"She left you, Fred... She left on the day of your wedding. I can’t understand how you can give up so much for her. You’re even willing to let your kids have her surna... How can you be so sure of her? You know father only has you, right? "
When Talia got near the dinning room, Roderick’s emotional voice was heard and Talia slowed down as she felt a tug in her heart. She felt hurt that her intentions with Arthur are questioned, but then on second thought, Roderick’s care for Arthur is what was more obvious than his doubts over her intentions.
But what did he an by saying his father only has him?
"Don’t bring up the past, Rod. I’m not giving up anything that-" Arthur paused noticing Talia entering the dining hall. Seeing Arthur with the bowl of soup, Talia felt her heart skip.
So they found out?
Talia didn’t intend for them to find out, but since it ca out, she thought of ways to handle it. Fred’s father looked so ashad, she didn’t want to make it a big issue, although she was hurt deeply.
The kids aren’t here... That’s a relief!
Before Talia could speak, Arthur was the one who scread, " Were you the one responsible for this?"
Talia could see Wilma shuddering. Her confident deanour she showed to her was replaced with clear fright.
Not so confident in front of ’The Bear King’, are we Wilma?
"She’s... trying to put bla on . Why would I want to humiliate my Master whom I served-"
"Well, Tell then, Wilma," Talia interjected. " What is wrong with the bowl of soup? How did you know I’m blaming you for it? Also... Why would I feel the need to bla you of all the people here?"
"That... Because... Because I’m the most loyal-"
"Why?" Talia asked folding her hands above her chest. She didn’t care much about the soup. But what she did ten years ago... It haunted her. "Why did you tell that morning that I’m getting married to Raymond? You, the loyal servant knew what happened with him and yet you told that my grandfather sold to the Sinclair family to save his prestige... You told I’d be a slave in this mansion and treated as such... You said I’d be used as a... " Talia gritted her teeth as she felt her tears clouding her eyes. " You hit , pinched , slapped while dressing and you... The words you used.... I was barely sixteen. I was drugged the previous night and I wasn’t given even a sip of water that day... I really believed I was abandoned... That I was getting married to Raymond. Why? Why did you do that? "
Talia tried not to be emotional, but no matter how many tis she rembered that day, she couldn’t help but cry as that day affected her deeply.
" She hit you? " Arthur with his eyebrows furrowed, asked Talia and Talia raised her eyebrows knowing she slipped up.
"Liar!" Wilma looked at Gregory who was looking at her and tried to defend herself. "You lie! I never hit you. And I told you you’re getting married to the second young master. It was Arthur who was the second young master since-"
"Why would she lie that you hit her?" Arthur threw the bowl of soup at Wilma. She dodged and the ceramic bowl shattered at the wall just inches from her.
Shaking, Wilma still wasn’t willing to apologise.
" What’s wrong with her getting married to Raymond? He was the Heir to the Sinclair family. I’d say that’s too much for this Brunton b*tch-"
"So you lied to her," without second thoughts Arthur gave a tight slap to Wilma and she staggered and almost fell in the floor when she was caught by the other staff in there.
"Fred," Talia placed her hand over Arthur’s chest stopping him from hitting that woman further. He looked like he’d murder her and Talia didn’t want that to happen.
"You... You hit ... You hit for that-"
"I’ll kill you for her with no regrets. Do you doubt ?" Arthur tried to lunge towards Wilma and Talia held him back.
"I know you will. You killed the Heir! I should have done sothing... You killed the Heir..." she cried pointed at Arthur with her fingers shaking.
Arthur who was trying to get out of the hold of Talia stopped struggling hearing those words.
"He would be suffering.... Even after death, he wasn’t left peaceful ... His beloved grandson... The Heir..."
"What’s with you blabbering that Raymond was the Heir? Isn’t Roderick the Heir?" Talia didn’t like that won wailing and asked to shut her up.
She saw Roderick taking a step back and his face was pale. Not understanding what she said wrong, she looked at Arthur who took in a deep breath composing himself.
"Wilma! Leave!" Gregory Sinclair who was calm till now stood up and he looked red with rage. "That day I promised Jero Brunton that his granddaughter would be safe in my house. I now know that not only my late son did an abominable thing to her, but also my staff abused her. I should be kneeling in front of the Brunton family, asking for forgiveness. Leave! I don’t want to look at your face anymore! You’re fired! Get lost! "
"Kneel?" Wilma laughed as tears stread through her face. " Kneel and apologise to the Bruntons? You’re no better than the bastard and the wayward sons of yours. Your father would be sad looking down at you."
"Looking down? You think my father is in the heavens to look down at ? He’d be in the deepest parts of hell, looking up at . And I’m glad he suffers even after death. And you should leave. You have no place in this mansion anymore. Leave!" Gregory shouted from his lungs and ended up in a coughing fit. Talia ran to the table and poured so water for him.
As she passed the glass of water to Gregory, Wilma pushed it down." You cannot drink the water she gives you," she mumbled and then she started cursing Talia.
"Stop talking and scram!" Arthur interfered since she started talking about Talia.
"The soul of the previous Lord of this mansion will never forgive you. You two will suffer this life and the next. Hell waits for you... The Brunton family will be left heiress! You all will be cursed! You all will suffer for not upholding his virtues..."
" The virtues of the previous Lord of this house?" Talia sneered. She was not scared of the curses of this woman. Only the curses of good people will co to pass. Who is she? She couldn’t understand why everyone else seed affected by her words.
" You should be thankful that I’m a Brunton. If I was raised by the previous Lord of this house, you’d be buried under one of the cypress trees by now. So shut up and leave before I change my mind." Talia pushed that woman out of the dining room.
"Heartless monster... I served this house for decades and she throws out... My master... Did you see..." That woman mumbled on her way back.
"Papa, I think you should send soone behind her to make sure she doesn’t do anything bad to herself..." even at this ti, Talia couldn’t help but worry for the Sinclair family. If a woman who loyally served the Sinclair family for years suffered an ill-fate, it would be a PR disaster. Who knows whether that woman would do that? Or go to the dia?
What if she speaks about Fred to the dia?
"Are you really worried for that woman?" Roderick asked and Talia was stunned by the tone he used.
"Papa and you are in politics. You know you can’t leave such loose ends. It’s better to deal with her amicably." Talia answered nonetheless.
"You care for us? Really? If so, let Artie go... Let him marry soone else and bear-"
"Roderick!" Gregory stopped him but Roderick continued.
"I am not the Heir because I am Jonathan Sinclair’s bastard son. With Ray gone, only Arthur is left as father’s bloodline. Please..." he begged.
"Roderick... Wha-... How..?" Gregory was petrified.
He is saying he is my mother’s killer’s son? Talia was stupefied.
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