Chapter 165
The two maids freeze, their eyes darting between the housekeeper’s frown and my stunned expression.
“Why are we being fired?” one of them stammers. “We didn’t do anything wrong p>
The housekeeper crosses her arms, her voice clipped, the familiar coldness back in her eyes. “Didn’t do anything wrong? Do you take me for a fool p>
Their faces pale instantly.
She steps closer, her presence commanding. “The last time you were caught gossiping about Miss Sierra, Mr. Wood himself warned you both, didn’t he p>
The shorter one swallows audibly. “He said we shouldn’t p>
“That you shouldn’t what?” the housekeeper cuts in sharply.
“That we shouldn’t spread rumors again,” the maid mutters.
“And what did he say would happen if you did p>
Silence fills the hall, broken only by the ticking of a clock somewhere behind us. Finally, the taller one sighs, barely whispering, “That we’d be fired p>
“Exactly,” the housekeeper says, her voice calm but dangerous. “And here we are p>
“But we weren’t gossiping!” the shorter one cries. “We were just p>
“Do you think I’m stupid?” the housekeeper snaps. “I was right there by the corridor. I heard every word that came out of your mouths p>
Their eyes widen, genuine shock flickering across their faces.
“You… you were there p>
She narrows her eyes and says flatly. “From the moment you opened your mouths p>
They start stumbling over excuses. “We didn’t mean it like that; we were just joking p>
She lets out a humorless laugh. “A joke, is it? So, it’s funny to insult a woman you know nothing about p>
One of them straightens suddenly, defiance sharpening her tone, as if she actually believes she was right in what she said. “It’s not like we said anything people aren’t already thinking p>
The other lifts her chin as if gaining courage from the defiance of the other girl. “Exactly. She’s nothing but a social climber, and everyone knows it p>
Mrs. Turner goes quiet. Then she laughs a sound that slices through the air.
“Is that so?” she says, stepping closer until they flinch. “Tell me, do either of you even know who she is p>
They blink. “What do you mean p>
“I mean,” she says, voice turning to steel, “did you know that Miss Sierra calls Mr. Wood’s parents Aunt and
Uncle p>
Both maids freeze, color draining from their faces.
“You didn’t, did you?” the housekeeper presses. “You’re busy spouting lies, and you don’t even know how far back she goes with this family p>
The taller one opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.
“Enough,” the housekeeper says sharply, turning toward the hall. “Frank p>
A tall man in uniform appears almost immediately. “Ma’am p>
“Escort them off the property. They’re finished here p>
The maids start pleading, their voices trembling. “Please, ma’am, we’re sorry. We won’t do it again p>
But Mrs. Turner doesn’t budge. “Out,” she says simply.
Frank nods and ushers them away. Their protests echo down the corridor until silence finally settles again.
The housekeeper exhales, rubbing her temple before turning to me. “I’m so sorry, Miss Sierra. You shouldn’t have had to hear that p>
I shake my head, still trying to process everything. “It’s not your fault… and you can call me Sierra p>
I always wanted to tell her to just call me that, but I was afraid of shaking the rocky foundation of whatever fragile understanding we seemed to have.
She hesitates, then says quietly, “I don’t know if I should say this, but since you’ve already heard everything” she takes a deep breathe. “Noah gave standing orders that anyone caught speaking ill of you is to be dismissed immediately p>
I freeze. For a moment, air seems to get stuck in my lungs and I can barely breathe.
“Noah actually said that?” I whisper to myself, but Mrs. Turner catches it.
“Yes he did” she gives me a small, reassuring smile. “He was very angry when he caught some of the maids gossiping about you. He fired them and gave a warning to the rest p>