serena. Should she go to jail, or should we send her abroad to learn some manners?
I ended the call and tried to walk away. I had made a mistake. This secluded bamboo grove was Josh's private sanctuary.
But as I reached the edge of the veranda, a hand shot out and clamped around my wrist.
"Who is he?" Josh's voice was freezing.
Pain shot up my arm. He was never gentle with me. I fought back the tears, forcing myself to look at him through a sheen of cold sweat.
"Josh, I'm sorry. I trespassed. It was my fault." I stared at him, my voice steady. "I understand the meaning of tonight's dinner. Don't worry, I won't bother you and Serena ever again."
"I wish you both a happy engagement and a lifetime of happiness."
I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip was like a vise, filled with a deep, simmering hatred, as if crushing my bones was the only way to erase my sins. The more I struggled, the tighter he squeezed.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, refusing to let him see me cry.
He glanced down at me, then yanked me forward.
Without warning, the glowing red tip of his cigarette pressed into my palm.
The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
"Ah!" A scream of pure agony tore from my throat.
He leaned in, his voice a low, terrifying growl, each word a threat from the depths of hell. "Aria. I'm asking you. Who... is... he?"
The fire seared my skin, the pain radiating straight to my heart. I stared at him in shock.
Suddenly, the dining room doors burst open, and a crowd of people spilled out onto the veranda.
The moment Josh released me, someone stormed forward and slapped me across the face with tremendous force.
CRACK.
"Shameless hussy!"
I was already disoriented. The blow sent me staggering back against the railing. I clung to it for support, my head ringing, the world a blur.
Josh's mother stood over me, her voice dripping with venom. "Is this how the Shaws raise their daughter? To be a desperate, shameless leech? Josh is Serena's fianc!"
I pushed myself upright, my burned palm screaming in protest. Straightening my back, I met her furious gaze. "You've all misunderstood. I learned my lesson a long time ago. What happened in the past was just childish foolishness. And tonight, I wasn't clinging to anyone."
I held up my phone with as much dignity as I could muster. "I forgot to mention. For the last three years, I've had a boy..."
"Aria, shut your mouth!"
Before I could finish, I was grabbed and dragged away. I stumbled, trying to keep up.
"Josh!"
He was pulling me, almost running, away from the mansion. My ankle twisted, sending a fresh wave of pain through me.
Behind us, his mother and grandmother were shouting in shock. "Josh!"
He shoved me into his car. Before I could even scramble out, he was in the driver's seat, the doors locked, trapping me inside.
"Drive," he commanded his chauffeur.

10
He took me to one of his private residences and locked me in.
I stared at him in disbelief. "Josh, what are you doing?"
He was tall, imperious, and holding my phone. His face was a dark mask as he scrolled through it. I lunged for it, but he held it high above my head, dangling it like a toy in front of a clown.
"Give me back my phone!"
That night, my throat went raw from screaming, but I never got it back. Sometime after midnight, overwhelmed by terror and exhaustion, I finally closed my eyes.
In a hazy, restless sleep, I felt a cool sensation on my hand. My eyes flew open.
The sight that greeted me was shocking. Josh was carefully applying ointment to the burn on my palm.
Our eyes met. A chill ran down my spine, and I snatched my hand back as if I'd been burned again. I saw the front door was open and made a break for it.
I only made it two steps before he grabbed me from behind. "It's the middle of the night. I'll take you home in the morning."
I twisted around and bit his hand, hard. He grunted in pain and loosened his grip. I shot him a cold smile and tried to leave again, but he caught me by the collar and slammed me against the wall.
His tall frame completely eclipsed mine. His perfect, handsome face was inches from my own, his scent overwhelming me.
"Do you hate me this much now?" he whispered.
I looked up at him and laughed, a hollow, empty sound. "Josh? Aren't you the one who hates me? What's wrong?"
"You should let me go. What if Serena gets jealous?"
Just then, a phone started vibrating in the room. I craned my neck and saw it was mine. I tried to push him away to answer it.

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