The Wicked

Adelle buried her face in her soft pillow. She was too embarrassed to make eye contact with her mother. Even with her face hidden, her words and sobs were still audible.

"Mom, what happened last night was very embarrassing. Even in my dreams, that mean Sarah was teasing me. Can you please support me, Mom?"

Huifen lifted her child and tidied their hair.

"Don't be foolish. Everything is planned. What you did was incredibly reckless, and if you weren't my only child, I might have thought about disowning you because of the tremendous embarrassment you caused."

Sarah was descending the stairs when she overheard her aunt's voice, engaged in a conversation with her cousin. There was a hint of annoyance in her aunt's tone.

Her cousin's bedroom door was slightly ajar, not properly closed by her aunt Huifen. Perhaps she thought that since it was a Saturday, everyone would be busy downstairs and no one would have the courage to listen to their conversation, as all the household staff were afraid of Huifen's wrath.

Sarah recalled what happened the previous night, and it made her cringe. She didn't want to dwell on those thoughts because she couldn't accept that her cousin was capable of such promiscuity.

She flinched when someone tapped her shoulder. It was Mira, who, like her, had been eavesdropping.

In a hushed tone, Mira asked, "Sarah, I heard some gossip among the maids last night. They said your cousin is involved in a scandal. Is that true?"

"Ssshhh... Keep your voice down, Mira. Aunt Huifen might hear us. We should stop eavesdropping," Sarah replies. They began to descend the stairs slowly.

"I'm going to church, and my conscience won't allow me to discuss that scandal, especially since I'm a woman myself, but first I’m going to pick some flowers from the garden," Sarah says smiling.

"Oh, you're such a saint even when you're hurting. Alright, take care, dear, and pray for me and your inexperienced and covetous relatives," Mira responded. Sarah smiled brightly.

Back on Adelle’s room…

“Never worry, my dear. Sarah will pay a high price for creating that scene last night. And I know exactly what to do.” She winks at her daughter and laughs mischievously.

“Easy for you to say, mom.”

Huifen patted Adelle's back, her touch surprisingly firm. "Nonsense. They'll forget about it. And if they don't, we'll make them regret remembering." Her tone hardened, a stark contrast to the earlier attempt at comfort.

 "You need to learn, Adelle. The world isn't a playground for your whims. You have to be smart, cunning."

Adelle looks up, her eyes still red, but a flicker of understanding began to dawn. "What do you mean, mom?" Adelle asks, her voice barely audible.

Huifen turns, her smile sharp and predatory. "I mean, my child, that some people have ways of... disappearing. Of becoming inconveniently absent. And sometimes, those people need a little push."

She walked to the window, gazing out at the sprawling garden. "Sarah has caused us nothing but trouble. She's a threat to your happiness, to our family's wealth. And threats, my dear, must be eliminated."

Adelle's breath hitched. "Eliminated? Mom, are you talking about..."

"Don't be naive, Adelle," Huifen interrupts, her voice fortified with impatience. "This isn't a game. We're playing for keeps. Sarah has crossed the line, and she needs to suffer the consequences."

Her daughter's eyes showed worry, a strange feeling mixing with what she wanted. Sarah gone forever is scary, a dark thought she hasn’t had before. But being totally in charge, with Sarah out of the way, is too good to say no to.

A slow smile spreads on Adelle's face, just like her mom's mean smile. Wanting all the power, and getting everything she wanted, was stronger than her guilt. She hugs her mom, making a secret, bad plan together.

"You're right, Mom," she says quietly, sounding sure. "This is best. For me."

The hug got tighter, showing they, both knew they were doing something wrong. The mom's touch ss strong, promising help to ruin Sarah. The room feels cold and tense, with their wicked agreement hanging in the air. Adelle has changed, becoming as mean as her mom, ready to do anything.

Then suddenly, Huifen's phone rings. A man's voice, unknown, saiys, "Cherie me, it begins today."

Huifen's eyes narrowed, a predatory gleam flickering within them. "Excellent," she purred, her voice low and laced with anticipation. "Ensure there are no... loose ends." She paused, listening to the man's response, a thin smile stretching across her lips. "Precisely. Discretion is paramount. And remember, timing is everything."

She ended the call, the click of the phone against her ear echoing in the tense silence of Adelle’s room. She turned to her daughter, her expression now a mask of cold determination. "It's begun, Adelle. Everything we discussed. Sarah's... departure, is imminent."

Adelle's heart pounded, a strange mixture of excitement and fear coursing through her veins. "What do we do now, Mom?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"We wait," Huifen replied, her gaze fixed on the window, as if she could see the events unfolding outside. "We wait, and we ensure that when the time comes, we are perfectly positioned to benefit from her absence."

Downstairs, Sarah, unaware to the machinations unfolding above is getting ready to go to church with a sense of peace over her beauty. She carries a small bouquet of lilies, their sweet fragrance filling the hallway.

Mira, bustling in the kitchen, looked up and smiled. "You look so immaculately beautiful, my dear. Please, pray for us all."

Sarah chuckles. "Of course, dear Mira. Especially for those who need it most." She pauses, her smile fading slightly. "Have you seen Uncle Alfred? I want to say hello before he left for his meeting."

Mira shook her head. "He left early this morning. Seemed rather preoccupied. And your Aunt Huifen and Adelle haven’t left your cousin’s room yet."

Sarah frowns, a sense of unease creeping into her. "That's strange." She shrugged it off, attributing their behavior to the aftermath of the previous night's events. "Well, I'll just leave him a note. I'm going to the church and pray for us all."

"Alright, dear Mira, I'll bid you farewell. I didn't see Uncle Alfred, so I'll say goodbye to you instead."

Mira waved goodbye, thinking that her former charge had turned into such a kind-hearted person. "My God, please watch over Sarah," were the only words the former nanny of the young lady, who was now the Lui family's cook, could mutter.

As she walks through the grand hallway, the lilies in her hand seemed to grow heavier, their sweet fragrance now tinged with a subtle, disturbing undertone. Unknown to her, the wheels of Huifen's plan were turning, and the serene atmosphere of the Lui mansion was about to shatter.

Meanwhile, a dark sedan pulled up to the back gate of the estate. A man, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat, stepped out, his movements precise and purposeful. He slipped a small, metallic device from his pocket, and with a soft click, the gate swung open, silently welcoming him into the shadows of the garden.