Chapter 3

Lady Loretta dismissed the maids to clear the used plates and empty bottles and tidy up the living room after all the guests left her mansion. She noticed Melody wincing in pain as she descended the staircase with difficulty.

"Melody," Lady Loretta looked shocked upon seeing how disheveled Melody appeared—as if beaten.

"What happened to you?" Lady Loretta inquired in shock. All the maids in the living room paused and gasped at the sight of the once-arrogant lady.

"Madam, one of the maids—the one you assigned to show me to the top floor—did this to me," Melody managed to speak. Her cheeks were visibly swollen.

"You mean Miranda did this? I don't believe it. Miranda is innocent and cannot hurt a fly. Since Miranda has worked here, she hasn't fought with any maid that I know of. Are you sure you're referring to Miranda, or did another maid do this?"

As the older woman questioned Melody after the guests left, Derrick walked into the living room and looked stunned to see a guest still there.

"She did this, ma'am. I cannot lie. Miranda lied about me to Master Derrick, and after he left, she beat me. She is evil," Melody sobbed upon seeing Derrick.

"What's happening here, Mom?" Derrick asked as he approached his mother.

"Mom, it's already late. You should rest," Derrick said, not glancing at Melody, who had expected him to summon the maid.

After losing her job, Melody expected Miranda to lose hers too. She knew she didn't stand a chance with Derrick again. He was mostly busy at the office attending business meetings. She had no excuse to see him either. Alexa was his secretary, and many other top female staff wanted to be with Derrick.

"Mom," Derrick looked at his aged mother, whose hair was filled with gray. He frowned as she said, "Derrick, I'll return to my room. But where is Miranda if Melody accused her of beating her?"

"Don't worry yourself, Mother. I'll have the guards investigate what happened. Melody, you may leave now," Derrick dismissed her without summoning Miranda.

He walked his mother to the stairs and assisted her to her room on the top floor.

It took the older lady hours to climb the stairs. Derrick considered relocating her room to the ground floor.

Arriving at Lady Loretta's room door, Derrick paused and gently opened it. The maids knew to avoid him, especially when he was with his mother.

"Mom, you should get enough rest. I don't want anything to go wrong with you," Derrick spoke softly after helping her onto the bed.

Both Lady Loretta and Derrick were dark-complexioned. She smiled at her son's care and replied, "I am fine, Derrick, but you know what will make me happy and rest well? If you settle down. Your father worked so hard to acquire this wealth for you. I'm already over 70 years old, and you don't expect me to remain youthful. You should consider marrying. You shouldn't wait until thirty."

Derrick scowled, holding his mother's warm left hand as she lay on the bed.

She continued, "My wish for you is to find a good woman who will love you very much, pamper you, and take good care of you while I'm away, watching you both from heaven."

"Mom," Derrick interrupted with a frown. "You're not leaving me anytime soon." Tears gathered in his eyes. His mother constantly spoke about leaving, and he wished he could exchange all their wealth for her longer life.

"It's life, Derrick. We must go so the world balances and generations continue. But I'm not leaving anytime soon. I want to see you settle down first and see the next heir of Luis firm."

"That's fine, Mom. I'll let you rest now. Have a sound sleep," Derrick leaned over and kissed his mother's forehead. She smiled and watched him exit her room.

~~~

Meanwhile, in the master's bedroom of the mansion, Miranda soaked herself in a warm bath.

"Oh my goodness! This feels so good," she bathed, unconcerned with consequences.

Miranda had hurried into this room, which was totally different from the ones she cleaned downstairs.

"Mm," Miranda mumbled, enjoying the bath.

After dealing with Melody who had slapped her, Miranda wanted to show her what dejection felt like. She wasn't someone to take mistreatment. Having come from a poor family and become an orphan young, Miranda knew the world had no respect for the poor.

She wanted to become rich even if it meant climbing over others. She admired a good life, wanted a good job, and dreamed of owning a supermarket or shopping mall.

Thinking about her struggles, Miranda didn't notice how much time she'd spent soaking in this exquisite bathtub. The scented, bubbling waters soothed her body.

With the chilly night weather, Miranda didn't want to leave. She wanted to sleep there and forget her worries. She had even let her blonde hair fall behind her back.

She was extremely beautiful, but remembering Melody's slap, Miranda felt like strangling her. But she knew she'd be jailed with no one to rescue her.

"Mmm," Miranda enjoyed herself until she heard the room door shut.

"Who's there?" Miranda asked, suddenly realizing she wasn't in her maid's room on the lower floor but in one of the family's children's rooms.

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