A few minutes later, as she looked at the conversation on her phone screen, a blissful smile spread across her face.
Downstairs, the place bustled with activity. Servants moved quickly and efficiently through the space.
Mrs. Carter stood at the kitchen entrance, raising her hand to direct the chefs and maids.
Karina walked over and called out playfully, "Mom!"
Mrs. Carter turned around at the sound, then smiled. "Karina, did you talk to your dad?"
"Mhm! He agreed. He and Uncle Blaze are already on the way-should be here in just over half an hour."
"That soon?!" Mrs. Carter's expression tightened. She quickly pointed toward the living room sofas. "Go sit over there and rest. Keep an eye on them cleaning up, and I'll handle the food prep. Make sure they move fast-we're running out of time."
"Okay!" Karina nodded and walked over to the sofa.
She had just sat down when a loud crash rang out from behind her.
She turned around and saw a young maid kneeling on the floor in a panic. In front of her lay the shattered remains of a green porcelain vase.
Karina shot up and hurried over. One look at the broken pieces, and her face darkened.
"What's wrong with you?! Can't even clean a vase properly?! Are you missing hands or feet?!"
The maid collapsed to the floor, flustered and teary-eyed. "Miss, I'm so sorry. I... I've had a cold these past few days, my head's been all foggy. Just now I suddenly got dizzy and lost my grip-so I accidentally knocked over the vase!"
Karina folded her arms and looked down at her coldly. "Don't give me excuses! You look perfectly fine to me. And if you were sick, you should've asked for leave! Since you didn't, you're clearly lying!"
"No, Miss, I swear I'm not lying! My face is red because I've got a fever-39.5°C. I even asked Madam for leave this afternoon, but she said we were expecting important guests tonight and couldn't spare the help, so she didn't approve it."
"Shut up!" Karina snapped impatiently. "Not only are you making excuses, but now you're trying to throw mud on my mother?!"
"No, Miss, please believe me! I didn't lie!"
"Hmph!" Karina looked her up and down and sneered. "Young and healthy, and you come to work as a maid for the Carters? Could it be you're scheming something... like trying to seduce my father?!"
The maid looked horrified and grabbed at the hem of Karina's pants in desperation. "That's not true! Please don't misunderstand! I'm from the countryside, didn't go to school much, I'm uneducated-there's no other work I could get. A distant relative recommended me for this job. I've only been here just over a month-I've barely seen Mr. Carter! I would never think of something like that!"
Karina yanked her foot back in disgust. The maid, already weak, stumbled forward and fell right onto the shards of porcelain.
Sharp fragments cut into her arms and legs, leaving thin trails of blood that quickly dripped to the floor.
Red spots began to bloom on the carpet.
Karina grew even more furious. Through gritted teeth, she scolded, "You little wretch! Are you trying to ruin tonight's event on purpose?! You've dirtied the carpet-what will the Blaze family think when they see this?! And you still dare say you're not scheming? I bet you did this intentionally!"
Fuming, she bent down and grabbed the maid's hair, dragging her toward the door.
The maid cried out in pain but didn't dare resist. Holding her throbbing scalp, she begged, "Miss, please believe me! I wasn't lying-I just wanted to work honestly and earn money to pay for my father's treatment!"
"Still making things up! As if I'd believe you!" Karina tightened her grip. "You're nothing but trouble. The Carters doesn't need someone like you. Get out-right now!"
"No! Please!" the maid sobbed, her face streaked with tears. "I have nowhere else to go in Vernon! I didn't even finish primary school-no one else will hire me. Please, Miss, I'm begging you, don't kick me out!"
"Enough with the whining!"
Other servants nearby heard the commotion but only cast furtive glances in her direction-no one dared speak up.
Mrs. Carter also sensed something was wrong.
She came around the corner and was startled by the scene before her. "Karina, what's going on?!"
"Mom!" Karina said angrily, "This little tramp broke Dad's favorite vase and messed up the carpet. And to top it off, she tried to lie and say she was sick! She even accused you of being cruel and refusing her sick leave!"
Mrs. Carter had been inclined to defend the maid at first.
She remembered the girl had indeed asked for leave earlier, but with tonight's gathering being so important, she had denied the request.
But hearing her daughter say the maid had slandered her changed everything.
Without hesitation, Mrs. Carter sided with her daughter. Pointing at the poor girl on the floor, she said sternly, "Dara, this is too much! You're barely literate. If it weren't for your great-aunt, who used to work for us, recommending you, I wouldn't have hired you in the first place!"
"The Carters gives you food and board, and your wages aren't low. I thought you'd be grateful for the opportunity, but clearly, I was wrong-you're just an ungrateful little snake!"
"If you think we're treating you unfairly, then leave right now and go find someone who'll treat you 'better'!"
"No! That's not it! Madam, please let me explain!"
Karina slapped her across the face. "Shut your mouth! Keep talking, and I'll rip that fake, seductive face right off!"
Then she resumed dragging the girl out by her hair.
Dara looked around helplessly.
The grand living room on the first floor was filled with servants cleaning and tidying.
But it was as if none of them saw anything-they all kept their heads down, working silently. No one looked at her. No one spoke up for her.
Tears streamed down her face. Dara shut her eyes, overwhelmed by despair.
***