Mandy noticed Esther’s difficulty leaving and feigned empathy as she asked, “Bradley, I noticed Esther isn’t looking
well. Is she sick?”
“She’s pretending,” Bradley replied coldly.
Esther paused on the stairs.
“I noticed last night she appeared unwell. Could she genuinely be sick?” she insisted.
Bradley lightly tapped an egg, cracking the shell instantly. “She’s a good actress.”
Mandy was aware that Esther might overhear and continued. “Bradley, what if she’s truly unwell? What if—”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“No ‘what ifs’,” Bradley cut in coldly. “Don’t be fooled by her tricks. She hopes for sympathy, and it’d be in her best
interest if you helped her leave.”
Mandy observed Bradley elegantly peeling an egg and provocatively added, “Bradley, legally, she’s your wife. You’ll
regret it if something happens to her.”
Bradley looked disdainfully at Mandy and sneered. “Mandy, aren’t you being too kind?”
Mandy quickly learned to remain silent, needing favors from him.
“Mrs. Pendleton!” Esther stood by Liora’s bedroom, gently knocking.
Liora opened the door and spotted Esther, pale as a ghost. “Ghost… Ah!” she cried.
“Mrs. Pendleton, Bradley and your daughter await you for breakfast.”
Liora retreated into her room and fetched an unopened lipstick, handing it to Esther.
“Even as a maid, can’t you wear some makeup? Makeup is a form of etiquette for women! Who do you aim to
scare looking so pale?” she berated.
Esther stared at the lipstick, and her vision darkened. She collapsed and tumbled down the stairs with a loud thud,
blood gushing from her forehead where it hit the wall.
Bradley and Mandy rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
“Mandy, I didn’t push her! She fell on her own!” Liora quickly explained upon seeing Bradley’s stern expression.
Bradley reached Esther before Mandy, observing her in a pool of blood. He lightly kicked her.
“Esther, stop pretending!” He looked like he had seen through her. “If you think an injury will make me take you to
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthe hospital and your plan will succeed, you’re wrong!”
Liora trembled at Bradley’s fierce demeanor.
Mandy knelt beside Esther, checking her breathing. “Bradley, she seems to have fainted!”
Bradley glanced up at the stairs, and Liora panicked. “I really didn’t push her! She fell on her own!”
Mandy sighed quietly, thinking, ‘Esther, don’t give in so easily! Dying like this would be too good for you!’
Mandy suggested, “Bradley, Esther’s bleeding heavily. Shouldn’t we get her to the hospital first? If… If…”
Bradley’s sinister eyes revealed a hint of inner turmoil. He knew this might be Esther’s ploy. Nevertheless, he
instinctively picked up Esther and headed for the helicopter in the midst of the storm.