Bank employees had approached Rosemary, marveling that a stash of ten million in the bank could yield an annual interest of over three hundred thousand dollars.
But Rosemary couldn’t keep her cash idle; she poured most of it into research and shared a fair chunk with her crew as a perk.
After ending the call, Rosemary handed the phone back to Roo with a playful smirk, "Soone trying to buy off?"
"It’s more of a reward," Roo was quick to correct her, "The guys have been through thick and thin with you. They deserve a little sothing."
"Think I don’t spoil them enough?"
"Of course not," Roo’s survival instincts kicked in, "I just hate to see you spend. Save your earnings for yourself. Let cover the expenses. I need to earn more for a better life for you."
Rosemary couldn’t help but chuckle, and they shared a warm, knowing smile.
At Reflections Villa, Louisa woke up and headed to the living room. The coffee table was brand new, no shattered glass on the floor, and the tear-streaked figure was gone. Everything was spick and span, the
help had even placed fresh flowers around, and a subtle floral scent lingered in the air.
Everything seed perfect, yet Louisa felt an emptiness inside, a sense of ti having moved on without her.
Kenneth ca downstairs too, his mood as somber as hers.
"I talked with Bard for a long ti last night, took so ds, and sohow fell into a deep sleep. I wasn’t there for you, and that’s on ."
Although Kenneth was heartbroken and furious, he prioritized comforting his wife, wrapping his arms around her, "We thought having two daughters would liven up the place. Now that one has shown her
true colors, it’s better she’s gone. Let’s just say we fed a thankless dog."
Louisa nodded, her spirits low.
"Our folks will be here soon. Let’s get ready to welco them."
"Alright."
As Louisa was about to follow him, a servant appeared, quivering with fear.
"Sir, Ma’am."
She really didn’t want to co but had no choice. The person in the basent had been crying all night, her voice hoarse with despair.
She couldn’t bear it anymore and had to co forward, anxiously saying, "The person in the basent,she has so questions, and I think I should tell you. Why, when you took the family portrait, did you only take pictures with Ms. Rose and forget about her."
"Why, when David ca ho that one ti, did you secretly give Ms. Rose an unlimited credit card and tell her to hide it from Serena. I an, the person in the basent."
"Why didn’t you even glance at the foot spa she sent ho? You ignored the hints from Martha that it could be used with the herbal packs from Ms. Rose. You only used the gifts from Ms. Rose, not hers."
"And the expensive skincare she bought for you with her prize money, why did you dismiss it, using it rely as hand cream until Martha reminded you ti and again to barely use the gifts she sent."
"What’s this about Martha reminding us? What did Martha ever remind us of?" Louisa’s anger flared, but then she had a revelation. So, this was how things between them and that ungrateful girl had
deteriorated, amplified by Martha’s behind-the-scenes ddling.
Was that old witch really tarnishing their image behind their backs?
"Damn it."
They let her off too easy!
"That little witch must’ve squirreled away the package Serena sent us. And Martha, she only coughed it up after we badgered her about it a dozen tis."
"And why we keep that card from Serena? We’re afraid that she thought we were playing favorites.
How much does Rose actually cost us? She’s my flesh and blood, finally back in my arms. Can’t I give her a little spending money?"
"Then there’s the whole family portrait debacle. That little witch was off playing bridesmaid for a friend and didn’t bother to tell us. We wanted her in the picture, but when the photographers showed up, she
was nowhere to be found. What were we supposed to do? Ask them to co back another day? Plus, it’s not like we couldn’t have a few extra snaps with our long-lost daughter. Is that so wrong?"
The maid shuddered at the thought – none of this was her fault. She had only overheard the wails and whispers from the basent all night and thought she should relay the ssage to the master and
mistress. fearful they were in the dark, their nas being dragged through the mud without their knowledge.
Misunderstandings were clearly brewing between them, likely fanned by Martha’s malicious whispers.
"And I heard the basent dweller say that even Myrna, who hasn’t set foot in the house, didn’t take her seriously. The gifts she received were just Rose’s hand--downs."
"Hand--downs? Who said that?" Louisa fud even more, "The number of gifts Myrna gave to Rose and her were the sa. It’s just that they have different tastes and chose different styles, that’s all."
It was only then that she and Kenneth realized that it must have been Martha stirring the pot, egging on the little witch until she bit the bait.
"From now on, we don’t need to hear anything else she has to say," Kenneth concluded. At this point, words were futile. Even though they suspected Martha was the instigator behind it all, if the girl in the
basent remained steadfast and strong-willed, then no amount of gossip could sway her. The trouble was, her heart was already in turmoil, leading her to make one mistake after another.
"That Martha." Louisa seethed, her head throbbing as darkness danced before her eyes.
She had underestimated the old woman’s spite. If the maid hadn’t co with the ssage, they would have remained ignorant of the slander they’d been subjected to over the past six months.
Damn it.
The maid made her way to the basent, conveying the ssage through the door to Serena.
Serena’s eyes were wide and unfocused with disbelief, tears streaming down her face.
Had Martha lied to her??
It seed impossible.
Every ti Martha spoke of these things, she did so with righteous indignation, as if her parents had been so biased that she’s not their daughter. Martha seed to be fighting for justice on her behalf.
But with things having gotten this far, there was no reason for her parents to lie to her.
So who was lying?
Why would Martha want her to hate her parents, to drive a wedge between them?
What did Martha stand to gain??
anwhile.
Kenneth, supporting Louisa’s shoulders, led her towards the helipad’s grassy expanse.
Bard and Eunice were already there waiting for them.
Upon seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Louisa couldn’t help but spill her concerns, "In that surveillance footage Rose sent, when she was being bullied, there was soone calling her ’Boss’ and sticking up for her like they’d take the beating for her. Does Rose have so other identity we don’t know about? Why would she have lackeys? Should we look into this, or wait for Rose to co ho and ask her ourselves?"
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