CHAPTER 6: BLYTHE

"THE DEATH OF HER"

NOW THAT Zandro has mentioned it again, everything came flooding back to her mind. All the reasons that brought her into that huge house, particularly the main ground of their agreement— it's all for the power and position he wants to claim in a court of law. And to have that, Zandro has to prove himself of the qualities that the old magistrate was looking for from the line of most professional lawyers in the country to deserve the throne more.

"I would do that," Blythe agreed.

"Great... Now, what is it that you need for that idiot?"

"Well, the guy has a name and it's Luiz," she bravely said instead. "And the thing is that he should not be held accountable for what happened. It's me who forced him to take me out of your mansion. Luiz has been badly opposing my idea, but—"

"Stop beating around the bust..." He gave her an icy-cold stare. "Go straight to the point now."

"Punish me instead of him," she claimed without having a second thought. Blythe bit her lower lip, terrified of what she was doing but she had to face the consequence of her audacity to violate the rule. "I am the one to blame here. Just I and I would face the proper punishment for what I've done. Just please, don't hurt Luiz." 

"Mi Amor..." There was doubt in his eyes as he closed the tiny gap between them. Zandro raised his large hand to touch her face, but a voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Zandro!"

A voice has once again startled the two from their alone time. This time they lifted their gaze towards the grand staircase where a beautiful woman was standing in the middle of the steps and seemed to have been watching them for a while. A few patterns of anger were building up on her face making a contour of indignation, Blythe didn't miss it as they watched her stepping down towards them.

"Too busy to check your phone, huh?" The way she talks to Zandro is very different from the other people around them. This woman does all the opposite, especially the roughness of her tone as she asked him.

She must be a close friend or a girlfriend perhaps?

Eventually, the beautiful woman's eyes shifted to Blythe. The worry written on her face causes a sharp arch on the woman's brows. "You got an important call in your office, five minutes ago. It's your father, and I think it's urgent."

 Zandro immediately fished his phone from his pocket and as soon as he confirmed the notifications there he ran towards the staircase as if there was something to chase. Both Blythe and the woman watch him dashing until he's completely gone from their sight.

Intimidating silence replaced the background after they were left alone. As the woman with oceanic blue eyes turned to her the arch on her brow stayed sharp, from that point Blythe got to realize where this woman should be categorized on. Not a friend, not someone who would smile at her but an enemy who will make her stay hellish like those domineering servants.

"I heard about what you've done," she started with a tone lacking in feeling, just like what was on her elegant face. "The first time I saw you, I got a glimpse of the troubles you'll be giving in this mansion. Did Zandro tell you that he missed his important meeting today just to find you?"

That made Blythe feel worse. That was out of her plan, but that's the truth— she really caused him trouble, and of all the troubles in this world she really messed up on his work.

"I didn't know that it would happen," she admitted with her head hanging low. "But I will still apologize to Attorney Zandro later. I won't do it anymore."

"Do you think your sorry could mend something?" She said, scoffing. "Gosh, Miss Hernandez! You are too naive, but that can't vindicate you from what happened. The damage has been done, and it should not be happening again. Nevertheless, just because Zandro's not here doesn't mean that you're safe from the punishment you are going to get now... I'm pretty sure that you are aware that every mistake has its consequences, aren't you?"

Blythe doubts the woman's actions but she still motioned her head to agree. "I know that very much, and I've prepared myself for whatever punishment I would get from attor— I mean Zandro."

"Tsss, stupid..." she criticized in a whisper, looking disgusted as she started walking around Blythe. "If that's the case, let's start now."

Wait!

Is she really going to punish Blythe even if Zandro has explained about her "free trial" earlier? 

Damn, Blythe's hose!

The aesthetically pleasing and wide garden where they held their wedding came into their view, as the woman brought her there for the punishment she was talking about. It's still breathtakingly amazing, the flowers in various colors and varieties were blooming there. Also those cute shrub trees around the garden fountain, and the magical architectured landscapes. Everything is well-organized and pretty clean as always. 

Well, the mansion has so many servants to do the job. But why did she bring Blythe out there?

"See those wild climbing vines around the wall over there?" Her painted nails pointed at those climbing grasses that are ruining the view. They were plenty and thick, almost covering the wall. "Take all of those away, and make sure to leave it spotlessly clean. The cleaning materials were in the warehouse at the back, you just take them now and make it fast."

But the sun rays peeking from above faze her so much that Blythe fails to move immediately. The sun has not even touching her skin, yet she can feel the smoldering heat around her body. How worse could happen if she finally goes there to start her task?

"What now?"

Slowly, she turned to the cruel woman next to her. The arch in her brow went sharper, and it seemed that she was going to slaughter Blythe alive once she didn't move.

"Move!"

Shocked by her voice, Blythe dashed towards the warehouse wherever it is. There's a stoned pathway heading to the backyard, she ran on it despite the scorching heat burning her poor skin. This is what she gets for being a rule breaker.

The first room she luckily entered contained all the cleaning materials she would need. Blythe took them and put them into a basket, she also saw a not-so-dirty rug which she decided to take as well. Blythe would accept the punishment but not the torture and obviously, going there in broad daylight will gonna be painful for her...

As she started pulling out those wild vines on the wall, Blythe bit her lower lip as hard as she nearly tasted blood on it. This is a suicide mission! Although she had put some magic lotion on her skin earlier, it still hurts!

One hour later, Blythe was chasing her breath like a carabao who was done plowing a ten-hectare land. She can feel some set of eyes watching her, she's hoping for someone to share her work. But because of the woman who looks having fun watching her, nobody dares.

"Make it fast, there's still more!" she shouted as she sip from her lemonade.

This freaking contract she signed will really be the death of her…