Chapter 4
The swelling on my face had finally subsided.
But my health was getting weaker and weaker.
On the third night, Eliza acted mysteriously as she reached under the bed.
She pulled out a small paper packet, her movements furtive and secretive.
She opened the packet. Inside were two sandwiches, still warm to the touch.
"Lady Joyce," Eliza whispered, her voice urgent. "Quick, eat."
I was stunned.
"Where did you get these?" I asked.
Eliza lowered her voice. "I slipped some silver I'd saved up through the little hole by the wall."
"Then I begged the old gatekeeper lady outside to buy these for me."
"Please eat quickly. Don't let your stomach suffer from hunger."
I glanced at Eliza's cracked lips.
I slid the sandwich over to her. "You should eat."
Eliza shook her head frantically.
"I'm really not hungry," she protested. "I'm just a lowly servant. This isn't for someone like me."
Just then, a loud sound echoed through the courtyard.
The courtyard gate was kicked open.
Torches blazed, flooding the courtyard with light.
Maya stormed in, flanked by four burly maids.
Her eyes locked onto the paper packet sitting on the table.
She looked like a predator catching the scent of blood.
"Well, well." Maya sneered. "No wonder you two haven't starved yet. So this is what you've been up to—sneaking around behind my back."
Maya strode forward.
She snatched the packet away and hurled the sandwiches to the ground.
Then she stomped on them, grinding them into the dirt.
"Pathetic thing." Maya sneered. "Lord Foster forced you two to go vegetarian. And you dared to bribe the servants to bring you meat? You're openly defying the Foster family's rules."
Eliza fell to her knees.
"It's not Lady Joyce's fault," she pleaded. "I just wanted a taste, so I bought them myself. Please, Maya, judge fairly."
Maya let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"You're just a lowly maid," she scoffed. "How could you possibly have money? You must have stolen from the Foster family. Turn the place upside down—search everywhere."
The maids rushed into the room.
They ransacked the room, yanking open drawers and overturning chests.
Clothes were tossed onto the floor.
The jewelry box was smashed.
It didn't take long before one of the maids rushed out, clutching an emerald pendant.
"Maya," the maid called. "Got it. This is Lady Paola's emerald pendant from her room."
I shot to my feet and stared at the emerald pendant, unable to look away.
That was my stepmother's.
How did it end up in my room?
I finally understood.
This was a trap.
Maya shoved the emerald pendant right in Eliza's face.
"This is ironclad evidence!" she sneered. "You filthy thief in our midst.
"If I don't teach you a lesson right now, how could I ever face Lady Paola's kindness?
"Pin her down on the bench. Give her a good beating."
Two of the maids pounced on Eliza.
They dragged her out to the center of the courtyard.
Eliza was held down tightly on the bench.
One of the maids raised a thick club, ready to strike.
"No!" I screamed, dashing forward.
I grabbed onto the maid's leg, refusing to let go.
"You framed her!" I yelled. "Eliza didn't steal anything."
Maya kicked her squarely in the shoulder.
"So, Lady Joyce," Maya sneered. "You're shielding a thief. That just adds to your crime. Beat her!"
The stick slammed down on Eliza's back.
Eliza's scream of agony echoed through the courtyard.
The stick struck her a second time.
Blood began to seep through Eliza's clothes.
My eyes went red with anger.
I scrambled to my feet and lunged at Maya.
Maya backhanded her across the face.
I hit the ground.
Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth.
"Stop..." I gasped,
I was gasping for breath.
"What do you really want?" I demanded.
Maya raised her hand to signal the maids to stop.
The maids halted their actions.
Eliza was already out cold, unconscious from the pain.
Her back was torn and covered in blood, a mangled ruin.
Maya walked right up to me.
She pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve.
Maya called out, "Lady Joyce, word is your mother's family owns 108 shops in Ashbourne, right?
"The authority over all those shops has always been in your hands.
"Just a little girl like you, holding power over so many businesses. No wonder your character's been corrupted so badly."
Maya flung the paper down in front of me.
"Sign it. Hand over the management rights to all those shops—sign them over to the Foster family, right now.
"Do that, and maybe I'll believe your little maid didn't steal a thing. Otherwise, I'll have her beaten to death tonight. And tomorrow, we'll toss her body into the pauper's graveyard."
I looked at the paper lying on the floor.
It was the transfer papers.
So that was what this was all about.
Keeping me hungry, punishing me, beating Eliza—all of this was just to get their hands on my mother's family's businesses.
I looked up and met Maya's gaze.
"Did my father really order this?" I demanded.
Maya snorted with disdain.
"Lord Foster acts all noble and righteous," she sneered.