"If someone can’t do their job well, they deserve to be fired," Treadwell said coldly, his tone firm like a gavel striking down.
"But why are you asking us this?" Willy asked, puzzled.
Abby gave a small sigh, her eyes flicking away. "Oh, never mind. I don’t want to bother you with my complaints again. You said you were tired. Maybe next time." She smiled lightly, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her real intention.
The three men perked up immediately. They were known in the estate for their appetite for gossip, and Abby knew exactly how to bait them.
"Eh? No no, Mrs. Peterson, you can’t stop halfway. If you start, you must finish," Timothy insisted eagerly.
Abby didn’t reply, only turned to look at the woman beside her. May stepped forward, her expression calm yet full of hidden thorns.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself properly. I’m Maybelline Willard... the mother of your new mistress. The wife of Mr. Osvaldo Adkins."
"You mean... Mrs. Adkins?" Willy’s eyes widened in disbelief. Now that he looked closely, he could see it, the nose, the eyes, this woman really was Penny’s mother. She looked so much like Penny.
All three men quickly bowed.
"Welcome, beautiful Mrs. Willard. It’s an honor to meet the mother of our mistress," they said together.
But May’s lips curled into a smile that never reached her eyes. That greeting? She hated it. Hated being tied to that cursed, useless, fat girl.
Respect? For giving birth to Penny?
It was laughable.
But if pretending to care was the only way to get rid of Penny, then so be it.
Let them think she was here out of concern. In time, they’d all see the truth. The same truth she had always known. That Penny was nothing but a stain on the family name. The stain she would have cleaned long ago.
Why wait for them to figure it out on their own?
She would help them see now.
"Thank you," May said softly. "But it seems you know very little about my daughter. Allow me to enlighten you."
She leaned in, lowering her voice like she was sharing a dark secret. "There are things you should know about your new mistress. Things that might help you protect your master... from her." May whispered and all three men stared between themselves.
What did she mean?
Abby stepped forward again, her voice low but intense.
"I was wrong Mr Timothy. That girl... she’s dangerous. To all of us. And to Osvaldo."
Treadwell frowned. "How so, Mrs. Peterson? Master Osvaldo seemed perfectly well today," he said. He had thought they would say Penny was some serial killer or a demon. But he doubts even the devil can kill his master at this point.
Abby laughed bitterly. "Oh, is that what you think? That girl can’t even control him. Look at this." She pulled up her sleeve.
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