Chapter 3

On the first day Samantha moved in, she immediately began directing the staff to redecorate the living room. "The couch is too dull," she said softly. Her slender fingers brushed across the leather cushions as she turned and smiled at Leonard. "Leonard, how about we change them to something in off-white?" Leonard didn't even blink. He simply turned to the butler, Neil Watts, and said, "Do as Ms. Miller says." Standing at the stairway landing, Jennifer watched as workers carried out the couch she had carefully chosen just six months ago. Yannick and Yvonne followed behind Samantha like two excited puppies, pointing and chattering. "Aunt Sam, change this pillow, too! Mom bought it, and it's so ugly!" Samantha gently patted their heads. "Alright, we'll change them all." Jennifer curled her fingers up slightly, but she quickly let go. Those pillows had been sewn by her when she was pregnant. She'd stuffed them with hypoallergenic cotton because children had sensitive skin when they were young. Now, the pillows were thrown into the trash without a second thought. Over the following days, the house grew increasingly unfamiliar. At the dining table, Samantha would sit where Jennifer used to sit, tenderly serving the children their food. Every now and then, Leonard would pour her a cup of coffee and push it toward her. His eyes would be filled with a gentleness that Jennifer never received. At night, the living room lights would dim, and the four of them would cuddle on the couch to watch movies. Yvonne curled up into Samantha's arms, while Yannick leaned against Leonard's shoulder. Laughter would echo from the room. When Jennifer walked by, no one would even spare her a second glance. She had become invisible in her own home. What made it even more absurd was that, once upon a time, the three Farons had been outrageously picky about their lifestyle. But what about now? Jennifer watched as Samantha casually tossed a ten-million-dollar Patek Philippe watch face down on the coffee table, but Leonard still wore it lovingly. She watched the children happily head to school in uniforms Samantha had just casually tossed into the washing machine, still stained from yesterday's sauce. Then, she watched as Samantha poured takeout onto plates and pretended she'd cooked it herself, yet no one exposed her. The most ridiculous part was how they spoiled Samantha like she was royalty. Leonard gently held Samantha's wrist and said, "Samantha, don't touch these heavy dishes. Your hands were made to play piano." "Aunt Sam, let me carry your bag!" Yannick eagerly took her limited edition handbag, smiling so strangely that Jennifer could barely recognize her son. Neil said, "Ms. Miller, just rest. Leave everything to us." Jennifer had worked like a servant in this house for years, but no one had batted an eye. Yet, the moment Samantha arrived, she became a princess at the center of everyone's world. Behind the scenes, the staff whispered amongst themselves. "Mr. Faron treats Ms. Miller so well. He was never like that with Mrs. Faron." "The children stick to Ms. Miller all day, too. I think the mistress of this household is about to change." Jennifer's heart had long gone cold. She stopped caring about it and quietly packed her belongings. One afternoon, Jennifer's phone suddenly buzzed nonstop. "Mrs. Faron! The children both had allergic reactions at school! The ambulance just took them to the hospital!" By the time Jennifer arrived, the children had already been rushed into the emergency room. Leonard stood in the corridor with his suit jacket draped over his arm and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. His eyes burned with cold fury. "Jennifer," he said in a low voice, barely containing the anger that was simmering beneath his words. "What the hell are you doing?" Jennifer froze. "What?" "Don't you know they're allergic to mangoes?" Leonard stepped closer and looked down at her. "Why did you let them drink mango juice?" Jennifer met his gaze. "It wasn't me! I've never bought mangoes for this household." Ever since the children had been hospitalized after their first exposure to mangoes, she had been incredibly cautious. She would constantly remind everyone not to let the kids near mangoes, and she would even carefully check the school menu every week. There was no way this could have been her mistake. "It wasn't you?" Leonard sneered. "Then who was it? The staff? Or did they just decide to harm themselves?" Jennifer opened her mouth, about to respond, when the nurse emerged from the emergency room. "The children are awake." Inside the hospital room, Yannick and Yvonne lay on their beds, looking weak and pale. When they saw the adults enter, there was a flicker in their eyes. "What happened?" Leonard asked in a deep voice. The two children exchanged a glance before pointing at Jennifer simultaneously. "It was Mom! She gave us pastries with mangoes in them!" Jennifer froze in place, staring at them in disbelief. "What did you say?"