Chapter 52: She’s Still Too Green

Pearls

After Estella finished speaking, she loudly addressed Isolde: “Isolde, you’re still young and naive. Don’t be deceived by these two old scoundrels! They were driven off the mountain by Matilda years ago and even spent time in prison. Just seeing them brings bad luck.”

Jessica’s eyebrows shot up in anger. Pointing at Estella, she scolded, “You ungrateful wretch! Have you forgotten Prunella’s kindness? The moment she died, you pledged loyalty to Matilda! If Prunella’s spirit lingers, it would curse you to die miserable deaths.”

Estella sneered, “Of course, I remember Prunella’s kindness. That’s why I’ve diligently managed the estate all these years, despite the losses. And besides, regardless of which Mrs. Langley is in charge, a duchess is still a duchess. We are merely servants; our job is to do our work and not meddle in other affairs.”

With that, Estella called out, “Someone, come in! Get these two shameless old fools out of here before they deceive Isolde any further!”

Several farmhands entered and, without hesitation, approached Jessica and Wade.

Jessica angrily shoved them away and shouted at Isolde with a sorrowful voice, “Isolde, wake up! Don’t mistake an enemy for a mother. She’s the one who killed Prunella!”

Furious, Estella trembled and raised her hand to slap Jessica. But before her hand landed, a whip cracked through the air, striking her hard. She yelped in pain and jumped back, shrieking, “Who did that? Who dared to hit me?!”

Seeing the whip in Isolde’s hand, her expression twitched. Glaring, she barked, “Isolde, you dare strike me?!”

Isolde’s eyes gleamed coldly, like a venomous snake. “Why shouldn’t I?”

A chill ran down Estella’s spine. She recalled Doug’s defense of Isolde yesterday, forcing even Matilda and Milton to back down. Though Doug was gone, Oliver remained at the manor. Offending Isolde was unwise.

Still, she couldn’t afford to lose face, so she spoke forcefully, “I was only thinking of your best interests, to prevent you from being deceived.”

Isolde let out a cold laugh. “Oh? So when you falsely accused me of pushing Eleanor into the water yesterday, that was for my best interests too?”

Estella stiffened. The matter hadn’t been mentioned last night, and she’d assumed Isolde had let it slide, considering the estate’s continued function. She knew that removing the stewards would incite a rebellion among the farmhands. She hadn’t expected Isolde to settle accounts today.

“Isolde, that’s in the past now. There’s no need to dwell on it,” Estella said righteously.

“Perhaps for you, but not for me.” Isolde retracted her whip and cast a cold gaze over the stewards and Otto. Then, picking up the account book Otto had just set down, she tore it to shreds without glancing at it. Fixing Otto with a piercing stare, she said, “I know exactly how much the estate has lost. If you don’t want to be thrown out, bring me the real account books. Otherwise, you can leave with the rest of these scoundrels.”

At Isolde’s words, he shook his fan lightly and cast a condescending glance at the shredded account book. Then, with a smug smile, he said, “Leave? Isolde, you don’t have the right to tell me to leave. But truth be told, this estate is running at a loss—there’s no point in staying. Fine, we’ll go.”

With a cold sneer, he turned to Estella and the other stewards. “Since Isolde doesn’t want us here, let’s go. But once we leave, don’t expect us to come back so easily.”

Estella hesitated before scoffing. “That’s right, we’ll leave. But once we’re gone, who knows if the farmhands will still be willing to work? Isolde, don’t come begging us later.”

With that, the group left in a grand, arrogant manner.

Jessica and Wade turned pale with fear. Jessica, who had still harbored doubts about Isolde, now saw that she wasn’t entirely on Matilda’s side. Anxiously, she said, “Isolde, you can’t let all the stewards leave! The farmhands follow them more than anyone else. If they all walk out, no one will work the fields. In two months, the jujubes will be ready to harvest—we can’t afford to have no one working now!”

Wade nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Isolde. No matter what happens, we should at least hold off for two months. Once the busy farming season is over, it’ll be easier to hire new workers.”

Isolde replied, “Don’t worry, I can afford this loss.”

Jessica stomped her foot. “Oh, my dear Isolde, you say that too easily! Do you know how much money the estate makes in a year? If the jujubes grow well, they bring in at least several thousands!”

Isolde knew. She wasn’t about to let thousands of dollars rot on the trees. She wouldn’t make a reckless move without a plan.

“Don’t worry, the jujubes will make it to market as scheduled.” Isolde looked at Jessica and Wade with unwavering determination. “This estate belongs to my mother. I will reclaim it. But tell me, if I succeed, will you two stay and help me run it?”

Jessica and Wade nodded eagerly. “Of course! Absolutely!”

“Good,” Isolde said with a smile.

Jessica, however, still looked worried. “Isolde, that won’t work. Even if we stay, it won’t be enough. The farmhands listen to the stewards, not us.”

“That’s fine. The two of you are all I need,” Isolde assured them.

Jessica and Wade exchanged a doubtful glance. “But what can two old folks like us do? This estate is huge. Even if we worked day and night without rest, we wouldn’t be able to manage everything.”

“I have my ways,” Isolde said with confidence.

She turned to Helena and asked, “Has Vincenzo returned yet? He was supposed to go up the mountain today.”

“He just arrived,” Helena replied. “He’s waiting outside.”

“Good. Send him to the accounting room and have him seize all financial records from the past few years. Once this matter is settled, make sure those stewards pack up and leave—but not a single leaf that doesn’t belong to them should go with them.”

Helena nodded and left to relay the message.

Isolde then turned to Jessica and Wade and said, “I have a task for the two of you.”

Meanwhile, in the accounting room, Randy nervously asked Otto, “Are we really leaving? If we leave, how will we make a living?”

Otto, still fanning himself, chuckled. “Of course, we have to leave—but not for real. Go tell the farmhands that Isolde is cutting our wages and that they should leave with us. Soon enough, that foolish girl will be begging us to stay.”

“But not all the farmhands will listen to us,” Randy hesitated.

“Tell them I have a better place in mind—same wages, but with meat to eat every other day. They’ll follow us.” Otto sneered. “A little girl wants to fight us? She’s still too green.”

Estella gave Otto a thumbs-up. “No wonder Michelle values you so much. Alright, let’s go stir things up.”