Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Katherine and Ma’am Rachael stood beside the cab that would take them back to the mansion. The very place she had spent months trying to escape. Today, she was finally being discharged, and though it should have felt like a relief, Katherine felt the weight of dread settle in her chest.

She’d been turning Uncle Ryan’s offer over in her mind for three days now, and she'd finally made up her mind: she would take the deal. Anything to be free of the suffocating grip of the Hollingsworth household.

But one question refused to leave her alone: who was the third person Ryan mentioned? The one who'd known about her pregnancy? That single mystery was like a splinter under her skin.

Still, one thing held her back. Thelma. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving her behind.

“Make sure you get plenty of rest, Ma’am Katherine,” the doctor’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Katherine blinked, grounding herself. She cleared her throat and managed a small smile. “I will.”

Ma’am Rachael gave a knowing smile, her eyes flickering briefly to the doctor who couldn’t quite meet her gaze. She chuckled softly, remembering what he’d told her just days before when she’d followed him out into the corridor.

FLASHBACK

“Doctor!” Ma’am Rachael had called as he rounded a corner.

He stopped abruptly, turning back to face her, his expression tightening as she approached.

“Yes, ma’am? Did you need something?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s about Katherine’s condition,” Ma’am Rachael said, arms folded. “Are you absolutely sure it was just stress and contractions? Or is there something you’re not telling us?”

The doctor cleared his throat, clearly unsettled. “Ma’am, I’m not sure what you’re insinuating, but I’ve already told you everything. Ma'am Katherine’s episode was due to emotional strain, nothing more. If there had been anything else, I would’ve informed you immediately.”

Ma’am Rachael stared at him for a long, tense moment. She noticed the twitch in his jaw, the way his fingers fidgeted at his side.

“If you say so… then I’ll let it go,” she said quietly, turning as if to leave. Then, she slipped into the shadows of the hallway, hiding.

She watched as the doctor, believing himself alone, pulled out his phone and spoke into it in a hushed tone.

“She’s starting to suspect, ma’am,” he said.

Ma’am Rachael strained to hear more, but the voice on the other end only chuckled before abruptly ending the call. The doctor scanned his surroundings nervously, then slipped away down the corridor.

He’s definitely hiding something. Ma’am Rachael’s expression hardened as she walked away silently, her mind now more alert than ever.

FLASHBACK END

The doctor shifted uneasily when he noticed Ma’am Rachael’s eyes locked onto him. She didn’t look away for a long second. When she finally did, it was only to force a polite smile.

“We’ll be on our way now. Thank you for your care, Doctor,” she said curtly, taking Katherine gently by the arm and leading her into the cab.

Inside the vehicle, Katherine stared blankly out the window, her thoughts already drifting to the storm that awaited her in that mansion. The memories. The pain. And most of all, the plan. She was ready to retrieve the documents Uncle Ryan had mentioned. The key to her freedom.

Beside her, Ma’am Rachael remained quiet, but her mind was far from still.

That doctor is hiding something.

And she'll find out what.

Who's he working for? What secret is he protecting? He'd said ma'am to his caller, right? Could the person be in the mansion?

Her eyes slid to Katherine, who was lost in her own silent torment.

“Are you okay?” Ma’am Rachael asked gently from beside her.

Katherine gave a small nod.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Hollingsworth mansion, and the moment Katherine laid eyes on the looming gates, a chill washed over her. Cold sweat beaded at her temple.

Ma’am Rachael noticed her trembling and quietly reached over, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze with a soft, encouraging smile.

The moment they stepped into the mansion, an eerie stillness welcomed them.

For a fleeting moment, Katherine felt a strange relief in the silence, until she turned toward the maid’s quarters and froze at the sound of an all-too-familiar voice.

“Well, well… Won’t you say hi to me, dear ex-girlfriend?” James drawled smugly, stepping from the shadows with that infuriating grin.

Katherine’s body went rigid.

