6. Fake Mistress

“Okay....” Poppy hesitated. Robin didn't even notice her weak voice.

Poppy couldn't sleep well after that because her spouse left shortly after they finished intercourse. She fell asleep and woke up several times to check the clock, just in case Robin returned. Still, Robin didn't return.

Even though she understands the terms of their agreement, she is still disappointed. Which woman will be pleased if her husband leaves after having pleasure from her? She expected that their intimate connection would bring them closer together, but she was wrong.

‘Is it possible that he's having a party with his friends?’ Poppy tried to take it easy.

And after one week, the same routine is repeated. Every night, Robin would come and leave her without saying much. This continued even when they returned to Robin's mansion.

***

On a bright morning, Poppy sat calmly in front of the dressing table, trying to shut off the anxiety that weighed heavily on her chest every night. Her personal maid, Donna, is assisting her with makeup application as usual. When she noticed Donna focused on brushing her long, wavy hair, she smiled.

Poppy looked at herself in the mirror. Something calmed her down a bit. The image of Rose that frequently lingered in her thoughts was vanishing.

“Are you going to the library again?” Donna asked in her usual gentle tone.

“Yes, I have made a list of book titles that I want to read today,” Poppy responded, wanting to change her focus to something more calming.

Poppy makes good use of the facilities at the mansion. In order to be able to live independently with greater knowledge when she and Robin divorce in the future, she needs to learn as much as she can.

“It's done, Madam. I'll take you to the library.”

After that, they headed out of the room and down the lengthy hallway to the library. They encountered four maids who were cleaning the furnishings before arriving at their destination.

Poppy frowned when she noticed the maids had immediately stopped working and turned around to see her, giggling and chattering. When Donna saw how the maids were acting rudely and as though they were mocking Poppy, she refused to tolerate their behavior.

“What are you laughing and staring at?” Then Donna shouted at them.

“What's up with you? Just keep going with that fake mistress.” Mia, one of the maids, chuckled in amusement in response.

“What do you say? Apologize to Mrs. Poppy immediately!”

Donna stepped up to the maids. Being the personal maid of their great master's wife gave her a sense of superiority.

“Why are you angry? I'm telling the truth. She is really a fake mistress!”

Donna swung her hand to give her a slap. But Mia grabbed her wrist in an instant.

“My lover is Mr. Robin's main bodyguard. He told me that your madam was just a slut that Mr. Robin bought to pretend to be his wife! Don’t you know that?”

Poppy's eyes widened. She was shocked that the maid had revealed things about her. Didn't Robin say the secret about her will be buried on Solterra Island? However, why did one of the guards dare to share such an important secret with his lover?

“Don't talk carelessly!” Donna snapped as she tried to release her hand from Mia's grip.

“I’m not lying! I’m kind enough to inform you so that you don’t have to bother serving the fake mistress, who will soon be kicked out after giving birth to Mr. Robin's child!”

Poppy's face becomes pale as if her blood has been drained. She stepped back cautiously, unwilling to hear the insults, even though they were almost true. Donna became convinced of her coworker's information after seeing Poppy's reaction.

Since then, the attitude of all the maids in the mansion has changed. Donna is no longer as cordial as she once was, and she frequently speaks in hushed tones. Not only that, but some maids began to ask Poppy for help. They believe that their status isn’t much different.

Poppy is no longer able to study as she wishes. Every time she leaves the room, the servants sneer openly at her.

“Poop, can you help me?” Mia asked for Poppy as she walked toward the dining room. She purposely dropped a bucket of mop water after seeing Poppy from a distance.

Nobody ever addresses her as madam again. The maids also disrespect Poppy by calling her ‘Poop.’.

“I—I...” Before Poppy could continue speaking, Mia handed her the cleaning tools.

“Do your job quickly!”

Poppy hasn't met many people and is used to being enslaved by Saul Martinez. She lacked the courage to oppose other people's orders, even when they came from a maid who was supposed to respect her.

Her memories of being beaten for defying orders lingered in her thoughts. Poppy sees Mia's figure as similar to Saul's.

She then squatted down to grab the towel mop. She cleaned the wet floor until the knee-length expensive dress she was wearing became drenched with unclean water.

“R-Robin ....” Poppy abruptly stood up and threw a wet towel mop into the bucket while glancing at Mia's back.

“Stop talking! Mrs. Poop, hurry up and finish your work.” Mia chuckled pleasantly.

Mia's laughter stopped as soon as Robin passed by. She immediately looked down when Robin stared at her.

“What are you doing?!” Robin snapped at Mia.

“S-Sir ... I ....”

Elio, Robin's bodyguard, is astonished by his lover's behavior. He moved quickly between Mia and Robin, then bowed his head deeply in front of his master.

“I’m sorry, sir! This happened because I made the mistake of telling my girlfriend about Mrs. Poppy...”

Undoubtedly, Robin was furious because Elio dared to expose his secret, which was later spread to everyone in the mansion. However, when Robin saw Poppy's face, his reaction was cold and unreadable.

“I will not let anyone who dares to spread my wife's true identity to people outside this mansion!” Robin didn't seem to care, even though he called Poppy his wife. “Treat her well when my family is around!”