Wyatt listened to the housekeeper and made a quip to Gianna, âI didnât expect you to remember their names, seeing as you typically criticize and look down upon them.â
Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, âYou bought this mansion for me, Mr. Lopez. Of course I will remember their names to order them around more efficiently. Surely this shouldnât come as a surprise to you.â
âNot in the least.â He nodded in agreement with a cold glint in his eyes.
Gianna stood beside him, her heart pounding rapidly and uneasily against her chest.
She tried to reassure herself. Mr. Lopez rarely comes here, and the mansion has no surveillance cameras. I have bribed all the housekeepers, so he shouldnât know whatâs happening here.
Wyatt sat with his leg slightly propped up, sipping his coffee every now and again.
All the housekeepers who were off the clock were summoned to the mansion and stood quietly, not daring to breathe loudly. As for the few housekeepers on leave, they received a phone call from the head housekeeper to return and started arriving one after another an hour later.
The head housekeeper took a step forward and cautiously informed Wyatt, âMr. Lopez, the housekeepers are all here.â
âIs that so?â He nodded and swept his sharp gaze over them. âWho is in charge of Ms. Marshâs care on the third floor, including prepping her meals?â
Heidi was among those who stood forward with their heads bowed.
Wyatt continued evenly, âDid she start losing appetite two months ago? Was the food fresh from the kitchen, including the milk and eggs?â
One of the housekeepers answered with a quiver in her voice, âYes, Ms. Marshâs appetite has always been poor.â
âThe vegetables and meat are fresh and bought from the market every morning,â another housekeeper said, handing Wyatt the grocery receipts.
He scanned them briefly before asking, âWhat are her favorite dishes, and what does she dislike?â
The housekeepers exchanged a look and lowered their heads without answering.
âWas that a difficult question to answer?â Wyatt sneered. âDoes this mean all of you failed at your job to take care of her?â
âThatâs not the case, Mr. Lopez. Itâs difficult for us to determine her likes and dislikes when Ms. Marsh doesnât eat much.â
âThatâs right. Ms. Marsh only takes a few bites of every dish.â
âBullsh*t!â Wyatt threw his coffee cup on the ground, shattering it into pieces. The housekeepers jumped, their hands and feet trembling.
âIf it were her favorite dish, she would take a few more mouthfuls, despite her lack of appetite. The ones in charge of her meals should monitor what she eats every day and note it down. Why the f*ck did you show me a godd*mn groceries list? Is the salary I pay too little or do you all think Iâm an imbecile?â he snarled.
He closed his eyes to rein in his temper and inquired, âWho was in charge of her care last month on the twenty-second?â
No one answered.
Wyattâs eyes darkened, and he turned his attention toward the head housekeeper. âIâm paying you a lot of money to oversee the upkeep of this home, yet you donât even have a duty roster. Are you whiling your time away sleeping and eating?â
âWe do have a duty roster, Mr. Lopez. I-Itâs...â The head housekeeper was flustered. âMary, who was on duty previously, mistook the logbook for trash and threw it out. Thus, we lost last monthâs duty roster.â
âWhat a coincidence that the logbook went missing just as I requested it.â Wyatt laughed and stood up, sending a kick in the head housekeeperâs direction.
The action sent the head housekeeper sailing across the room before landing in a heap on the ground.
The rest of the housekeepers cowered, and Gianna felt tendrils of fear unfurling inside her at Wyattâs ruthlessness.
She knew that only death awaited if she said the wrong thing now.
Wyatt withdrew his leg and stated calmly, âStep forward, the housekeeper on duty on the twenty-second. None of you will get away with a mere kick if silence ensues.â
âM-Mr. Lopez.â Someone spoke up, spurred by fear of Wyatt. âHeidi was on duty on the twenty-second.â
The housekeeper pointed to Heidi, who was standing beside herself.
He approached Heidi, towering over her as he asked, âWere you on duty on the twenty-second of last month?â
âYes...â she replied, a tremor coursing through her legs.
âWhy didnât you answer my question just now?â Wyatt advanced toward her, a murderous aura emanating from him.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and her teeth chattered in fear as she answered, âI-I had forgotten about that.
After all, it was last month, and I have many tasks on hand every day.â
âOh, so you forgot about it, not that you didnât want to answer me.â He sounded sympathetic.
He slid a paper before her just as she let her guard down and asked, âDid you know the milk she drank that morning contained a contraceptive pill?â
Without waiting for her answer, he went on, âI instructed all of you to keep track of her ovulation when you arrived. Why did you have contraceptives, and why did you spike her milk with them?â
Wyatt pinned her with a hostile gaze. âWould you mind explaining?â
âI-I...â The words were lodged in Heidiâs throat under his piercing stare, and she couldnât finish her sentence as color leeched from her face.
He asked gently, âYou donât know, do you?â
âYes, yes, I donât know,â she stuttered. âI only carried the food upstairs. Maybe Ms. Marsh added it herself...â
Wyatt kicked her to the ground and stepped on her face. âShe lives on the third floor, and all of her meals are delivered by you.
Where could she have obtained contraceptives?â
âI-I really donât know, M-Mr. Lopez.â
He stomped on her face viciously and ordered another housekeeper, âBring me the cleaver!â
Heidi immediately burst into tears and stopped lying. âIt was Ms. Gianna! She told me to put the contraceptive pill into the milk!â
âLies!â Giannaâs face darkened at how she had been thrown under the bus, and she snapped, âWhen did I tell you to do that?â
She looked at Wyatt and softened her expression to an aggrieved one. âI have been nothing but compliant since moving in here.
I have never been on the third floor or had a dispute with Ms. Marsh. This housekeeper is maligning me!â
âI think so, too,â he agreed. âI let you stay in this mansion, give you a sizable allowance, and the housekeepers are at your disposal. Life is comfortable here, so thereâs no way you could have done that.â
He brought his foot down on Heidiâs legs. âDo you have a grudge against me, and this is your way of retaliating? This is all your doing, isnât it?â
She cried, âItâs not me, Mr. Lopez. Ms. Gianna told me to do it!â
âWhat a rotten character! How dare you slander your employer?â Gianna interrupted. Then, she said to Wyatt, âMr. Lopez, I hope you will teach her a proper lesson!â
Another housekeeper came back with the cleaver. Wyatt sank to his haunches and pinned Heidiâs hands on the ground.
The knife was a hairâs breadth away from cutting into her wrists.
He demanded, âDid you spike the milk with your left or right hand?â
âLet me go, Mr. Lopez, I beg you!â Tears and snot were mingling as they rolled down her face. âMs. Gianna gave me the contraceptive pill to put inside Ms. Marshâs milk!â