“Good afternoon, young master,” Ma’am Rachael greeted stiffly, but Katherine still hadn’t turned around.

“Excuse us,” James said, arrogance dripping from his tone. “I’d like to speak privately with my ex-girlfriend, if you don’t mind, Ma’am Rachael.”

Katherine’s internal scream was deafening. Please don’t leave me alone with him. But she didn’t speak. She couldn’t.

Ma’am Rachael looked at her with hesitation, clearly reading her fear, but Katherine gave the faintest nod. Brave on the outside, crumbling within.

Ma’am Rachael reluctantly curtsied and walked away, casting one last glance over her shoulder before disappearing down the hall.

Katherine slowly turned to face him, forcing herself to raise her chin.

“Yes, ex-boyfriend,” she said with a tight smile. “What do you want?”

James let out a low chuckle, his eyes raking over her as if searching for cracks in her armor. “Still trying to play tough, I see. But I know you, Katherine. You can wear that brave face all you want, but underneath it, you’re still the same frightened little girl I once dated.”

Her fists clenched at her sides, but she said nothing.

“I’ve missed your presence,” he continued casually, leaning against the wall.“Came back expecting to find you, only to hear you were sick. Imagine my surprise. How're you now?”

“I’m fine now, as you can see,” Katherine said coldly. “And you don’t have to concern yourself with me anymore. I’m a married woman.”

She instinctively raised her hand to show her ring, only to remember Massimo had ordered her to remove it. Her fingers paused mid-air, faltering, then dropped awkwardly.

James noticed. And he smirked.

James let out a mocking chuckle. “No ring in sight. Just as I thought, you’re still as single as ever,” he sneered, stepping closer. “And rumor has it, my dear brother’s got himself a new wife and even a kid now. Looks like you’ve been cast aside, Katherine. Out of the picture. Out of the family. An outcast. But, you know I would always accept you back, hmmm?”

Katherine’s fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms, but she kept her glare steady as James drank in the discomfort on her face with twisted delight.

“What happens to me is none of your business, dearest ex-boyfriend,” she said with icy calm. “And for the record, I’d rather lick the bottom of a stray dog’s paw than ever come crawling back to a lowlife like you.”

James’ smirk wavered, but she didn’t stop.

“Oh, and just so you know—I’m still married to Massimo, even without a ring,” she added, tilting her head. “But it’s cute how you try to puff your chest. Should I remind you of how you wept like a kicked puppy the day Massimo punished you? Pathetic doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Her smile turned sharp as she watched his expression twist with rage.

This bitch. James cursed inwardly, clenching his fists at his sides, jaw ticking.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Katherine continued sweetly, brushing past him. “I have actual work to do. And you? You’re not just unwelcome, you’re a walking eyesore.”

She winked and sauntered off, head held high, leaving James simmering in humiliation.

“You’ll regret this, Katherine!” he shouted after her “This isn’t over! I’m back now, and I’ll make sure your life suffocates in every possible way!”

“You're more than welcome to dare me, ugly duckling." She yelled back.

Later that evening…

The Hollingsworth dining room buzzed with laughter and idle chatter as the family gathered around the long mahogany table.

Massimo sat at the head of the table, Thelma perched comfortably on his thigh. He fed her bites from his plate, speaking to her in a low, amused tone while she giggled.

Across the table, Kassandra sat in silence, her fork untouched. Her gaze burned through the two of them.

How dare he give that little rat attention while ignoring her? Her fists tightened in her lap beneath the table.

Her patience was thinning, already.

James chuckled quietly, while Uncle Ryan hid a subtle smile behind his wine glass, eyes flicking toward Kassandra.

Just then, the door creaked open and Katherine entered the dining room, carrying a tray of water. The lively chatter stilled immediately. Silence fell as every pair of eyes turned toward her.

Her palms went clammy. The tray trembled slightly in her hands. She could feel the heat of their stares crawling over her skin. Some curious, some cold, and one particularly venomous.

