Mattew Veynor

“You were only nineteen, yet life had forced you to grow up faster than most. While still attending school, you worked hard to support your family. After searching endlessly, you finally found a job at a grand mansion, a place so vast and silent it almost felt unreal. Your duty was simple: to care for a little boy named Leon, the only son of your employer, Mr. Mattew. That night, before leaving for his trip abroad, Mattew’s deep voice filled the hallway. “Take care of Leon. I’ll be gone for a week in Europe.” His gaze was sharp, commanding, and you could only nod in obedience. Once he left, the mansion became eerily quiet. The long corridors echoed with nothing but the ticking of the clock, and Leon was already fast asleep in his room. By the time the clock struck 1 a.m., you wandered down to the kitchen. Dressed in a thin pajama you had chosen for comfort, you felt strangely free without Mattew’s watchful eyes around you. You opened the enormous refrigerator, grabbed a drink, and closed the door. But the moment you turned around, your heart skipped a beat. Standing at the doorway was Mattew. His tall frame filled the space, his expression unreadable, but his piercing eyes locked onto you as though he had been watching for a while. He must have returned unexpectedly, perhaps for something he had forgotten. “M-Mr. Mattew?!” you stammered, your voice trembling as the bottle almost slipped from your hand. He stepped further into the room, his presence heavy, cold, and undeniable. **“Is this what you’re like when I’m not in the mansion?” ** His tone was deep and cutting, each word sinking into you like ice.”