Chapter 30

May's POV

There was something about Susan that I couldn't figure out. She didn't give me those deep, playful expressions of hers and it bothered me. However, I concluded that meeting with my stepmother would have caused it. She must have been so nervous.

Mama came into the room, wearing a smile as usual.

"The meal is ready, Miss. Shall I escort you?" Mama offered.

"Don't worry, Mama," I replied. "I will take my friend by myself. You should go and rest for now."

Mama turned towards Susan,"You are the best friend of the lady of the mansion. Please make sure to feel at home and enjoy your stay here."

"It will be a short one, ma'am," Susan replied. "I will leave after lunch."

"Why?" I touched Susan's shoulder lightly. "If you are here, just stay with me till evening. I will get the driver to take you home."

"I'm sorry," Susan managed to smile. "I have some papers I need to finish working on. They are research papers and they need to be submitted soon."

I nodded in acceptance. I stood up and led Susan to the dining room. She admired the scenery and I was proud of it. Any stranger would think I had been there for several years. I showed Susan around and when we got to the dining table, she was shocked.

"These many dishes!" Susan exclaimed. "It's too much for both of us!"

"Just eat what you can," I replied. "The mansion's butler, Mama, has a quote she uses in times like this."

"You mean the woman from earlier?" Susan asked.

"Yes, everyone calls her Mama!" I replied excitedly. It was just like yesterday when Nicholas introduced me to her. "Anyway, Mama always says that since abundance is better than having little, too much food is better than food that doesn't satisfy."

"That doesn't sound like a typical quote," Susan muttered.

"Right!" I replied. "I don't know where Mama for it from. Anyway, it makes sense, doesn't it?"

"For rich folks like you..." Susan replied.

"I'm sure you don't mean that!" I laughed. "You have never experienced poverty too, darling. You are a doctor at Greenfield hospital and I know doctors get paid really well. Rich folks, you claim. You are rich too."

"You are wrong," Susan told me. She looked really serious now. "I didn't grow up in wealth like you. I grew up in a struggling family and what motivated me to become successful is so I can have a lot of money and raise my family from poverty. You can't relate, rich kid. Even though you were maltreated by your stepmother and stepsister, you never starved. You went to the best schools and your father provided all you needed. As for my family, we had nothing to eat for several days. We are different."

"Why are you being so serious?" I tapped her gently.

"Oh, right. I shouldn't be like this. It must make me pathetic," Susan muttered. She focused on the meal now, picking what she wanted. I stared at her worriedly. I have confirmed my fears now. Something had changed about her.

**

Susan left after the meal. She didn't eat much and nor did I. After she left, I called in Abby. I was bothered by the way Susan acted earlier.

"Why did Susan meet with my stepmother at our house rather than the hospital?" I asked Abby.

"I believe that is your stepmother's preference. Apparently, the chief operating officer also went to your house. Your stepmother is holding meetings and queries there rather than going to the hospital. She might be chasing comfortability," Abby replied in detail. That answer made me calmer.

"I am sure something happened between Sherlyn and Susan. I could feel it. I am sure about it!" I said firmly.

"It will be hard to find out!" Abby responded readily. She already knew I would ask her to find out.

"There might be a way..." I said calmly. "We need one of the maids on our side. Sherlyn loves to have her maids around for her skincare, her baths, almost everything she does. We should pay a maid..."

"Two maids would make more sense!" Abby told me. "It is safer and both can't betray us at the same time."

"Do you think you can pull it off?" I asked her carefully. "People like Sherlyn do bad deeds so they are very suspicious someone else would do it to them. She will be very careful about those surrounding her."

"Leave it to me. I will get two maids on our side," Abby insisted.

"What if they refuse your offer?" I asked her curiously.

"They won't," Abby smiled. "They will have no other choice but to accept. If money doesn't work with them, I will use force."

I sighed, "I don't want to hurt innocent people."

"I'll try," Abby replied. I knew I wouldn't be able to convince her to use another means. I decided to let her do it her own way.

"Find out if Sherlyn has ordered any restrictions on Susan. That may be the reason why Susan looked so disheveled. We have those who can find that out at the hospital, right?" I turned towards Abby.

"I have a spy on the administrative team. You can depend on me," Abby replied. I stood up and gave her a hug. I could depend on her indeed. Abby pushed me away lightly, "I am homosexual. Do you want me to fall in love with you?"

I moved away quickly.

"You mean you are a lesbian?" I muttered carefully. I looked at her from head to toe, trying to pick hints.

"Don't tell me you are homophobic," Abby said, making up a sad face. I took a step back again.

"I am straight! I don't hate homosexuals anyway!" I responded.

"Really?" Abby smiled and took a step further. I bit my lip.

"I am straight!" I said but Abby continued walking towards me. I closed my eyes, dreading what would happen now. My imagination was running wild.