The one thing Leonica knew she had and could utilize to its full potential was her family's unwavering love for her.
No matter what happened, no matter how many mistakes she made, they'd always believe her.
This was the sole reason she had no doubt that Irene would be kicked out of the house sooner or later, all because her mother would not stand to hear that the very child she refused to accept had just pushed her daughter off the stairs, 'out of spite'. And sure enough, Meredith was the first one to arrive, running over to the fallen Leonica with worry, while the other maids gathered around after hearing her shriek, asking if she was alright.
"Madam!" Meredith knelt beside Leonica, gently caressing her head as her eyes looked over her body, making sure there weren't any injuries. "Are you alright, what happened?" Although the fall from the fifth stairs wasn't all too painful, Leonica's ankle did sting from being twisted wrong and the back of her head hurt a bit. But nothing she couldn't handle, especially since the end results would be worth it.
"I," She groaned, pretending to have a hard tspeaking. "I, don't know." "What going on here?" Cassandra's voice sounded, causing the maids to stand up, but Meredith remained by Leonica's side.
"She fell, madam." Meredith answered and Cassandra, who was just returning from the garden, gasped in surprise.
"Leonica! Oh my dear, are you okay?" She asked as she took the side opposite Meredith.
Leonica groaned again. "It hurts," She held her ankle, making her expression look more pained than her ankle actually hurt.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"How...how did this happen?" Cassandra asked and seconds later, her gaze settled on Irene who was still standing eight steps up.
She flinched under the elder woman's gaze that burned with clear disdain. Fortunately for her, before Cassandra could get to tearing her apart, Benjamin arrived at the scene.
"What's all this noise about?" He asked as he stepped out of his study. Concern quickly took over his features when he saw Leonica on the ground, Meredith and his wife beside her. "Leonica, what happened to you?" He asked as he rushed down stairs, brushing shoulders with Irene who suddenly felt like she mattered little. "I...i fell." "Don't lie Madam, i saw it all happen!" Meredith cut her off. Turning her gaze towards Irene, she began. "Mr. Romero, First Lady, I can no longer keep silent about the second madam's attitude towards Ms. Leonica. Ever since she cinto this house, she's been nothing but mean, even when Ms. Leonica tries to help her and even though Ms. Leonica has assuredthat she's simply having a hard tadjusting I can't sit by and watch things like this happen anymore." "What are you saying you old hag?" Irene finally spoke up, looking puzzled. "If you're trying to put that fall on me, then I'd have you know that Leonica pushed herself." "Pushed herself," Cassandra scoffed. "Can you even hear yourself! How dare you defmy daughter? You commit such an atrocious act, talk badly to Meredith and you don't even show an ounce of remorse." "I didn't-" "Enough!" Benjamin's voice silenced everyone and then he turned to face the maids. "Who witnessed my daughter's fall?" None except Meredith raised her hand.
"Meredith," Benjamin turned his attention to her, looking and equally sounding serious. "Tell me, did Leonica push herself off that stairs or was she pushed by Irene." "The second madam pushed her off. I saw it myself." Benjamin turned his attention back to Irene, eyes narrowed. "Irene, is this true?" "No, dad!" Irene tried to explain, but it was obvious that she was scared. "It's not, Meredith is lying!" "Then why would Leonica push herself, and how did she fall. Did the stairs swallow her whole." Cassandra sneered, glaring daggers at Irene. "And if you didn't push her, how cyou're the only one who hasn't cdown to check up on her. What kind of heartless human being are you." "This-" Irene tried for defend herself, but it seemed like none was listening to her and everyone was siding Leonica.
And Leonica, she simply smirked.
The bitch smirked.
"You," Irene glared, pointing at her. "You planned this all didn't you?" "Planned?" Leonica's expression quickly turned into a pained one. "Why would I ever do that?" She forced herself to stand up, grimacing. "I was simply asking if what Kennedy toldwas true." "What did Kennedy tell you?" Benjamin asked.
"He said Irene had contacted the person who spread those videos online." Everywhere becdead silent for a few seconds.
"What?!" Benjamin turned to look at Irene, sounding more angry than anyone had ever heard.
"Dad," She was panicking now, realizing how everything was going against her and according to Leonica's plans. "Leonica is lying! She...she's just doing all this because she jealous of me. She's afraid that you all would lovemore than you love her." "Are you hearing yourself, child?" Benjamin hissed.
