Chapter 4 Nothing Left to Owe

The statements scattered across the coffee table and onto the floor.

Bianca tapped one of them with the toe of her shoe. "Sophia, your monthly reimbursement budget for groceries is $20,000. However, I checked the market prices for the premium sea cucumbers and wild abalone you've been buying."

Her eyes were full of malice. "$20,000 wouldn't even cover a fraction of those ingredients. So, did you buy cheap knockoffs, pass them off as the real thing, and pocket the difference?"

The living room fell silent.

Audrey pressed a hand to her chest, her face draining of color. "No wonder my skin hasn't looked as good lately. So, you've been feeding me fake ingredients all this time?"

Frederick frowned as well. "Sophia, tell us the truth. Where did those medicinal ingredients really come from?"

I looked at the stack of statements and found the whole thing absurd.

$20,000? The premium ingredients the Shaws ate every day cost far more than $100,000.

I had covered every shortfall out of my own pocket for the past decade because Harrison had saved my grandmother's life all those years ago.

I had promised him I would keep the Shaw family prosperous and safe for 10 years, making sure they always had the very best food, clothing, and everything else they could ever want.

"Did you check with the supplier?" I asked calmly.

"Why would I? It doesn't make any sense to do so." Bianca looked smug.

"I've already blacklisted that supplier. All the household purchases will go through my group-buying links from today forward. We're buying everything through the cheapest channels from now on."

I nodded. "Sounds good. I hope you enjoy your meals."

Bianca thought she had caught me red-handed.

"So, you admit it! Since you've worked here for 10 years, we won't call the cops on you. But you'll pay back every dollar you stole. Also, if it isn't clear, you're fired. Pack up your things and leave today."

Arthur frowned. "Bianca, shouldn't we give her one more chance?"

Bianca immediately bristled in offense. "Arthur, are you actually feeling sorry for her? She stole money from our family!"

Audrey chimed in from the side, "Exactly. We took her in for ten years, only to end up with a thief in our own house. If we let her stay, who knows what trouble she'll cause next?"

I had originally planned to remind them about Astraea Tech's authorization before I left, for Harrison's sake if nothing else.

Now, it seemed unnecessary.

"Fine. I'll go." I turned and walked toward the housekeeper's room.

Bianca followed me like some sort of demented prison guard. "Move it. Stop dragging your feet. Everything in there belongs to the Shaw family. You're not taking a single thing with you."

I went into the room and pulled my suitcase out from under the bed.

I did not have much. All I'd brought with me were a few changes of clothes, some medical books, and the keepsakes my grandmother had left me.

Bianca pinched her nose in disgust. "These old books are covered in mold. Throw them out already. Stop polluting my air."

She kicked my suitcase onto its side, causing a flawless white diamond pendant to roll out.

Bianca's eyes lit up. She snatched it off the floor.

"This diamond looks pretty nice. The fake is surprisingly convincing. How could a housekeeper like you own something like this? You didn't steal it from Mrs. Shaw, did you?"

"Put it down." My voice turned ice-cold. "Ms. Vance, that's not something you're allowed to touch."

Bianca let out a scornful laugh. "A servant with sticky fingers is ordering me around now?"

She loosened her fingers. The diamond pendant slipped from her palm. It hit the floor with a sharp crack.

I stared at the shattered pendant as a loud ringing filled my ears.

My grandmother had placed that pendant around my neck with her own hands before she died. It was the only thing I had left of her.

I had protected that pendant for 10 whole years, keeping it flawless no matter how many nights I worked until I coughed up blood; no matter how often Audrey pointed at my face and cursed me. I had protected that pendant and never let it suffer so much as a scratch.

"Oh, this isn't my fault." Bianca rolled her eyes without the slightest remorse.

"You didn't put it away properly. Besides, it was probably some cheap fake from a street vendor. So what if it broke?"

Arthur heard the commotion and walked in. "What's going on?"

"She dropped some worthless rock herself, and now she's glaring at me." Bianca pouted as she wrapped herself around Arthur's arm.

"Arthur, the way she looked at me just now was terrifying. It was like she wanted to kill me."

Arthur's brows knitted together. "Sophia, it's just a pendant. I'll pay you whatever it's worth. Now, apologize to Bianca. Don't frighten her."

I bent down and gathered the broken pieces into my pocket. "She broke my belongings, and you want me to apologize to her?"

My gaze was cold.

"What else? You're just a servant. Are you trying to defy us?" Arthur said as though it were perfectly reasonable.

I slowly rose to my feet. My voice was quiet, but Arthur couldn't help but shiver at my tone. "There's no need to compensate me because neither of you can afford it."

I picked up my suitcase and walked out of the nightmare of a house I had lived in for 10 years without looking back.

'Old Mr. Shaw, we're square. The debt I owed you for saving my grandmother's life is cleared.'

I walked straight out through the gates of Shaw Estate. Then, I dialed a number I had not called in 10 years.

The phone rang only once before someone answered.

"Mr. Sterling."

An elderly voice filled with excitement came from the other end. "Ms. Quinn? You've finally decided to contact me?"