Although the apartnt was rarely bustling with guests, it boasted a few washer-dryer combos and a sophisticated vacuum-mop hybrid machine. Yet, Serena hadn’t the slightest clue how to operate any of them.
Her worn clothes were simply tossed into the hamper, unwashed; the floors remained unswept and unmopped. Betty, upon entering the room, noticed strands of hair littering the floor, and the trash bin
brimming to the top. It was once a ti when Serena’s quarters were cleaned twice daily, kept spotless and orderly.
It was beyond belief that Mr. And Mrs. Collins hadn’t arranged even a single maid to tidy up for Serena.
Now, with Serena under the weather, her laundry was piling up - she’d have nothing to wear by tomorrow!
"Ms. Serena, let wash these clothes for you."
So of Serena’s garnts were quite expensive, and hand-washing them could be gentler than the rough tumble of the machine.
A shadow passed over Serena’s eyes, but she feigned resilience, "It’s okay. I’ll wash them once I’m better."
"You’re sick; you need to rest up. It’s almost New Year after all. Your health’s the priority."
With efficient grace, Betty laundered the clothes and hung them to dry on the balcony. To avoid disturbing Serena, she opted out of using the vacuum-mop and instead, swept the floors clean with a
broom before mopping them with a steam mop - Serena had a fear of the germs in a conventional mop.
Watching Betty bustling about, Serena realized the value in winning over such a diligent maid, if only to ease her own burdens.
Betty also ticulously wiped down every surface in the room with a cloth. It wasn’t until Dr. Osmond called that she descended the stairs to receive him.
Though Dr. Osmond found it odd that Serena was staying in the guesthouse and even more peculiar that her parents weren’t there with the ailing girl, he never pried into the affairs of the wealthy.
After examining Serena, he respectfully offered, "You’ve co down with a cold, Ms. Serena. I’ll prescribe so dicine; you should be better in a couple of days."
"Thank you, Dr. Osmond."
"Dr. Osmond, let see you out," after escorting the doctor away, Betty prepared so warm water for Serena to take her pills. Seeing Serena in tears, she was startled, "What’s wrong, Ms. Serena? Is the water too hot? My fault, I didn’t check the temperature."
Serena shook her head weakly, her eyes brimming with tears, "I just miss my parents, wondering when they’ll forgive . Whenever I was sick before, my mom would be so worried, her eyes red, wishing
she could take my place. My dad would pace back and forth, wishing I could bounce back to health in an instant."
Betty, touched by the stark loneliness surrounding them, eventually left the apartnt to seek out Louisa. At that mont, Louisa had just finished her evening bath and was sitting before her vanity, indulging in her skincare routine.
Impatient with Louisa’s leisurely deanor, Betty couldn’t help but say, "Mrs. Collins, Dr. Osmond has
seen Ms. Serena, saying she’s got a cold and needs to take cold dicine for a couple of days to get better. She’s in a lot of distress, crying pitifully, missing you. Could you spare a mont to visit her?"
"I’m off to bed." Louisa replied indifferently, "Everyone has their aches and pains. Rose runs the company even when she’s ill, starving through surgeries that last over a dozen hours."
"But this is different, Ms. Serena’s all alone. Can’t you at least send her a ssage, show so concern?"
"How I handle things is my business."
Seeing that Louisa was unmoved, Betty bowed her head, "I’ve spoken out of turn. Rest well, Mrs.Collins. I’ll check on Ms. Serena early tomorrow to see if she gets better. I’ll take my leave now."
Once Betty had left, Louisa resud applying her night cream.
Kenneth was watching the news. He didn’t expect his daughter and son’s concert had taken the local community by storm, and he couldn’t help but overhear the conversation between Betty and his wife
monts earlier. He turned to his wife, "Did Serena get up early to make us breakfast and catch a cold in the process?"
"You didn’t notice? We sent her next door to reflect on her behavior, and she’s been busy flipping between cooking and writing letters. After finding they don’t work, now she claims she’s caught a cold."
Kenneth was a bit taken aback, "Are you suggesting she’s faking it? But hasn’t Dr. Osmond checked? Perhaps we should ask him?"
"No need for that. If Serena’s set on being sick, she’ll cover her tracks well."
"So you’re saying she’s playing the martyr? Pretending to be sick just to get our attention?"
Louisa paused from her nightly skincare routine and stood up, moving toward the bed, "It certainly appears that way. Let’s see what her next move is."
Louisa had hoped for genuine reflection from Serena, but it seed all she was plotting was how to return to the main house.
Influenced by Martha, no doubt. Even in this bitter cold, the girl had the audacity to risk her own health.
If she didn’t spare herself, who else would she spare in the future?
Serena had shed plenty of tears in front of Betty. Now, as she waited for quite a prolonged ti, no one ca to check on her. It was only after a while that Betty sent her a ssage - Louisa had been
inford of Serena’s condition but had no intention of visiting. She even thought Betty was officiousness as a re servant.
Serena’s heart grew colder with each passing mont. She couldn’t believe it. Not breakfast, nor letters, nor even a fever could sway her parents. They had changed; their hearts turned stone-cold.
She screenshot Betty’s ssage and sent it to Martha, saying. [I wore just a thin blouse and froze for five hours in the courtyard, hoping to move them. But it seems they have no place for in their hearts anymore.]
Martha was stunned by the ssage. Under normal circumstances, Serena’s parents would’ve been at her bedside at the first hint of illness, showering her with love and comfort. It was impossible they just standing by.
[New Year is a few days away. Before Mom and Dad would call the designer over to tailor new outfits for the whole family. But till now, there hasn’t been any news.]
Normally around this ti, the designer had already co to their house, because during the New Year, a lot of relatives would pay them a visit. Serena would change up to nine tis a day, but now,
she wasn’t even sure if she could wear one for New Year.
In the previous ti, her outfits were always able to impress all the people present, the envy of friends and family. Just thinking about the scene would make her gloat in satisfaction. But this year, it was probably Rosemary who might just steal the spotlight.
How was she going to do? She certainly couldn’t bear letting it happen!! She would never allow Rosemary to upstage her!
[Martha, please help . What can I do to make my parents forgive ?] Serena sent another ssage to Martha.
After a tense wait, Martha’s reply ca through. It was a plan - a good one. It was exactly what Serena needed to do.
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