Chapter 4 "The Devil's Mask"

The dining room is so quiet, only the sounds of the cutlery hitting the plate were heard around.

While everyone was busy staring at each designated plate, Zion took the chance to look at Harriet who’s sitting across him and beside his grandfather.

Harriet is so beautiful today.

She’s wearing a make-up and she let her chocolate hair laid down.

Zion remembered the words he heard from his high-school classmates before. They said that Harriet is so pretty many would adore her in school. Zion felt so proud. He sees Harriet as his own sister, and he’s happy whenever he heard good thing about her. However, the Harriet whom he saw as his family, began to appear like a stranger; a gorgeous stranger.

Looking at her, Zion’s heart began to beat faster.

Is it because of the pink lipstick on her lips?

Or because she’s wearing the yellow dress that Zion gifted to her during her last birthday?

‘This is weird,’ Zion told to himself.

Harriet grabbed the glass of water on her right side. As soon as she did, she accidentally exchanged gazes with Zion. Their eyes stayed there, staring at each other.

Another mystery arose. Harriet only looked at his eyes but he felt a waver of emotions. He felt nervous and afraid that it might show through his cheeks, because he felt so hot. Even so, to hide his embarrassment, Zion pulled the corner of his lips for a smile.

[“Hello”] Zion mouthed at her as he smiled sweetly.

Usually, Harriet would repay his beam in sheepishly manner. However today, Harriet avoided his gaze and displayed a sour expression as if she taste the most bitter food ever.

Zion got frozen for a moment.

He could not believe what the hell did just happen!

Harriet always blush and act so giddy whenever he’s talking with her. But that Harriet is gone! Where is the lady who jumps up and down whenever she sees Zion visiting the mansion?

‘What the hell just happened? Did she just… ignore me?’ He was so confused. He does not want to admit this, but he was hurt.

Zion actually went to the mansion to visit Harriet. But how did she repay his effort?

For that, Zion decided to have a talk with her as soon as they finished they breakfast.

“You look so pretty today, Harriet,” Sorren praised the young lady, breaking the long stillness on air.

Everyone looked at the beautiful woman sitting beside the chairman. There is no special spotlight above the dining table, but when they look at Harriet, she seems shining on her own way.

“I almost did not recognize you. The dress suits you so much,” Sorren dropped his honest endearment.

When Harriet looked at the old man who adopted her from the orphanage, she went so tearful. She kept on staring at the old man, as if soon she’ll gonna cry.

‘Grandpa Sorren is alive. He is alive in front of me right now,’ Harriet mourned with joy.

She would never forget the day when she saw the dead chairman above his bed. Coming back to the past to see him alive and to talk to him again must be the greatest gift Harriet has ever received.

The other family member looked at each other, as they noticed Harriet’s unusual behaviors. They are so confuse why Harriet’s eyes were filled with emotions while she looks at the chairman.

For these people, only a day passed since Harriet last saw the chairman. So why is she acting as if she never seen her for a long time?

‘Huh! The drama queen is back!’ Madell shouted internally. Unable to contain his contempt, Madell butted in the conversation between Harriet and Sorren.

“Right. This is the first time I saw Harriet wear something like that. Isn’t it brother Zion’s birthday gift to you last year?”

Harriet and Madell looked at each other.

It is not a praise but a warning.

Harriet recalled the time when Madell clearly warned her not to wear that dress, or anything that shows her feminine side. The moment she tried, Madell will kick her out of the mansion.

Beside from being a brat, Madell is so competitive and precarious. She’s pretty, that’s a fact. However, Harriet is prettier and sexier than her, which made Madell so insecure. As long as Harriet won’t take her time dolling herself by putting make up or wearing feminine dress, Madell will be the most gorgeous woman in the mansion. So telling Harriet not to dress well, even if she wanted to, is so necessary for Madell. She can’t let an orphan acts like a princess in her own castle.

But the situation right now reveals Harriet’s protest against her own promise. She’s so pretty and elegant today, suited for being the muse of the house. And that made Madell so madly enraged!

Sighing, Zion scratched the back of his nape. ‘Here we go again,’ he uttered inside his head. Whenever his sister goes on rampage against Harriet, Zion’s task is to save his innocent childhood friend.

Therefore, he opened his lips and about to defend Harriet. But before he could do that, Harriet stood by herself by answering, “Ahh right. Didn’t miss Madell also likes this dress?”

Her tone was so polite and sarcastic at the same time.

“This is the dress that you wanted to burn before. Remember?” Harriet continued. “It is fortunate that I got it out before it burn down.”

