3. The Suspicion

Lady Loretta was directing the maids to clear the used plates and empty bottles and to tidy up the living room after all the guests had left her mansion. She noticed a lady wincing in pain, struggling as she descended the staircase.

"Melody," Lady Loretta exclaimed, shocked to see Melody looking so disheveled, as if she had been beaten severely.

"What happened to you?" Lady Loretta inquired, her shock echoed by the maids in the living room who paused to gaze at Melody. They gasped at the sight of the previously arrogant woman in such a state.

"Milady, it was one of the maids. The maid you assigned to show me to the top floor. She attacked me," Melody managed to say, her cheeks visibly swollen.

"You mean Miranda did this to you? I find that hard to believe. Miranda is gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly. Ever since Miranda began working here, she's never been in a fight that I know of. Are you sure you're referring to Miranda or perhaps another maid?"

While the older woman was questioning Melody after all the guests had left, Derrick walked back into the living room, surprised to see that a guest was still present.

"She did this, ma'am. I'm not lying. Miranda falsely accused me to Master Derrick, and after he left, she assaulted me. She is evil, ma'am," Melody began to sob, noticing Derrick looking at her.

"What’s happening here, Mom?" Derrick asked as he walked over to his mother.

"Mom, you know it’s getting late. You should get some rest," Derrick said, not giving Melody, who had expected him to summon the maid, any attention.

After Melody had lost her job, she expected Miranda would lose hers too in the exquisite villa. Melody realized she had no chance of getting closer to Derrick again. He was predominantly busy in the office and attending high-level business meetings. Similarly, she had no excuse to see him either, as Alexa was his secretary, and many other top female staff members were eager to be with Derrick.

"Mom," Derrick said, looking at his mother, whose hair was now gray. "I’ll have the guards investigate what happened. Melody, you may leave now," Derrick dismissed her, without considering summoning Miranda.

He accompanied his mother up the stairs and helped her back to her room on the top floor. His elderly mother took quite some time climbing the stairs, and Derrick considered relocating her room to the ground floor.

Arriving at Lady Loretta Luis's room door, Derrick paused to gently open it. Everyone knew to avoid disturbing him when he was with his mother.

"Mom, you should rest well. I don’t want anything to happen to you," Derrick said softly after helping her onto the bed. Lady Loretta and Derrick both had a dark complexion. Smiling at her son’s care, she replied, "I’m fine, but you know what would make me happy and rest well? If you settled down. Your father worked so hard to acquire all this wealth for you. I’m past 70 now, and I can’t stay youthful forever. You should consider marrying before you reach thirty, my son."

Holding his mother's warm hand, she continued, "My wish for you is to find a good woman who will love you dearly, pamper you like her own, and take care of you after I’ve gone to watch over you from heaven."

"Mom," Derrick interrupted with a frown. "You’re not leaving me anytime soon." Tears gathered at the corners of Derrick’s eyes; his mother often spoke about passing, and he wished he could trade all their wealth for more time with her.

"It’s life, Derrick. We must go for the world to stay balanced and allow the next generation to continue. But I’m not leaving you yet. I still wish to see you settle down and witness the next heir of the Luis firm."

"That’s fine, Mom. I guess I should let you rest now. Sleep well." Derrick leaned over and kissed his mother’s forehead goodbye. She smiled, watching him leave the room.

Meanwhile, in the master’s bedroom of the exquisite mansion, Miranda relaxed in a warm bath in one of the lush rooms.

"Oh my goodness! This feels so good," she said, unconcerned with the consequences of her actions.

She had quickly entered this room, finding it quite different from the other rooms she was assigned to care for on the lower floors.

"Mm," Miranda mumbled, enjoying the cold night bath. After dealing with the lady who dared to slap her, Miranda wanted to teach her how it felt to be humiliated. She wasn’t one to take abuse lightly, but coming from a lower-class family and becoming an orphan at a young age made Miranda realize the world had little respect for the poor. She aspired to become wealthy, even if it meant stepping on others to get there. She yearned for the good life, a respectable job, and possibly owning a large supermarket or mall.

Reflecting on her life struggles, Miranda didn’t care how long she’d been soaking in the exquisite, expansive bathtub. The bubbling water infused with scented soap soothed her body. Coupled with the chilly night air, Miranda didn’t feel like leaving the bath. She wished to sleep there and forget her worries. She’d let her blonde hair cascade down her back. Although she was extremely beautiful, she remembered the slap Melody had given her. Miranda felt like strangling Melody’s neck but knew she would be imprisoned with no one to rescue her.

"Mmmmm," Miranda indulged herself in the bathtub until she heard the sound of the room door shutting.

"Who’s there?" she asked, initially thinking she was in her maid's room on the lower floor of the mansion. Reality dawned on her as she realized she was in one of the resident's rooms.

"I hope this isn’t Master Derrick’s room," Miranda murmured softly until she heard the bathroom door slide open.