2| Crossing the limit

As Alexa and Nicole excused themselves from the rest of the guests and went upstairs, Miranda had already overheard their conversation while serving drinks to the guests. She was particularly alert whenever discussions revolved around Derrick.

The top floor was off-limits; Derrick hated to be disturbed, and Miranda was well aware of this. However, she wanted to know what Alexa and Nicole were planning to do on the top floor.

Seeing how elegantly beautiful Alexa and Nicole looked in their stunning dresses that swept the floor, Miranda felt a twinge of jealousy, wishing she weren't a maid. Although she had managed to obtain some college education, she couldn't resign from her maid position, especially when she admired the most handsome man on the planet.

"Ouch! Watch where you're going!" a guest yelled at Miranda for stepping on her toes. She lost her grip on the tray, and it slipped from her hands, staining the guest's dress.

"How dare you, lowly maid, stain my white dress? Do you have any idea how much this outfit cost?" The guest was equally annoyed. She was a young woman of similar size to Miranda. The fact that the celebrant didn’t seem interested in his own party only fueled the guests' irritation.

"I am so sorry," Miranda began, but before she could finish her apology, the guest slapped her hard across the left cheek.

"You don't deserve to be a maid here! Get out!" the guest yelled, her voice causing the living room to fall silent.

The lady of the house was equally shocked. She chastised the guest, "Melody, that’s not how to treat a fellow lady. She made a mistake and apologized to you while we were all here. Come here, Miranda," Lady Loretta called to her.

"Show Melody to the room above. I believe Nicole still has some spare clothes left from when she got married last year."

"Okay, Ma. Come with me," Miranda said to the angry lady, who now looked pleased to be taken upstairs for a change.

As guards stood watch around the mansion and in the living room, the jubilation continued as Miranda escorted Melody upstairs.

Melody was happy to be away from the living room and asked Miranda, "Where's Master Derrick's room?"

Miranda didn’t want to be friendly with the woman who had just insulted her. Although Melody was also fair-skinned like her—Miranda was naturally fair without using any toning lotion—she didn’t care to engage.

"Can't you speak?" Melody yelled at Miranda again. Miranda didn't want to endure any more insults from this guest.

"What do you need Master Derrick's room for? Are you here for the birthday party, or are you here for the master of the house?" Miranda questioned the bewildered woman.

"What? How dare you speak to me in such an insolent manner? Have you lost your mind?" Melody charged at Miranda, wanting to attack her. Miranda didn’t even know which of the rooms belonged to Derrick or his sisters.

The mansion was vast, and there were too many rooms above to know which one was the master’s or his sister’s.

Just as the lady raised her hand to strike Miranda again, Derrick stepped out of his sitting room with his sister and Alexa, having just changed into comfortable homewear.

"What’s going on here?" Derrick demanded, and Melody quickly withdrew her hand and flashed Derrick a sweet smile.

"Good evening, sir. Madam sent this maid to show me to one of her daughter's rooms so I can change my outfit after she spilled wine on me. But the maid is rude and refuses to guide me to the room," Melody said, looking from Derrick to Miranda, irritably.

"Hmm, that's a total lie, sir. She was asking me for your bedroom," Miranda interjected. Silence filled the hallway, and to Derrick's surprise, Miranda’s voice was soft, and he hadn’t heard anyone speak in such a gentle tone before.

He eyed the maid curiously, having not heard her speaking before.

"That's not a reason to confront our maid. You're not the owner of the house, and I saw you trying to attack her. Leave now; you are not welcome, and your contract with the Luis firm will be terminated as well." Derrick said casually as he walked toward the staircase to go downstairs. Melody immediately dropped to her knees and pleaded, "Please, Master Derrick. Forgive me. I didn't mean to attack the maid. She's lying, and I wasn't asking her for your room."

With leisurely strides, Derrick ignored Melody begging him. He went downstairs to thank all the guests who had taken the time to honor his mother’s invitation.

After Derrick, his sister, and Alexa left the top floor, Melody stood up and pounced on Miranda. She wanted to get revenge for making her lose her job and spoiling her chances with the master of the house.

"You witch! How dare you ruin my chances? I'm going to kill you today!"

Melody was unprepared; she didn’t know that Miranda could fight. As she rushed to attack Miranda, Miranda dodged the attack and kicked her hard, then she pounced on her and began beating her.

"Somebody help!" Melody screamed as Miranda landed multiple slaps in retaliation for the first slap she had received.

Miranda pinned Melody down onto the tiled floor and slapped her hard across on her face, even pulling off the lady’s wig.

However, with the music playing in the living room and the bodyguards having already escorted Derrick downstairs to the grand hall, no one could hear Melody's screaming in distress.

After dealing with Melody, Miranda ran into one of the rooms in the corridor to take a cool evening bath.

The birthday celebration had long ended, and Derrick had thanked all the guests who had come to his 25th birthday party. Likewise, he escorted his sister and Alexa tothe driveway as they prepared to leave the residence.

"Baby brother, we have to start going home now. Enjoy your night. I was thinking, why not ask Alexa out to be your girlfriend? She works alongside you at the office and spends most of her days with you. Alexa comes from a prestigious family here, and she would make a good wife for you," Nicole finally said to Derrick, smiling.

Derrick frowned slightly and replied, "I'm not interested in a relationship, and Alexa knows this. Unless she’s the one requesting you to speak to me about a relationship."

"Not at all, Master Derrick," Alexa quickly interjected, as she didn't want to lose her job, especially when she noticed Derrick’s irritated expression.

"That's fine, sister. Let’s call it a night. I have to go inside now and rest, and then I will give your proposal some thought. Alexa Godwin is a wonderful woman, and I wouldn’t mind asking her out the proper way," Derrick said, placing his hands into his trouser pockets and offering his elder sister a warm smile.

He didn’t want either of them worrying about him.

"That's fine, baby brother. Good night, and bye," Nicole waved to Derrick as she got into her red car and drove home to her husband and their new baby. Alexa nervously smiled as she walked up to her sleek black car.

She pulled the black car door open, got inside, and feeling Master Derrick’s gaze on her, she drove out of the opulent residence.