Bab 3: ENIGMATIC ARRIVAL
Aurelia pov
In the dimly lit room, I awoke, disoriented and bewildered. The absence of memory regarding how I had arrived in this unfamiliar place sent shivers down my spine. Shadows clung to the room, and an overwhelming fear began to creep over me.
"Ah!" I let out an involuntary cry, unable to contain my anxiety.
In swift response, a few servants hastened to my side, their faces etched with concern as they promptly illuminated the room. One of them inquired, "Mam, is there any problem?"
I stammered, "No... I'm sorry. I'm just a little afraid of the dark," my words leaving me feeling somewhat awkward.
A soft smile touched the lips of the maid as she comforted me. "Mam, is there anything you need help with?"
In my bewildered state, I gathered the courage to ask the question that had been haunting my thoughts. "Can I ask where I am?"
The servants exchanged puzzled glances before one of them replied, "It's your bedroom, Mam."
I recoiled, bewildered, "What? Mine? It can't be mine. I don't even know anyone here. Why am I here? Has someone kidnapped me?" My anxiety surged as I voiced these disconcerting thoughts.
The servants appeared taken aback by my words. "Mam, you are Mr. Leo's fiancée, and this is Mr. Leo's home," they explained.
"Oh, that's right. I forgot," I mumbled to myself, feeling completely adrift and unsure of my next steps.
I mumbled an apology to the concerned servants. "Hmm, sorry," I said, my voice laced with the uncertainty of my situation.
One of the servants responded with kindness, "No need to apologize to us, Mam. We are here to serve you."
Eager to change the dynamic of our interaction, I suggested, "First, please don't call me 'Mam.' It feels a little formal. How about calling me 'Aurelia'?"
The servants hesitated briefly, and one of the older ones replied, "What? We can't, Mam. It's the rule."
Determined to establish a more personal rapport, I insisted, "Please, don't worry. Call me Aurelia. It's absolutely fine."
With that, they nodded in agreement, "Alright, Aurelia."
Curious about the individuals who were now at my service, I inquired, "Why don't you introduce yourselves to me?"
The older lady, Julie, spoke politely, "I am your personal servant. My name is Julie."
I acknowledged her with warmth, "Okay, Mam. We'll get along well, especially if I'm going to be here for a while." I added the last words more softly, almost to myself.
The other servant hesitated, then spoke with respect, "Aurelia, please don't call me Mam. I am your personal servant, so it's better if you call me by my name."
I was quick to assure her, "if you are uncomfortable with Mam then I will call you julie.."
Julie smiled, and the other servants followed her example by introducing themselves. With their formalities concluded, they left to attend to their duties, leaving Julie and me alone.
Julie leaned in, her voice warm and comforting. "Aurelia, did you eat anything?"
I shook my head. "No, Julie. I haven't had any appetite all day. It's been a challenging day."
Julie placed a reassuring hand on my back. "Don't say such things, my dear. If you don't eat, Mr. Leo will scold us."
I had a question that had been haunting my thoughts, and I decided to share it with Julie. "Can I ask you something?"
She agreed with a kind smile. "Of course, Aurelia."
Curious, I whispered to her, "What do you think about Mr. Leo?"
Julie chuckled, intrigued by my question. "What do you know about him, Aurelia?"
I hurried to explain, my words rushing out as I sought relief from the thoughts that had been burdening me. "Well, I've heard that he's the number one mafia gang leader. People rarely see his face or even speak his name without fear. He's often described as an ageless monster, mercilessly ending the lives of his adversaries."
Julie regarded me with understanding. "Aurelia, it's understandable that you've heard those things. However, you shouldn't believe everything you hear."
I continued, sharing more of what I'd gathered. "I've also heard that he's devoid of any love or affection for anyone."
Julie offered a compassionate perspective. "My dear, he is a mafia leader. The responsibilities and life he leads can make someone forget the meaning of love and affection."
