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Novel Catalog
Chapter 91
Gale forced a smile, though it was laced with bitterness. “Housekeeper, thank you. I will remember your kindness and repay you if I get the chance.”
The housekeeper waved her off quickly. “No, no, Madam, please don’t say that.”
Gale’s gaze softened, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Actually, I don’t know why you treat me so kindly. You’re someone who obviously admires Mr. Wood. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if you just obeyed his orders. After all, I’m just the titular Mrs. Wood—without money, power, or influence. Anyone could walk all over me, just like they do with a doormat. You could easily side with Susan instead.”
The housekeeper’s face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “I hope Mr. Wood and his wife can live in harmony. That’s what a happy home looks like.”
“Harmony?” Gale repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Home. The word felt so foreign to her now. Since Shawn had entered her life, there hadn’t been a place she could truly call home. It was the same feeling she had when she looked at the broken jade bracelet—a relic from a past she could no longer piece together.
“Yes, Mrs. Wood. When you marry Mr. Wood, you form a small family. I’ve watched him grow up, so I only wish for his happiness.” The housekeeper’s voice was gentle, but there was a quiet sincerity in her words.
Gale looked away, lost in thought. “Shawn and I are destined for unhappiness. He hates me, and I hate him too. How could we possibly talk about love or family?” She let out a small, hollow laugh. They were two people bound by hatred, not affection.
The housekeeper’s expression changed subtly. “Actually… some things aren’t as they seem on the surface.”
Gale’s eyes sharpened, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean? Are you suggesting Shawn actually cares about me?” she asked, disbelief lacing her words.
“Well, to Mr. Wood, you are… somehow special,” the housekeeper said, choosing her words carefully. “I’ve never seen a woman who receives such a degree of attention from him. Not even Susan gets this kind of attention.”
The housekeeper’s words hung in the air, and Gale felt a strange mixture of confusion and curiosity. Was Shawn’s indifference truly just a facade?
“Look beyond the surface,” the housekeeper added, her voice dropping a notch as though she were trying to convey something important.
Gale’s heart skipped a beat. Something wasn’t right. She raised her head sharply, her gaze fixed on the housekeeper. “What do you know about my father’s death?”
The housekeeper hesitated, a flicker of something passing through her eyes before she lowered her gaze. “Madam, you are overthinking things.”
Gale’s pulse quickened. “But what you just said… it feels like you know something! Something about my father’s death! You’ve been serving the Wood family for decades. You must know the truth! If you have any evidence—any at all—please, tell me!”
The housekeeper’s face remained inscrutable. “No, Madam. I don’t know anything about that. You misunderstood.”
Gale’s hope began to dissipate, slowly and painfully. She had allowed herself to think that the housekeeper might possess the key to clearing her father’s name. But now, it seemed like all that hope had been in vain.
“Sorry, I… I got too excited,” Gale muttered, lowering her head. She sat back down, her hands trembling as she continued to fiddle with the broken jade bracelet.
“Madam…” the housekeeper began, her voice soft.
“I’m not hungry,” Gale cut in, her tone firm. She didn’t want to hear any more comforting words. After what had just happened, she didn’t feel like eating or talking to anyone. She just wanted to be left alone, lost in the silence of her own thoughts.
The housekeeper nodded in silence, recognizing that trying to persuade Gale otherwise would be useless. As she turned to leave, Susan’s scream echoed from downstairs.
“Gale, come out now!!”
The sound was sharp, full of fury, and unmistakably urgent. The housekeeper’s eyes widened in concern, and Gale’s stomach sank.
In the living room, Susan stood at the center of the chaos. She was a disheveled mess, the stench of dirt and garbage clinging to her. Her hair was tangled, and her dress was covered in vegetable leaves, making her look more like a beggar than the glamorous woman she tried to project. The servants kept their distance, repelled by the foul smell that hung around her.
Shawn entered the room, his face twisting in distaste as he took in the sight of Susan’s disarray. “What kind of dress are you wearing?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Susan, seeing him, immediately flung herself at him, crying out in a dramatic voice, “Mr. Wood, the weather was so nice today, so I wore a beautiful dress and went to walk my dog. Who could have known that, on the way, someone put a sack over me, beat me up, and threw me into a garbage truck?” She reached out, trying to grab his hand.
Shawn immediately pulled back, a look of disgust flashing across his face. “I know you’re dirty now, but… someone did this to me on purpose!” Susan’s voice was full of indignation as she tried to hold on to whatever dignity she had left.
“Let the servants help you clean up,” Shawn muttered, already turning to leave.
He was a clean freak and couldn’t bear the sight of her in such a state. As he walked away, he noticed the carpet that Susan had stepped on was now stained with dirt. His gaze flicked back to the servant. “Get a new carpet.”
Susan, still desperately trying to hold on to his attention, cried out, “I didn’t come here to take a bath! Mr. Wood, you have to stand up for me! I’ve been bullied! Don’t you feel bad?”
But Shawn had already turned his back and was leaving the room, his mind clearly elsewhere.