Chapter 5

THE VOW

~TARA’S POV~

I fall on my knees, clutching my chest. My vision spins, but the truth’s clarity burns through my hazy mind. I wasn’t the maid… I shouldn’t be either. I’m Tara Jackson… Alexander’s wife.

Emotions overwhelm me as I pull my knees close to my chest, hugging them as I sob. I was betrayed… and punished for a reason I didn’t know. One thing for sure, I don’t deserve this.

Lea took advantage of my condition and stole my husband. She was the maid… the one I treated like family despite not knowing her origins. For me, her roots didn’t matter. I trusted and cared for her, but what did she do?

As for Alexander… I couldn’t believe he hadn’t said anything. He probably laughed as he watched me suffering and humiliated by his mistress.

“I didn’t even suspect a thing… Did they plan all this?” I close my eyes while shaking my head in denial.

Alexander loved me… I felt it. He loved me… So, why?

“Why?!” I cry, letting the tears fall freely as I empty my heart with pain that suffocates me.

Thirty minutes passed. I try to pull myself together knowing that crying will not change everything that already happened. All I could do is prevent it from happening further. I can’t allow them to continue making a fool out of me.

I close the safe, my once trembling hands are steady now. As the storm inside me found its purpose, I promise to reclaim what was mine.

“Wait for me, Lea. I’ll be sure to pay you back more than you deserve,” I whisper, wiping the last drop of tear from my eye.

Back at the servant’s quarter, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The reflection that’s looking back at me is pale, tired, and worn from years of scrubbing floors and bowing my head. It doesn’t show, but I can tell that my heart is broken and wounded from humiliation.

I press my palm against the mirror, meeting my own gaze as I hold back the tears from falling again.

“You stole my life, Lea… And now, it’s time to take it back,” I whisper, my voice trembling in rage.

For the first time in three years, I feel alive. There’s no longer a place for fear in my heart, because all I could think of now is revenge.

I will reclaim my place and expose her lies. I will make her pay.

As I turn away from the mirror, my heart feels at ease. The maid is gone… and the wife is back.

**********

I said I want revenge, but it's as simple as slapping the hell out of Lea. Alexander seems to listen to her, too. So, even if I have recovered my memories, I still don't know what caused her to do this. I can’t figure out why Alexander didn’t do anything either knowing that I lost my memories. And most importantly… Was the crash really an accident?

I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and assume the worst, but everything happened after the plane crash. But the plane is owned by the Jacksons, it’s unlikely to crash after getting hit by lightning, unless the plane’s made of cheap materials which is impossible. The Jackson is one of the wealthiest clans in the country. Money shouldn’t be a problem for them.

“First, I need to find out why the plane crashed. But how do I do it?” I sat on my bed, thinking deep of a possible solution or anything that could help me.

If only I’m getting paid for all the chores I did at this mansion. I can’t believe I’m cleaning my house and getting ordered around by someone unrelated.

“Wait…” I clasp my hands together when I remembered having a separate account. “I should have some savings there. I can use it to investigate the plane crash,” I smile, relieving my weary thoughts.

I need solid proof… I need to make sure Lea can’t get away the moment I confront her. And Alexander… I’ll have to observe him for now.

“I’ll deal with him later,” I say, tying my hair in a ponytail. “For now, I’ll have to make sure Lea doesn’t notice. I’ll entertain her until the right time comes to reveal the truth.”

“Hey, Tara. Is everything okay? You look like you’re in deep thoughts,” Eva asks while we’re having dinner together. The other staff already retired early while the two of us were left to finish our tasks.

“A-Ah. It’s nothing,” I reply, smiling and taking a bite of my sandwich.

There’s no good telling Eva about my worries. She might end up spreading it among the other staff. Wait… I don’t need to tell her. It’s the other way around.

“Actually,” I swallow my food and take a sip of water.

“Yes. Is something bothering you?” Eva, the ever-gossip loving staff alongside Sophia prompts.

I smile wider after wiping my lips with a napkin. “I just remembered that you once mentioned tht you started working here three years ago. Is that the same for the other staff?”

Eva looks at me strangely before nodding her head. “Well, yes. We’re all hired on the same day. I heard that the Jackson mansion needs people and scheduled an interview for all applicants. Those who passed were informed on the same day. Why do you ask, by the way?”

“Oh… I see. I just thought that everyone here all started working at the same time, so maybe that’s why we don’t have any seniors. If the Master hires new staff, then it will make you their senior, Eva.”

Eva’s eyes glint in excitement. “You’re right! Then I will not have to stay late at night and eat leftover dinners. I can just have the newbies do the hard tasks,” she laughs. “Kidding! Anyway, it will be nice if there will be new staff coming. The madam’s becoming more temperamental these days and it’s harder to handle her by the day.”

“Hmm… Now that you mentioned the madam, didn’t you say that she used to be kind?” I continue, engaging Eva in topics she loves to talk about. She always shows her dislike toward Lea, and loves talking behind her back. She may know something that can be helpful to me.

“Yeah, but that’s all a lie. You see how the madam treats us, she even loves harassing you,” Eva scoffs. “You know what, I won’t be surprised if we’re all fired altogether one day. It’s what she did three years ago. Alice told me,” Eva continues.

Alice is Lea’s personal assistant. Just like Eva and everyone else, Lea hired her three years ago. She may not know much, but she’s the closest to Lea.

“Just between you and me, Tara.” Eva leans forward while looking around. After securing that nobody’s listening, she whispers, “Alica said the madam is the master’s mistress. The real madam died in a plane crash three years ago.”

W-What?

I… died?