She kept her head down and managed to place the tray on the table, though her fingers trembled. From the corner of her eye, she saw Kassandra smirk, delighted at Katherine’s discomfort.

The doctor she’d bribed had confirmed it: the poison had worked. Katherine had lost the baby. The news had thrilled her. Of course, she would’ve been much happier if Katherine had died with the bastard child inside her. But for now, a partial victory was enough.

Katherine’s eyes instinctively found Thelma, still giggling on Massimo’s lap. That one glimpse of happiness calmed her frayed nerves, if only slightly. At least she’s okay…

What she didn’t know was that Massimo’s attention had shifted from Thelma to her the moment she entered. His eyes scanned her carefully.

She’s gained weight… he noted silently. Not much, but enough to notice.

“I hear you were sick?" Amy's voice cut the tension.

Katherine gulped, looking at her. “Ye..yeah. But I'm good now."

Amy sneered. “Who cares if you're now healthy. I just hope it wasn't pregnancy that made you ill, though." She said, nonchalantly.

All eyes turned to her.

Katherine froze, then she quickly got herself. “No."

Oh, she was. But it's gone now. Kassandra thought, evilly.

Just as she turned to take her seat in the far corner where the servants usually ate, Massimo’s deep, commanding voice stopped her.

“Come sit with us.”

Gasps erupted around the table. Even Kassandra’s smirk faltered. Only Uncle Ryan, Thelma, and James remained unfazed, though James’s smile had turned bitter.

Katherine froze mid-step, blinking. Slowly, she turned to face him.

Massimo’s heterotrophic and dark as night eyes locked onto hers, daring her to defy him.

“No, I… I’ve already eaten, Master Massimo,” she said quietly. “But… Thank you for the offer.”

The tension in the room deepened. Everyone was waiting to see what he’d do next.

Massimo let out a low, humorless chuckle. “I wasn’t asking. Sit.”

The others were shocked he didn't do anything to her. It was considered a great crime to even say ‘no’ to the great Massimo Hollingsworth in the first place.

Katherine hesitated only for a second before obeying, lowering herself into the empty seat at the table. Across from her, Kassandra clenched her fist so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Damn it. This had been the perfect time to sneak into Massimo’s room, to find that damned file before they finished their meal. She'd timed it perfectly, or so she’d thought. But clearly, the devil in Massimo had chosen tonight to make an appearance, Katherine thought.

She quietly dished a small portion of food onto her plate, keeping her head down. She took a spoonful, willing her hands not to shake.

Then, her eyes briefly met Uncle Ryan’s across the table. He gave her a subtle wink.

James noticed. His jaw tightened.

Cheap slut, he cursed inwardly, gripping his fork until it bent slightly in his hand.

Massimo didn’t look up from his plate as he spoke. “I don’t appreciate you winking at my maid in my presence, Uncle. Unless, of course, you no longer value your eyes where they are.”

A deadly pause.

“Oh, and don’t get it twisted, she’s still my wife. I haven’t divorced her. I just choosed to make her my maid.”

Uncle Ryan froze, clearly not expecting to be caught. He cleared his throat awkwardly, suddenly fascinated by his meal.

Around the table, jaws dropped. Even Kassandra and James, already boiling with jealousy, were stunned into silence.

Katherine blinked, her pulse spiking. Wife? Why'd he said that, especially after all that’s happened? She kept her expression blank, unwilling to give away the whirlwind of thoughts in her head.

She had one mission. Just one. Get the file. Get out.

Once dinner was done, she joined the other maids in clearing the table. The moment the last plate was gone and the others had begun retreating for the night, she quietly excused herself and made her way toward the maid quarters.

But just as she was about to slip down the hallway, her steps faltered.

Massimo was seated in the living room, alone, his broad frame bent slightly over his laptop. It was rare to see him there, let alone working so late. She tried to step back, quietly and unnoticed.

Too late.

“Come here,” he said without looking up.

Her heart jumped.

So much for dodging him.