After saying those, Harriet caressed the small burn mark in her right hand.

Sorren and Zion looked at the scar burn on her hand.

Harriet said that she got the scar when she got into an accident, but she did not tell the whole details. Right now, the two realized that she actually got that out of Madell’s childish behaviors.

With widened eyes, Madell looked at her, wordless. It’s been a year since that incident happened!

She threatened Harriet not to tell that to anyone, and Harriet agreed to keep it a secret and take it to her grave.

‘This b*tch… why does she…’ Madell murmured inwardly while gritting her teeth.

“Madell. Did you really do that?” a brittle voice, like the first ice of autumn, escape from Zion’s lips. He was all quiet before but now, he went so impatient.

“H-Huh?” Madell stuttered.

If his voice is cold, then Zion’s eyes are the opposite. They are blaming in fire as he turned his head to her and asked, “DID YOU REALLY DO THAT?”

Madell would deny it, that’s for sure. She was on her way to deny the true accusation but got interfered because her mother, Sherly, came to the rescue.

“Zion, do you really have to raise your voice and frighten your sister?” Sherly asked her son.

Zion stared coldly at his mother. As soon as his eyes reached her, Sherly felt the chills ran down to her spine. They were never close to begin with.

“I did not know that something like that has happened,” said Sorren. “I planned of taking consideration for Madell’s past mistake, since she’s still in youth. But now that I heard what you did before, I think you deserve a better punishment, Madell.”

“G-Grandpa…”

“Finn and Sherly, make sure Madell can’t use her credit card and car for one month.”

“Grandpa!” Madell shouted, “This is unfair!”

Next, she glared at Harriet.

“You b*tch! Why are you lying?! I did not do it to you! Did I burn your hand?! Huh?! Huh?!”

Harriet took a deep breath before she looked back at the chairman.

“Madell’s punishment is too much, chairman. We only had a minor misunderstanding before. And about her using cigarette, miss Madell was only forced to do it because she’s hanging out with friends who do the same thing.”

Madell’s ears went rang out of madness.

Harriet did not only speak about the dress, she also brought the topic back to her cigarette issue!

Madell was about to shout, not until she saw her mom signaling her to stop.

Right.

Even if Harriet is her grandpa’s favorite, she still had the upper hand since everyone in this place is on her side, including the servants.

So Madell shut her lips, and waited for her mom to rescue her.

“Let me explain this to you, father,” Sherly said.

“You knew this already?” Sorren inquired to his daughter-in-law.

“Yes,” Sherly answered in polite tone. “I was there when the incident happened.

Harriet looked at the woman, who can lie even without blinking her eyes.

“Just like what Harriet said, the kids had a simple fight,” Sherly shared. “Madell only wanted to borrow the dress since she needs it for the event in school. But Harriet does not want to lend her dress. Well, it is Zion’s gift after all. And so, Harriet got mad and pushed Madell. Then, my daughter got mad too because she got hurt. Madell snatched the dress and when they were scrambling over the cloth, it fell almost fell down on the fireplace. Harriet caught it and got her hand injured.”

Sherly’s story is way too different from the real one. Harriet could not believe how wide Sherly’s imagination is, she thinks that the madam could be a writer someday!

‘They are really Satan’s servants,’ said Harried inside her mind while glaring at the mother and daughter.

“Right, Harriet?” Sherly asked her, as if asking her to agree to her lie. She even gave her a smile; a mask to hide the evil within.

Harriet never wear an angel mask.

She’s naturally kind and as much as possible, she does not want to start a fight. But now, she realized that it is not the angel mask that she needs to wear, but the devil’s.

“I don’t remember that madam Sherly was there at that time,” Harriet’s answer that shocked everyone.

This is the first time she talked back against Sherly! And even denied her words!

Zion got so surprised, he forgot to breath for a second while looking at his childhood friend.

“As far as I can remember, there were only me and Madell during that night,” Harriet continued.

Stuttering, Sherly murmured, “W-What are you s…”

“Ahhh,” but Harriet didn’t let her finish. “There’s one more person. Someone who saw me and miss Madell.”

Slowly, Harriet tended her eyes towards the maid standing at the side. She looked at the woman who pretended to look worried, while she was really pleased to see Harriet having a hard time.

“Reese,” Harriet called the maid.

“Y-Yes?” Reese answered.

“You were there, right?”

Turning pale, Reese looked around and received the hot gaze from everyone in the dining room. During that time, no one noticed the evil smile on Harriet’s lips.

She promised that she will do everything to bring everyone down to hell.