"I've served the Rovellas for so many years! If not merit, at least effort! Miss, please spare me!" The butler was genuinely terrified.
Good. Fear was useful.
"Spare the excuses. You know better than anyone what happened five years ago. Want me to let you off? Simple. Just tell me, step by step, how you helped Westin and Amber set up my mother."
Mentioning five years ago turned the butler's face ashen. "Miss, I don't understand what you're talking about," he denied flatly. Whatever had happened was in the past. Westin was his master now. How could he betray him?
"Hah." Janelle's laugh held no humor.
The butler remained kneeling. "Miss, please! I'm old! Even if I did something wrong, let me go!"
"Let you go? Then who lets my mother off the hook? Butler, does being old grant you a license for murder and arson?" Janelle's tone remained calm, yet it was terrifying.
"Can't remember? I can help you recall." Janelle pressed play on a recording.
The moment the recording started, the butler's face crumpled. "Miss, I—" This recording was the smoking gun – irrefutable proof of how he helped Westin frame Madalyn for adultery. He'd been so careful back then, avoiding surveillance. How had she found this?
Seeing his pallor, Janelle stood. "Butler. Remember now?" She paused the playback.
The butler lunged forward, grabbing Janelle's legs. "Miss! It's a lie! I know nothing! I never did anything to harm the Madam or you!" Deny it. Must deny it!
Stubborn to the end. Janelle kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling.
Lillie walked in just as this happened. She rushed to help the butler up. "Janelle! Regardless, he's an old man! How can you bully an elder?"
"What? Really think you're the Rovella heiress now?" Janelle's voice was cutting. "Lillie, have you forgotten how shamelessly you used to trail behind me five years ago?" The words instantly wiped the color from Lillie's face. "Had a few good years and forgot what you really are?"
"Janelle! I am Father's daughter! I am the Rovella heiress!" Lillie retorted. So what if she was illegitimate? Her mother was Mrs. Rovella now! Janelle, the former princess, was no threat. Her mother was a despised slut, a lunatic. No respectable family in Graham City would accept her.
"Quite proud of having a father with a chronic cheating habit?" Janelle remarked coolly. A dog couldn't change its nature. Westin betrayed her mother; he'd betray Amber too.
"What do you mean?" Lillie stared, aghast.
"Nothing much." The game had just begun. Playing all her cards now would be boring. "It's late. Time for my beauty sleep. Butler," Janelle's gaze landed on him again, "think carefully about what you need to do." She turned and went upstairs to her room for a shower.
Lillie turned to the butler. "What was that about?"
The butler immediately dropped to his knees before Lillie. "Miss! You must save me! Five years ago... I helped you and your mother! If you abandon me now, I'm finished! Janelle is a lunatic!" He was old, and she hit him! No respect!
Lillie slapped him hard across the face. "Nothing happened five years ago! That slap is to knock some sense into you." It was ancient history. What could Janelle possibly do? "But... she played a recording! I—" the butler started, but Lillie's icy glare silenced him.
"I told you to shut up. You are getting old. Pack your things. Go back to your village." Keeping him here was a liability. He was too weak, couldn't handle pressure.
"What? You don't want me now that I'm old?" The Rovella butler position paid handsomely. He managed staff easily. How could he give this up?
"Since you admit you're old, why stay?" Lillie stated coldly and walked towards her room. He'd better leave quietly. Or else...
The butler was stunned. Was this the same Lillie who used to sweetly call him "Grandpa Butler"? He collapsed to the floor. This family... they're all mad! But five years ago, without him, she and her mother would never have entered the Rovella mansion!
Janelle leaned on the second-floor railing, watching Lillie coldly discard the butler. He looked up and saw her. Janelle smiled. It was a chilling sight. The butler couldn't meet her eyes. Scrambling up in panic, he fled to his room.
Watching him flee, Janelle sneered. People always flee towards benefit and away from harm.
Westin and Amber returned late from a business dinner. Hearing the commotion, Lillie came out of her room.
"Mom, come to my room. I need to talk." Lillie said.
"What is it?" Amber followed her in, while Westin went to shower, unconcerned.
"Mom... how are things between you and Dad?"
"Child, why ask that suddenly?"
"Today Janelle said... 'a leopard can't change its spots.' Could Dad... could he have someone outside?"
Amber's face darkened instantly. "Don't listen to that little bitch! She's just trying to sow discord!" Amber was confident. She kept Westin on a tight leash; he had no time for affairs.
"Hmm. You're right. She's just jealous of me." Reassured, Lillie dismissed her worry.
Janelle lay in bed, watching today's video of Madalyn sent by the caregiver. After it ended, she clutched the phone to her chest. She missed her mother. She wanted to video call, but seeing the time, knew Madalyn would be asleep. She didn't call. She missed Madalyn fiercely. So fiercely.
Just then, Erik called. She hadn't saved his number, but she knew it was him. Perhaps it was the longing for her mother, or the overwhelming loneliness, but she answered.
"Still awake?" Erik's voice came through. He'd just showered, wearing a robe, a glass of red wine in his hand.
"No."
"What's wrong? Feeling down?" He'd only heard one word, yet he'd sensed her mood instantly.