He turned to look at Susan. âNext time, go easy on the salt. The children canât take anything too salty.â
Susan was puzzled as to how salty it was. When she made the spaghetti, she didnât even add any salt.
She tasted it herself. âThis isnât salty at all.â
âMs. Susan, your taste buds are off. We canât even stomach this. Next time, just leave the cooking to the chef.â
âThatâs right. Just let the chef handle it so that we wonât waste any food.â
Just when Kyle finished speaking, Evan sighed and instructed the maids to prepare a fresh round of breakfast. He then stood up and left the dining table.
When Susan saw that Evan didnât even taste the food that she painstakingly prepared, she couldnât help but feel outraged. All she got in return for her wasted effort was harsh criticism and contempt.
Suppressing the fury within her, she pulled Evanâs plate over and tried the food for herself. The next moment, she, too, spat it out.
âI didnât add any salt at all. Why is Evanâs spaghetti soâ¦â
She turned to look at the four children. However, Juan and Kyle averted their gaze and stared at the ceiling instead. They pretended as if it had nothing to do with them.
Nina, on the other hand, gave her the side-eye with her arms folded. She looked as if she was gloating at what had just happened.
As for Maya, she was licking her lips hungrily as she stared at the spaghetti. As her eyes flashed with desperation, her stomach growled in hunger.
She picked up her fork and started to devour the meatballs after mixing them into her spaghetti.
Susan furrowed her eyebrows as she pulled over Mayaâs plate. After giving it a try, she realized it wasnât salty at all.
Damn it, how dare they make a fool of me in front of Evan. They have wasted all my effort!
She curled her lips into a smirk. âMaya, stop eating. You can continue later. By the way, your hair seems to be in a mess. Come, darling, let me help you comb it.â
Maya pondered a moment before nodding.
After jumping down from the chair, she was carried by Susan into her room upstairs.
Once the door closed, Susanâs face turned gloomy instantly. She glared at Maya and demanded, âWho told you to say that the food was salty?â
Maya fidgeted with her fingers and didnât say a word.
Earlier, Juan was the one who told her to do it, but she didnât want to betray him.
When she didnât reply, Susan suddenly pulled her hair and ordered fiercely, âSpeak!â
As the pain reverberated through her scalp, tears began to swell in her eyes. However, she quickly covered her mouth as she didnât dare cry out.
Susan had previously threatened her not to cry or else her Mommy would languish in prison forever, suffering from hunger and beatings.
Hence, she endured the pain as she didnât want Mommy to suffer.
When she still refused to speak, Susan put her on the bed and took off her pants. After that, she furiously pinched her chubby bum again and again.
It hurt so much that tears gushed down her cheeks. âMs. Susan, I know Iâm wrong. I wonât dare do it again. Ms. Susan, Iâll be a good girlâ¦â she pleaded while sobbing softly.
Susan seethed, âYou damn child. The next time you dare to prank me with the others, I will beat your bum till you scream. Also, your Mommy is never going to come out of prison! She will always stay inside her tiny cell, beaten to a pulp, just like a dog!â
Maya thought about the nightmare she had where Mommy was covered in blood. Horrified, she began to bawl aloud.
âStop crying! Youâre driving me crazy!â
At Susanâs order, Maya quickly covered her mouth and tried her best to contain her cries.
Despite her reaction, Susanâs anger didnât subside. She dragged Mayaâs hair and continued to abuse her.
When she finally saw the bruises on Maya, she was so frightened that she stopped.
She was cognizant that she would be finished if Evan was to notice them.
No, I canât beat her like that. I need to think of another way.
Taking a deep breath, she ordered Maya to put back on her clothes. She then took Maya to the bathroom to wash her face and comb her hair.
After she was done, she was worried that someone might notice Maya had been crying. Hence, she kept Maya in her room for the time being and ordered the maids to bring in some delicious food.