Ugh, I can’t believe she actually sent a maid to escort to the bathroom! Marienne groaned inwardly, casting an irritated glance at the short, middle-aged woman walking just a few steps behind her in a crisp black maid’s uniform. This ruins everything!
She deliberately slowed her pace, forcing a sweet, harmless smile onto her flawless face. "Excuse , but there’s really no need to follow . I feel a bit uncomfortable having soone trail just to use the restroom."
The maid responded with a firm, unsmiling look from behind her rectangular glasses, her expression unbothered. "I’m sorry, miss, but we can’t allow just anyone to roam freely around the Stark estate. There are many valuable items here, and we have to be cautious."
Seriously? What a nuisance. Just anyone? So I’m just anyone to these people? Marienne scowled as she stepped into the bathroom, barely acknowledging the maid’s stiff nod before she closed the door behind her.
The lock clicked under her fingers, and she exhaled sharply, walking over to the mirror to glare at her reflection.
"Just look at this," she muttered, running her gaze over the opulent space. "This isn’t a bathroom—it’s a damn museum. Honestly, I get it––if I were him, I’d watch everyone in here too."
She turned and sat down on the closed lid of the toilet, her eyes roaming the marble countertops, gilded fixtures, and the neatly arranged glass jars as if searching for sothing.
"Sebastian keeps nagging for money, and now what? I blew the last of my damn cash on those stupid eclairs from that overpriced French bakery everyone’s obsessed with! Bitch could have at least accepted them to show so respect!"
She barely suppressed the urge to spit, her fists tightening on top of her knees. If only that maid hadn’t followed ... I could’ve slipped into soone’s room and taken sothing valuable. I really need sothing...
I can’t keep selling my own things and telling Robert I lost them—he’s starting to get suspicious. And stealing from Colette? That’s way too risky. She actually trusts the staff in their house, so I’d never be able to pin it on one of them. She even managed to hide Susanne’s things away from everyone!
Marienne raked her fingers through her short blonde hair, tugging at the roots in a fit of growing desperation.
I don’t even have enough money left for a cab. I was counting on Chloe offering her driver after brunch, but now... now what the hell am I supposed to do? Walk all the way to the Hyde residence? I’ll pass out in this heat. And what if soone sees ?
A sharp wave of panic clutched at her chest, digging in like claws. She still couldn’t believe how coldly Chloe had dismissed her, especially after she’d been nothing but perfectly polite. The worst part? Marienne didn’t have anything on her—nothing solid—to force Chloe to play along with her sches.
The vineyard incident was far too risky to bring up again, especially when Chloe clearly held the upper hand in that situation.
I can’t stay here any longer, she sighed, flushing the toilet even though she hadn’t used it. I need to change the plan.
As Marienne stepped out of the bathroom and exited the mansion, trailed once again by the sa stone-faced maid, she looked up at the cloudless sky. The blazing sun was already high, casting its heat over the world like a punishnt, making her squint and silently curse the day.
It would have been much wiser to simply swallow her pride and go back to ask Chloe for a car and driver to take her ho. But after the way she had been treated in the living room, Marienne couldn’t bear the thought of being scolded again for overstepping.
Ask for cab fare? What excuse could she possibly use that wouldn’t shred what was left of her dignity? Claim her phone was broken? That she didn’t have any cash on her? No—none of it would work. And even if it did, Marienne couldn’t risk appearing too vulnerable in front of Chloe now.
Their relationship was ant to be built on equal footing—or at least the illusion of it. Because she knew all too well: the mont Chloe started pitying her, the possibility of becoming her friend would vanish completely.
With a heavy sigh, she pulled her phone out of her purse and tapped on the screen, calling the number she knew by heart.
"Seb," Marienne muttered with a frown as she finally reached him and heard the familiar rasp of his voice on the other end. "I need you to co pick up. I’m... in a bit of a bind right now and need your help."
"Are you kidding ?" Sebastian scoffed, clearly amused and unimpressed. "Just get a cab."
"I can’t," she hissed, her voice low and sharp. "That’s why I’m calling you. I need your help right now. Send a cab then! But pay for it in advance."
"Sorry, baby doll," he drawled, unapologetic. "Can’t help you today. My hands are full. Get yourself out of that bind. And don’t forget that you wouldn’t want to get into more debt with ."
He hung up without another word, leaving Marienne shaking with frustration. That useless idiot! Her hands clenched at her sides. I can’t believe this!
"Excuse ," a man’s voice broke through her fury, forcing her to spin around. "Miss Rochester?"
Marienne’s eyes widened ever so slightly, her heartbeat quickening with a flicker of hope. "Mr. Garrel, right?" she bead. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
Gabriel smirked, casually brushing a hand through his tousled curls. "Well, that’s quite a greeting—I’m flattered. What brings you here? Were you visiting Chloe?"
"No," Marienne replied with a soft pout, glancing up at him from beneath her elegantly arched brows. "Our eting is already over, but... I’ve run into a bit of trouble. Will you help ?"
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