I smiled appreciatively as I listened to her, realizing that there was more to the story. "I see your point, Julie."
Julie's voice was kind and reassuring. "Aurelia, I think you have the potential to change him."
I was taken aback, my eyes widening. "Me? No way, Julie. I'm truly afraid of him, afraid for my life."
Julie's smile was warm, filled with a sense of hope. "Aurelia, it's not easy, but sometimes, love can find a way."
I considered her words as she gently patted my back. "Girl, I'll go prepare some food now. Mr. Leo will be here."
My anxiety surged once more, and I blurted out, "What? Julie, I can't face him. I'm terribly afraid."
With a caring smile, Julie assured me, "You'll do just fine, Aurelia. Don't worry."
And so, I was left to prepare for the daunting meeting with Mr. Leo Shadowson, a man who was still an enigma to me, a man who could change the course of my life in ways I could scarcely imagine.
Julie left the room, and I, with a newfound sense of solitude, found myself drawn to the nearby balcony. Stepping outside, I was greeted by the all-encompassing darkness of the night, its cool, gentle breezes brushing against my skin. The world seemed to hold its breath in the tranquil night.
My gaze fixed upon the cityscape before me, cast in a shroud of obscurity. The distant glow of streetlights painted a mesmerizing mosaic of light and shadows. The city was a tapestry of secrets and stories, waiting to be unveiled under the veil of the night.
I couldn't help but be captivated by the silhouette of a solitary, dark mountain to my right. It stood like a sentinel, its contours alluring and mysterious, inviting me to explore its concealed wonders. As I stood there, time seemed to dissolve, leaving me lost in the enchanting beauty of the night.
The room plunged into darkness as Leo's looming figure appeared in the doorway, like a sinister specter, shrouded in shadows. The very air seemed to thicken with dread as his presence engulfed the room, and Aurelia's heart hammered against her chest.
Every step he took sent a sinister echo that reverberated in her very soul .I could feel his malevolence approaching, like a predator closing in on its pre.My breathing quickened, and a cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Aurelia," he hissed, his voice dripping with menace, "You thought you could escape your fate, didn't you? You thought your father's influence would protect you."
Iwas paralyzed, my voice caught in my throat. She could only manage a trembling nod.
Leo's eyes, pools of darkness, bore into her. "But you belong to me now, and there's no escape from the darkness you've been thrust into."
The weight of his words was suffocating, as if the very room had become a prison. Leo drew closer, and his every step sent a jolt of terror through my veins.
"Disobedience has consequences," he whispered, his words like shards of ice. "And you,Aurelia, will learn the price of defiance."
My fear towards him was palpable,my eyes locked with his, and I felt a growing sense of dread that this encounter was just the beginning of a nightmarish journey into the depths of Leo's world, from which there might be no escape.
The intensity of the moment was thick with unspoken history. As Leo's piercing blue eyes bore into mine, there was a flicker of something more profound beneath the surface – a shadow of a past unknown. He moved closer, and for a fleeting second, his eyes seemed to reveal a hidden resentment, a grudge harbored for some untold transgression.
"Remember, Aurelia," he seethed, "I've waited a long time for this moment. You can't outrun the choices you've made."
My heart raced, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of guilt, a gnawing suspicion that perhaps he had unknowingly wronged me in some way.I longed to ask, to uncover the secrets that had brought them to this chilling encounter, but my voice remained captive, paralyzed by the fear that had taken hold of me.
In that heart-stopping instant, Leo's tall, imposing figure loomed closer. The dim light revealed the chiseled lines of his perfect jaw, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded him. His midnight-black hair framed his face, adding to the enigmatic aura that clung to him.
His icy blue eyes seemed to contain a tempest of emotions, and his lips curled into a sinister smile. It was a smile that held a promise, and that promise was laden with danger. The very air seemed to quiver with apprehension as he whispered, his words like a sword towards me.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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