Helen said each word slowly and seriously, clearly not joking: “Rather than cripple her legs, the boss would’ve preferred to blind her.”
As one of Layson’s discreetly trained confidants, Helen had a fair sense of his temper. Susan had hit several of Layson’s bottom lines: hurting Adela, and, more importantly, calling him “blind” with that snide comment—“must be blind to like her.”
That phrase had clearly gotten under Layson’s skin. A classic case of suffering the consequences of a loose tongue. Susan was the perfect example.
Adela and Cici had genuinely been hoping for an answer. But when they heard that explanation, their expressions turned skeptical.
“Are you serious?” Cici couldn’t hold it in after a minute.
Helen nodded solemnly. “I’m serious. If the boss had done it, Susan would be blind, not crippled. Crippling both legs? That’s not his style.”
Adela blinked in confusion and exchanged a look with Cici. Layson has a “style”? That was… news.
Helen went on, “The reason he hasn’t ac
