Chapter 77: Know Your Place
Tears streaming down her face, Raquel fled the room, neglecting to close the door behind her. As she made her way down the hallway, her gaze fell upon Seiren, who was standing where Agnes had been earlier, diligently sweeping the stairs with a broom. The memory of Caleb’s harsh words about the ointment replayed in her mind, fueling a rage so intense it threatened to consume her. “I’ve been reprimanded,” she thought, “so why does she get to calmly continue sweeping the stairs? This is truly unforgivable!”
She reached out, gripping Seiren’s throat. Seiren hadn’t expected the sudden attack. “M-Ma’am…” she gasped. Raquel tightened her grip, angrily shouting, “This is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, Cale wouldn’t have scolded me! Why even bother giving him ointment? He shouldn’t be using anything other than what I provide!”
Seiren struggled to breathe, desperately gasping for air as she cried out, “Help… me!” At the last moment, Raquel remembered she was in the Quixall residence and couldn’t risk causing a fatal incident. She released her grip and warned sharply, “Take this as a lesson, and don’t let me catch you fawning over Cale again!”
Glancing around, Raquel found herself alone and let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, no one had witnessed the scene. Even though Seiren was just a housekeeper, an incident like this within the Quixall residence would undoubtedly spark a major scandal. Composing herself, Raquel smoothed her hair and stepped out, projecting an air of calm and control as though nothing had happened. During her years with Jesse, Raquel hadn’t gained much, but she had certainly mastered the art of maintaining appearances. Jesse’s large fanbase demanded that she act with grace and dignity. Failing to do so would not only earn Jesse’s reprimand but also the disdain of his admirers. In moments like these, her ability to keep up appearances proved invaluable.
As Raquel’s figure disappeared into the distance, Seiren remained behind, gasping for breath and taking a long time to recover. Agnes soon rushed over with a duster in hand. “You’ve been gone so long without reporting back. Have you been slacking off again?” As she drew closer, she froze in shock. Around Seiren’s neck was a ring of purplish marks, stark and alarming.
Seiren shook her head and pointed in the direction Raquel had gone, her voice trembling with grievance. “It was… ma’am. She—” Before she could finish, Agnes slapped her across the face. Stunned, Seiren exclaimed, “Agnes, I’m the one who was bullied! Why are you hitting me?”
Agnes glared at her fiercely. “Know your place and stop spouting nonsense!” Seiren had held back her tears when Raquel had choked her, but seeing Agnes not only refuse to support her but also threaten her, she couldn’t contain her emotions any longer and broke down in tears. “Why are you crying? It’s not like your entire family was murdered. What’s there to cry about?”
Seiren, refusing to engage, continued to cry relentlessly. Softening her tone, Agnes said, “Seiren, I’m only trying to look out for you. Think about it, without solid evidence, do you really believe anyone would take you seriously if you accused Ms. Levinson out of the blue?”
Seiren stammered, “W-What should I do… She keeps bullying me, and I don’t think I can handle it anymore.” Agnes’s eyes flickered. “I understand the struggles you’ve been facing. So, let me give you some idea, considering the bond we’ve shared over the past year.” Seiren’s eyes lit up. “What is it?” Agnes motioned her closer. “Come here. I’ll tell you what to do.”
Revenge Forged in Prison