Ella nearly choked. "Devil and the maid?" She could only imagine herself as the poor, helpless maid in this scenario.
"Eric, can’t you dial back the wickedness?"
He laughed as he carried her into the bathroom, kissed her lips gently, then set her down and turned on the warm water from the shower. "Isn’t a thrill like this the most fun?"
"Oh, by the way," Eric continued, "there’s a eting in two days about casting for the thriller film. You’ll be attending, right?"
Ella was reminded of the upcoming project. The thriller was an adaptation of a popular online novel, and Ella had personally tracked down the author to sign the deal.
It was a project she had been eyeing for a long ti, one she had fought hard to secure against competition from over a dozen other producers. Now that casting was underway, she was excited to be involved, confident she could find the perfect actors to bring the characters to life—just as she had done with Amanda.
"Of course, I’ll be there," Ella said coolly. "I’ll be handling the casting myself."
Typically, she would only recomnd actors to the director, but this project was different. After all the work she put into securing the adaptation rights, she wanted nothing more than to see the project beco a hit.
"Whatever you want," Eric murmured, moving closer to her, initiating their "devil and the maid" ga...
...
anwhile, in the southwestern suburbs of S City, inside a European-style villa, Hannah sat cradling her phone as she made a call. "Mom... co here, please. I’m being mistreated, boo hoo..."
"Yes, she bullied . I’m part of the Miller family, yet she shows no respect whatsoever!" Hannah’s voice turned into a cold sneer.
Whatever was said on the other end made her smile with satisfaction. "Alright then, Mom, I’ll wait for you." Hannah hung up and leaned back on the sofa, looking tired.
Logan entered the room, noticing her weariness. "What’s wrong? Are you upset?"
Hannah shook her head, giving Logan a soft smile. "Thanks to you, I wasn’t humiliated at the party."
"Protecting you is my duty," Logan said with a gentle smile, sitting beside her.
Molly, the maid, brought over a bowl of pear dessert, and Logan fed Hannah himself.
"Oh, I invited Mom to co stay with ," Hannah said with a light laugh. "With Mom here, I won’t be underestimated or bullied again."
Logan hesitated, montarily taken aback. Wasn’t this trip supposed to be just for the two of them? Why did she need Mrs. Miller to join?
Mrs. Miller was the head lady of the Miller family, married to Kyle Miller, and mother to a daughter who bore a striking resemblance to Hannah.
"Why bring your mother here? Don’t you think I can protect you?" Logan asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Logan, only my mother commands the authority of nobility. Even though you’re an heir to a prominent family in Country W, your status still can’t compare to hers! When Mom arrives, even the governor will have to show her respect," Hannah replied with a cold smile. Mrs. Miller had always adored her and, Hannah knew, would go to great lengths to defend her, even if it ant taking extre asures.
Logan’s irritation remained, but as he looked into Hannah’s eyes, he caught a glimpse of a chilling, bloodthirsty glint. It was as if the old Hannah had returned.
After being poisoned by a maid, Hannah had suffered a relapse of her ntal condition, requiring months of secluded treatnt at a private estate. Eventually, she’d recovered, but since then, she’d beco more timid.
Now, as Logan observed her, he saw a familiar darkness in her eyes, a spark he hadn’t seen in a while. And yet, sothing about it felt disturbingly off.
"Logan, stay with tonight!" Hannah clutched Logan’s hand, her eyes shimring with a pleading look.
"Of course. I’ll take good care of you," Logan replied, smiling suggestively.
Just then, Molly entered the room. "Miss Liliana, there’s a call for you."
Hannah quickly went to take the call, slipping into the back garden.
Logan had bought this European-style villa for Hannah three months ago because she disliked staying in hotels. But why did she need privacy for this call?
A sudden feeling of unease washed over Logan. Hannah was becoming harder to read by the day, yet he found himself drawn to her mystery.
In the garden, Hannah’s face had gone pale as she gripped the phone, her lips pressed into a tight line. "Yes... I understand. I know." She hung up slowly, a fleeting look of despair in her eyes before she composed herself and returned inside.
Logan was waiting for her, concerned. "What’s wrong? You look upset."
"Oh, darling, I... I’m not feeling well, so I think it’s best if you don’t stay over tonight," she said with a faint smile, her raspy voice tugging at Logan’s heart.
"Alright, I won’t disturb your rest then. Our wedding is only a few months away, so make sure to take care of yourself," Logan said tenderly, kissing her forehead before leaving the villa.
As she watched him walk away, Hannah’s gaze lingered on his back, a complicated expression crossing her face as she let out a soft sigh.
"Miss Liliana, would you like a milk bath or essential oils for tonight?" Molly asked respectfully.
Hannah glanced at her. "Milk. My beautiful skin owes itself to a nightly thirty-minute milk bath. And of course... your assistance doesn’t go unappreciated. I’ll triple your pay this month."
Molly bead with delight. While she occasionally bore the brunt of Hannah’s moods, she wasn’t subjected to the rumored abuse, and Hannah’s generosity when pleased made working for her worthwhile.
"Thank you, honored Miss Liliana. You are truly Molly’s benefactor," she replied gratefully.
Seeing her maid’s satisfied expression, Hannah smirked with disdain.
...
The next day, Ella found herself replaying Hannah’s appearance in her mind, a lingering sense of unease clouding her thoughts.
With the backing of the Miller family, Hannah should exude confidence, not weakness. It would make sense if she was rely trying to garner sympathy, but still... sothing felt off.
This Hannah, with her fragile deanor, was perhaps even more dangerous than her forr, assertive self. Ella couldn’t decipher what she was truly after. Humiliating her? Tarnishing her reputation? No, those were too petty.
If Hannah had spent three years plotting, surely her endga was bigger than just these small disruptions.
Lying beside her, Eric stirred awake, noticing her gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling as if lost in thought. He gently turned her face toward him, a playful smile lighting up his eyes. "What’s on your mind? Last night’s ga leave that much of an impression?"
Ella rolled her eyes. "No. I just can’t shake this feeling that sothing’s wrong. Hannah has the Miller family, and Logan... shouldn’t there be more to her plan than just making a scene?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)