Chapter 213
Daniella was sobbing so hard she nearly choked, but kept her cries muted. Gabriel waved the maids back, then glared down at Daniella as she wept on the floor. “You gonna lay a hand on the maids again?”
This whole stunt was to show the maids where the family stood. That way, they’d keep their mouths shut till the family sent her to serve time. Daniella knew she was on her own. Gabriel was making it clear–the maids had more clout than her now. She’d hit rock bottom and had to take it.
Tears plopped onto the tile as she finally croaked, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Shouldn’t have hit the maid, shouldn’t have… kicked over the tray like a brat.”
She knew she had to take the fall. What Abigail went through, she had to endure now, even if she was innocent. Like Abigail, she was the scapegoat.
She was a bird with broken wings, a proud peacock with crushed bones–no more reason to swagger. Seeing her cave in, Gabriel asked, “Heard you used Chris‘ phone to make calls, planning to skip town?”
Daniella flinched, her nails digging into the grout as she shook. ‘How… How did they find out so quickly? Have Sebastian and the rest sided with Abigail?‘ she wondered.
“Stop guessing,” Gabriel sneered, pinching her chin. “Your boy Ralph told your grandpa to watch you. Everyone here spoiled you. Even when Ralph turned down your hand, it was for your own good. Now they’ve all flipped. Ain’t you curious why?” Daniella shuddered all over, ice in her veins. Her lips went ghost-white.
“Drag her back to her room. Keep her starving until she spills why she hit that person and faked being depressed,” Gabriel barked.
“Dad… Dad, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” Daniella sobbed, scrambling up to kneel. “I was a stupid kid. I just wanted all your love to myself. I know I was wrong. Please, don’t send me to jail. Don’t do this!” She’d finally tasted real hunger, and it was unbearable. She’d never gone without food a day in her life. She’d only snuck down there out of sheer desperation. She’d given up all pride just for a meal.
‘How could Dad be so heartless?‘ she thought.
Her forehead split open from slamming it against the floor, leaving streaks of blood in the mess of cream and cake crumbs tangled in her hair. But he didn’t even look back as he walked away. He’d been just as cold to Abigail, and now Daniella was no exception.
The maids grabbed her arms, dragging her up. She thrashed and screamed, “Dad, I’ll do anything. I don’t want to go to prison. I messed up. I won’t ever hurt anyone again, I promise!” She’d thought she could get away, but the person she loved most was the one ready to send her to jail. She’d pined for Ralph for over ten years, obsessed over him day and night. ‘So why was he watching my every move? Why did he tell Grandpa to stop me from running?‘ she wondered.
For the first time, Daniella was hit with crushing despair. If she couldn’t escape now, she’d end up in prison. She’d looked it up. Hit-and-run with a cover-up meant 15 years behind bars. She couldn’t stand the thought of jail–being bullied and getting beaten up.
The maids dragged her up to the second floor. Abigail opened her door at the noise and saw Daniella thrashing and screaming, cream and cake crumbs all over her hair, clothes, arms, and even the backs of her hands—now a raving, messy wreck.
Abigail stepped back and shut her door. On the third floor, Stephen stood in his doorway, let out a quiet sigh at the sight of her like a madwoman, then went back inside. Bianca stood by her door, tears in her eyes. She couldn’t help Daniella–not after what she’d done.
When they tossed her back into the attic, Daniella crawled to grab a maid’s leg, her eyes swollen from crying, completely humiliated. “Please, don’t tell. I’ll be whatever you say. Just please!” The maids felt a pang of unease but pulled free. “We aren’t snitches, but people pay for their crimes. We can’t help you. We aren’t the ones who decide your punishment.”