Meanwhile….
In the isolated villa, Charlotte sat at the dining table, staring out the window, her mind drifting as the picked the meal the could no longer stomach. The repetition of the same dishes had made her nauseous. She craved the variety of restauran food, the hustle and glamour of show business, and mingling with fake people agair
Yet, she knew it was all out of reach now; the whole world believed Charlotte Prescott was dead.
“Do you know when your boss will return?” Charlotte asked, keeping her tone even as the controlled the bitterness in her voice. “It’s been two weeks since his last visit, hasn’t it?*
“He has important business interests across several states. You wouldn’t know that, given your amnesia! the maid replied turning away as she headed to the kitchen to start cleaning the dishes.
Charlotte rolled her eyes at the maid’s back. What was the point of being rescued from the police if she was now trapped in this house? For months, she’d been feigning amnesia, and she was growing restless. She had to act
Something had to be done. With Christmas approaching, she was confident she’d encounter Isabella a the Jones mansion
Her eyes darkened as she thought of the woman. Isabella would pay for what she had done to her.
“You should focus on your recovery instead of asking questions,” the maid snapped over her shoulder as she began washing dishes. “Be grateful the boss is protecting you.”
Charlotte’s hand moved slowly toward the thick vase near the kitchen entrance.
Disregarding the maid’s comment, she asked instead, “How many hours do you think it takes to get to South Park from here?”
. “From Charleston? It will take about four to six hours, depending on traffic. Why would you want to—”
The maid turned toward Charlotte, but she didn’t hesitate. In one swift motion, Charlotte brought the vase down hard against the maid’s head. The sharp sound of impact echoed through the villa as the maid collapsed to the floor.
Charlotte felt a cold satisfaction wash over her as the maid’s vision blurred, her consciousness slipping away. Moments later, everything went black as the maid’s eyes fluttered shut.
“Because I have to complete my mission! Idiot!”
Her lips curled into a sneer. Any trace of guilt or pity had faded during her months of captivity. How could they expect her to stay human when they had taken away her freedom, her identity, and even her sense of self?
With steady movements, she gathered the supplies she had carefully collected during her time in the villa. She took the maid’s identity cards, transportation passes, and the emergency cash she had found hidden in drawers–anything else that could be useful on her journey.
The moment Charlotte stepped outside, she took in the fresh air, feeling the freedom of the outside world for the first time in what felt like forever.
She moved around the villa, pouring the gathered accelerants to ensure the fire spread fast. The flames quickly took h eagerly consuming the wooden structure.
Unbothered, Charlotte slipped on her jacket and walked away, humming softly as she distanced.herself from her captor’s prison.
Mercy was a foreign concept now. If the maid perished in that blaze, it wasn’t her problem.
1/3
u8.3u Mon, 14 Apr BB
Chapter 85
After all, she was already dead in the eyes of the world. Why shouldn’t someone else share that fate?
100%
58)
Charlotte stood vigil at the Jones mansion, waiting for the perfect moment to slip inside. She had been observing the estate almost daily, learning the house’s and its occupants‘ patterns. The cold didn’t bother her; she was patient and determined.
She rented a small room nearby, blending into the background as she watched. After a week, she learned the grocery deliveries‘ schedule, the maid’s frequent outings to meet her boyfriend and the regular stream of visitors from the Jones family.
One afternoon, she saw an opening. The family was gathered around a maid she didn’t recognize–someone she suspected was new to the mansion.
“You don’t understand what these people are capable of!” The woman’s voice trembled with panic and anger. “They’ve already destroyed our home. Your father is suffering, and you can’t do anything?”
“Listen… There’s so much wealth in that house. Just a small portion of it could fix everything, and they wouldn’t even notice,” the man beside the lady–whom Charlotte assumed was the maid’s father–urged, his voice desperate.
“I’ve already sent you what I earned here at the mansion! What more do you want from me? How can you ask me to steal? The security here is tight–do you want me to get arrested?” The maid, clearly distressed, wiped away her tears.
“Then we’ll make such a scene, they’ll have no choice but to fire you anyway! It’ll make things worse for all of us!” The couple’s voices were low but filled with menace as they issued their threat, then stormed off, leaving their daughter collapsed against the mansion’s stone wall.
The maid cried uncontrollably as Charlotte approached her.
“I couldn’t help but overhear. It seems you could use some help.”
The maid looked her over, startled, as she wiped away her tears. “W–who are you?”
“I’m… a member of the Jones family,” she replied, her smile practiced and reassuring. “I’ve been planning a surprise for my grandmother’s birthday; you know how those social media reveals go viral. But perhaps we could help each other.”
Suspicion flickered across the maid’s tear–stained face, glancing around nervously. “Then you should talk to the head maid. Why come to me?”
Charlotte’s smile grew a little wider, her gaze sharp. “Because you’re the one who needs help. I’ve heard about the things your father has been pressuring you to do. Are you sure you want me to talk to her or the butler?”
The maid’s back stiffened, her voice trembling as she asked. “So, what do you really want?”
Charlotte leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “My request is not that hard. Lend me your uniform until after Christmas, after everyone leaves following the celebration.”
Before the maid could protest, Charlotte pulled out a cash card. “This card holds ten thousand dollars. It should be more than enough to take care of your needs. No more work problems and your parents will be set for a while… Deal?”
The maid hesitated, her throat tight, but after a long pause, she slowly reached out and took the card.
The security personnel posed no challenge to Charlotte. She was familiar with one of them and knew exactly how to charm to manipulate him. At this point, she was willing to do anything for her revenge.
