Chapter 6 - Injured Foot

"My son, won't you have breakfast before leaving for work?" Mrs. Eleanor Anderson asked, staring at her only son. She noticed his eyes fixed on Loveth and smiled.

"Loveth!" she called. Loveth turned, meeting their gazes, and immediately stared downward, nervous as she recalled her illicit affair with the young master the night before.

Patrick wasn't young, though, and Loveth wondered why the other servants called him "young master."

They'd worked in the Anderson mansion long before her arrival, perhaps from when the handsome dark man was younger.

"What would you like for breakfast, my son?" Mrs. Eleanor asked, turning back to Patrick.

"I'm fine, Mother—I have to go now." Patrick leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Mrs. Eleanor frowned.

"Why, son? Come sit with me first and eat. It's not like you'll be fired. Did you eat the chicken pepper soup I asked Loveth to serve you last night? How was it?"

Patrick stiffened and shook his head, not wanting to upset his mother further. "It was nice, Mom. Fine, let me join you for breakfast."

Loveth swallowed, shocked that Patrick had lied to his elderly mother. Mrs. Eleanor stared at her.

"Prepare his tea and don't add too much milk to the milo. What would you like, Willow—tea or coffee?"

Willow glanced at Patrick, who was pretending all was well between them for his mother's sake, then at the new maid staring back. "Anything, Mother—I'm okay with tea."

"Loveth, you heard her. Go quickly."

"Yes, ma."

Loveth hurried from the dining room and back to the kitchen, preparing the tea as instructed. She wondered why Mrs. Eleanor sent her on errands more than the other maids—perhaps because she was new.

Loveth heaved a sigh, finished quickly, and stepped out, carrying the tray in both hands. She approached the long dining table, starting with the young master.

Meanwhile, Loveth had forgotten Patrick's name—his mother called him "my son," while the other maids said "young master."

Nervous, she placed the tray before him. Her hands shook as she tried to lift his teacup to serve him first, before moving to the guest.

Memories of seeing him nàked the night before made her tremble more as she inhaled his cologne and masculine scent.

Patrick stared at the beautiful maid fumbling before him. He didn't want to believe he'd slept with her—maybe it was all a misunderstanding, and he shouldn't ask.

Annoyed, he grabbed his teacup himself, seeing she was wasting time. His mother frowned as he sighed.

Willow wondered how the Andersons could employ such a beautiful maid. The maid's cute round face and shining black eyes irritated her.

As a billionaire's daughter—Willow's father was wealthy as the Andersons. She didn't like the maid; it was obvious.

Willow watched the fair-skinned maid approach with a faint smile, sweating as she set down the teacup on the dining table.

Loveth quickly went to the double-door fridge, grabbed a loaf of bread, and returned to the table, handing it to Willow—to everyone's surprise.

Willow stared at Loveth irritably. If she weren't trying to win Patrick back and using his mother as leverage, she would've slapped this stupid, beautiful maid.

The maid's pink uniform suited her; her chest and boobs looked fuller, despite her youthful appearance. Her skin was flawless, brighter than the sun. Willow shook her head and looked away in jealousy.

Loveth stared at Willow in confusion, then at Mrs. Eleanor—who shook her head sadly—and the young master. They all frowned at her, making her wonder what she'd done wrong.

Loveth clutched the bread tighter and turned to return it to the fridge, when the guest complained. "No...!"

"What are you doing? Get a tray and put the bread out," Willow spoke through gritted teeth, clearly irritated. She shook her head, seeing Mrs. Eleanor sipping her herbal tea without bread.

Through with her tea, Mrs. Eleanor set down her teacup, picked up her serviette, and dabbed the corners of her mouth.

"Loveth's still new here—that's why," Mrs. Eleanor said with a soft voice, smiling at Willow.

Loveth returned and placed two slices of bread on a tray for the guest. She glanced at the handsome man she'd been with the night before and blushed.

Patrick saw Loveth's cheeks flushed and shook his head, looking away. She was beautiful, but he wouldn't accept he'd had a thing with his mother's maid. "No way," he thought coldly as she stared at him.

Loveth frowned and shuddered at Patrick's cold tone. She returned the remaining bread to the fridge, then cleared Mrs. Eleanor's used teacup.

"My son, when will the marriage date be fixed now that Willow is here? No more excuses," Mrs. Eleanor said.

"Marriage?" Loveth's subconscious mind echoed. Just then, the teacup slipped from her hands, shattering on the ground. Shards flew, cutting her leg.

"Ah!" Loveth screamed. Stepping backward, she accidentally trod on another piece, making her foot bleed.

"Ah!" Loveth cried again.

Patrick stood immediately, panicking at the sight of her blood. He rushed over as she limped away from the shards.

"What has come over you? How can you be so daft and absent-minded to injure yourself?" Patrick scolded, scooping Loveth up—to the shock of Willow and his mother, whose jaw dropped.

Patrick then carried Loveth to the living room couch and set her down gently. It was forbidden for any maid to sit on the executive couch, and Mrs. Eleanor's eyes blinked repeatedly, wondering if she was dreaming.

"Patrick!" Willow finally stood from her dining seat in anger as the other maids rushed out to mop the bloodstains.

Patrick dialed Jeff's number. "Contact the family doctor at once!"

"Are you alright?" Patrick asked Loveth, ignoring Willow. He bent in front of Loveth and lifted her slender, smooth leg to examine the sole.

As he did this, thought flashed through his mind: he'd spread a woman's legs the night before and made love to her.

Patrick's hold on Loveth's foot tightened. She groaned, "Ah!" making Patrick freeze.

He stared at her pretty face in confusion.

The sound she made reminded him of the same groan the woman from the previous night made when he'd plunged into her, breaking her walls.

"Is she okay, Patrick?" Mrs. Eleanor asked, snapping Patrick from his thoughts.

He realized he was still holding Loveth's leg and shifted back, still squatting. He removed the shard from her foot.

"Ah, it hurts!" Loveth cried—the exact words the woman had said when Patrick had first plunged his dîck deeper into her, breaking her barriers.

Patrick stared at Loveth's face, unable to apologize.

Just then, the family doctor arrived. Loveth's foot was bleeding seriously from the small, sharp pieces she'd stepped on foolishly.

Patrick walked to the kitchen to wash his hands—the maids had already mopped the tiled floor. As he stepped out, he met Willow standing in front of him.

"I'm sorry, baby—please forgive me. It's not what you think," Willow pleaded, seizing the opportunity to apologize.

Patrick stared at Willow in her short red gown, which rose above her knees and revealed her brown thighs, and shook his head.

"This isn't the time to discuss it. Excuse me."

Patrick walked past Willow and back to the living room. The doctor had bandaged the maid's foot, and she winced in pain.

"Good morning, Master Patrick," Doctor Timothy Suleiman greeted.

Patrick nodded. "Welcome, Doctor. Are you through with her?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid she won't be able to step on that foot for a while. I don't know if it'll affect her job here, working for you all."