Linda went silent. That was all the confirmation I needed.
There's no more doubt that I had been the only one in the dark, the only one living in total ignorance of my relationship status.
A bitter ache settled in my chest. I wanted to get angry, to lash out, to demand why she never told me.
But I couldn't. She had tried to warn me that night, in her own quiet way, urging me to walk away from the banquet. I was the fool who refused to listen.
I had chosen to trust him. Chosen to believe he loved me. How naïve of me to think that his words were true and that his promises meant anything more than empty shell of words
"Forget it," I said quietly.
"Ella… do… do you blame me?" Linda's hesitant voice cracked with guilt.
I chuckled. "No, I don't," I answered.
Though I might have felt angry or even betrayed, yet I couldn't get angry or blame her.
It was all bound to happen because I wasn't the true heiress of the Norton family and for the elites of Crown, heir and heiress are exceptionally important.
And with how silent the George family had been last night, I could tell they'd already given their silent approval of their son's betrayal.
Why blame the innocent when I had simply been too blind to see?
"Linda," I said, my tone low but firm, "can you help me gather proof of their relationship, back when Bruce and I were still together?"
"What do you want to do?"
"Fight back," I replied, my eyes darkening. "And clear my name."
She inhaled sharply. "Can you really fight back at this rate? Aren't you scared?" She asked, her voice laced with mixed emotions.
"Scared of what?"
"Scared of the George family… and the Nortons?" she pressed, her voice trembling slightly. I could almost hear the worry spinning through her thoughts and the gears turning in her head.
"What's there to be scared of? I have nothing to lose anymore."
"Stella, where are you now?" she asked again.
I sighed. "Home."
"Ahhh! Norton family?"
"Yes, I just came back."
"Have you checked the news?" she asked anxiously.
"Phina's welcome gift," I smirked. I dare not think of a better answer to the reason why my news had to start trending again on my return.
Painted in several colors as the villain, I the villain, the shameless seductress, the ungrateful daughter. A slut, a heartless whore, when in truth I was the one betrayed and cast aside.
"Heartless," she said with gritted teeth.
"Don't be angry. It's not good for your body," I consoled her.
"She really deserves a beating," she responded.
My lips curled up softly. "I couldn't agree otherwise. She really deserves a good beating, and I will make sure of it."
Her determination steadied. "Alright, I'll get everything ready. Give me some time."
Relief flowed through me like a breath of fresh air. "Please send everything to my email," I said softly.
"I will. Just… be careful, Stella. And don't hesitate to call me if you need help."
Her worry warmed me despite the chaos.
"Are you not afraid I'll be thrown out of the Norton family for this?" I asked teasingly, a faint smile lifting my lips.
"I'll get you a home then," she said, her tone playful but earnest.
A small laugh escaped me. "You're impossible."
We chatted a bit longer before I finally ended the call.
With Linda willing to be my ally, I was sure the evidence was just a few stones away.
With the first task settled, I had to progress to the second.
I glanced at the clock and exhaled slowly; there were still a few hours before the time for dinner.
Definitely, I understood I had to be in the kitchen to assist other servants in preparing the meal.
I decided to prepare a simple design draft for Phina ahead of time.
I rose from the bed; I just hoped my things hadn't been tampered with. I walked over to my closet to retrieve a small special box inside.
Quietly, I entered the secret code, and with a click, it opened. Going through the sketches among them, they were all intact, and I sighed with relief.
Hearing her speak about learning design, I thought she had been able to check my wardrobe and found the designs.
I had always created them in my spare moments, sometimes while trying to relieve stress or the burden in my heart.
Over the years, I had also studied secretly. I had always hoped to have something to fall back on whenever the Norton family had to send me back into the street.
Carefully shutting the box, I walked over to my table and began to sketch the arrangement of the banquet hall.
By the time I finished, the sun was already headed to the horizon. I studied the draft briefly before leaving my room.
I had to join the other maids to prepare dinner in the kitchen.
As I approached, the faint chatter of the maids reached my ears. Their voices were low, but the words were carried easily in the quiet hallway. I paused to listen to their conversation.
"It's not really fair to her," one of them whispered.
"That's for you to say," another replied. "Have you ever seen a rich man's home free of such things?"
"I don't know why she came back," the first muttered again. "It's not even her home. They don't treat her well, even with the Norton name. What's the point?"
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "Truly useless," I muttered under my breath, stepping into the doorway. I coughed lightly, startling them.
"St… e… lla," they called softly, their voices trembling, their heads lowered as they stepped back.
I could hear their pulses racing in my ears.
"Next time, don't be so careless, so as not to lose your job," I said.
Their eyes darted around each other in shock and curiosity, but then I had already gone over to my workstation.
"What are you preparing for the night?" I asked carelessly.
"There's a brief family get-together, and Bruce is coming over for dinner," they said, "so we are making the usual."
My hand faltered, my heart skipping a beat at the news. "Bruce is coming over tonight?" I murmured softly.
"Yes, Mr. James informed us, and Phina later summoned her maid to get her ready in her room."
I drew in a deep, deliberate breath, a cold smile curling on my lips. "Alright, then it would be too bad to waste time here in the kitchen."
They nodded.
"I will take over the cooking. You get the items ready. With Bruce's picky preferences, I doubt you wouldn't be scolded if you made it."
"Stella, you are too generous, still making his dishes after last night?" Rita whined grudgingly.
"Can we talk about it and just get it done?" I countered softly.
They nodded, though they grumbled. They still got to work as instructed.
Among these three maids, I had always been treated differently, treated as the second daughter of the Norton family, but to the others, I was just the unwanted adopted daughter of the Norton family.
After spending four hours in the kitchen, the dinner was ready. With the pot simmering on the heat, I went over to my room to get ready.