"Dad!" "Mr. Romero," He corrected. "Because no child of mine would harm their sibling this way." Irene becsilent, looking like she was going to snap at any moment. And Leonica, well she was enjoying the calm before the storm and the storm csooner than she had expected.
"I'm also your daughter, so why do you love her so much?!" She suddenly exploded. "Why does she get to have everything I don't! It's because of her whore of a mother, isn't it!" "Irene!" Benjamin roared in anger, but seconds later, the entire house once again becsilent as the sound of Cassandra's palm slapping Irene's face echoed, leaving a visible red mark on her cheek.
"This is my house, my family and I refuse to take anymore of your disrespect." Cassandra said, voice as cold as the ice that covered the Antarctica.
"We've given you the opportunity to redeem yourself and you've only done nothing but cause trouble. And I've had enough of it, take your bags and get out. And don't even think of coming back." Irene looked dumbfounded. "Dad, please, you can't do this to me. Don't throwout, I have nowhere to go." "You should've thought about that before you pushed Leonica." "I didn't fucking push her!" "Watch your language, young lady!" Benjamin's voice echoed, loud and clear. "And if you have a problem with this decision, then you can discuss it with the police." Irene didn't dare open her mouth after hearing this.
"We won't restrict you from taking anything and you only have by the end of today, so I suggest you get packing." "And don't think of trying to cback," Cassandra added, not bothering to hide her distaste. "You're not a part of this family, and you'll never be." Irene clenched her jaw, looking ready to lash out once more, but Benjamin was faster.
"Enough, Irene, leave now, before I decide to call the cops." She took a deep breath, looking like she wanted to say more but she bit her tongue, turning around and running up the stairs and into her room. Everyone to check up on Leonica once Irene was gone.
"Madam," Meredith started, but was cut off when Leonica shook her head.
"Thank you, Meredith. But I'm fine," "Lettake you to the hospital." Cassandra suggested, but Leonica shook her head.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"My ankle is just sprained, no need for the hospital." "But-" "I'm fine mom," Leonica cut her off with a soft smile. "You should stay and handle things here with Irene, I'll call Kennedy to drivehnow." Benjamin was hesitant but agreed. "Very well then." "Goodness me, how is it that you leave the house in one piece and cback with a sprained ankle." Grace fussed as she wrapped a bandage around her leg, shaking her head.
"You're overreacting, it's just a sprained ankle." Leonica chuckled, flinching slightly when Grace tightened the bandage.
"Overreacting, eh? Just wait till the bruise shows up. Your mother will not hesitate to kill whoever did this." Leonica side glanced, well, her mother was already in the process of doing that.
A few more minutes of scolding and bandaging, Grace finally finished, helping Leonica to her feet.
"How does it feel? Is it too tight?" "It's fine." She smiled, hopping down the stool she was sitting on. "Thank you Grace." The older woman nodded and found her way to the kitchen. "I'll prepare stea to soothe your headache." Leonica didn't dare reject. Fishing out her phone, she called Kennedy.
"Yes Ms. Romero?" The assistant answered quickly.
"I've found a way to shake the public's opinion. If you dig around, you'll find a video that was posted a few days ago, it's about the commotion Irene created at the 1.n department store she things form." "Huh, there's something like that? Why haven't the public seen it yet?" Kennedy asked, the sound of keyboard clicking indicated that he was doing said research.
"It was posted by an anonymous account with no followers, the nis, 'anonymous S', a really creative one, don't you think?" "Indeed. Ah, I found the post. What should I do with it, Ms. Romero?"
"Blow it up," CLeonica's answer as she heard someone ringing the door bell. "And as for the employee N bell, And being humiliated in that video, send him a compensation price." "How much should that be?"
"16.5 million dollars," The exact amount Irene had spent that day. "Don't be a stranger to the press, let them know that decision was taken by me. We'll discuss more on what to do if netizens continue to be stubborn." She said and stood up, hobbling towards the door. "Of course Madam. I'll alert you once all this is done."
"Alright," Leonica said and hung up, shoving her phone into her back pocket as she reached for the door handle. She had Dished m opening the door when the person on the other side rushed in and hugged her. She was surprised for a little while, until she recognized the warmth and familiar feeling of his body and smiled. "Welcback to Norway," She greeted and flashed him a genuine smile when he pulled back. "Owen."