Chapter 6

Mildred lowered her eyes and said, "No. Like before, I only remember this past year." "No rush! At least you're home now, and that's one of the wealthiest families in Riverdale we're talking about! A bird in the house means news, and that one's got a happy song!" With that, Hermes held up his battered umbrella and stepped out into the rain. … That afternoon, Mildred slept well in her bed. She'd planned to water the plants by the door, but the downpour did it for her. At dusk, she pulled out a small bag of pills and a packet of powder from the drawer before riding the bus back to the wealthy district. By the time she stepped through the Ginger residence gates after walking from the bus station, the sky was fully dark. Golden lights outline the villa like a palace, but under the cold moonlight, that grandeur looked strangely hollow. When she climbed the stairs to her room and entered the door, she spotted Pippa's round figure fiddling with something in the corner. Mildred waited a good ten seconds before coolly calling out, "Pippa." "Oh, good heavens!" Startled, Pippa pressed a hand to her chest and turned to look at her. "Why do you walk without a sound?" "What are you doing in my room?" Mildred asked. A flicker of diffidence crossed Pippa's eyes. Then, she stepped aside to reveal an emerald-green evening gown behind her. "Mr. Kieran said you'll be attending the Luzon family banquet tomorrow, so I brought the gown over. It's all ironed and ready." Mildred gave it a glance and nodded. "Just leave it." She didn't seem too surprised or curious. As Pippa left the room, she muttered to herself, "As a stray slum, who does she think she is, pretending to be all aloof? Once we push her into the sick Luzon boy's bed, she can spend the rest of her life as a young widow!" Mildred picked up the gown and turned it inside out before peeling apart the satin ribbons at the waistline. There, she noticed the same scheme from her previous life. Hidden near the curve of her lower back was a button-sized microneedle roller. If she wore it, one tug was all it needed for the needle to pierce through the gown and into her skin, delivering its dose. In her previous life, she'd made her grand debut in the elite society of Riverdale, only to be drugged and dragged unconscious into the Luzon heir's bed. She'd almost been forced into an engagement, but she'd survived that night by revealing her medical skills and buying herself an escape. Later, Kieran had stood up for her despite all objections and even offended the Luzons by canceling the engagement. He'd made Tamara kneel in the family chapel for three days and nights until she collapsed. After she woke up, he'd dragged her up to Mildred to apologize. Back then, she'd been so absorbed in the familial warmth and blinded to the fact that her true worth lay in staying with the Gingers, not marrying out. Plus, Tamara might not have been clever enough to plan such drugging tricks alone. In her second shot at life, she'd come to see the Ginger family's true structure clearly. Tamara and the others were mere puppets dancing on strings, while the puppeteer was the wheelchair-bound Kieran, smiling sweetly and spinning pretty words as others did his dirty work. Just then, a knock came on the door. Mildred restored the dress and calmly said, "Come in." The door opened just a crack before a young maid slipped in like a startled kitten. Mildred recognized her as the first maid brave enough to ask for a gold bar. "What's up?" "Ms. Mildred, you might not believe me, but you have to run. This house isn't safe for you; they're going to marry you off to a half-dying man!" She arched her brow. "Arthur?" "You know?" the maid gasped. "Mr. Luzon is in terrible health, but the Luzons won't break off the engagement. They want the Gingers to send a daughter as per the agreement, just to give birth to an heir. "When Mrs. Luzon Senior visited early this year, Ms. Tamara was so terrified she nearly took her life. Thankfully, Mr. Adrian found her in time. I was the one who cleaned the tub, and there was blood everywhere. "Now that you're back, Mr. Kieran has suggested you take her place. I saw Pippa sneak off with one of Mr. Adrian's lab assistants carrying a pharmaceutical bottle and going to Ms. Tamara, and that's when I knew something bad was going to happen. "You have to leave! Just don't tell them I told you, or I'll be fired for sure!" Mildred asked, "Why did you tell me then? Aren't you afraid I'll slip up?" The maid scratched at her neat bun. "W-Well, I took that gold bar, didn't I? But the other maids were right; you're the real daughter, and if anyone has to go, it shouldn't be you." A soft laugh escaped Mildred. "What else did they say?" "They said you're pretty and nice, albeit a little dumb. But that's not my words! Also, they said you grew up eating raw meat and drinking pig's blood in the slums… even raw intestines!" Mildred was totally speechless. She'd just been away for one day, yet the rumors were already spreading like crazy. Then, she said, "Fine, I get it now. When this Luzon family business is over, come to me for another gold bar." "Really?" The maid's eyes went wide before she puzzledly asked, "Wait… Aren't you gonna run away?" Mildred chuckled. "I'm already on the Ginger family registry, so what good would it do? Plus, I quite like this house." "C-Can I help you with anything then? I can't take this gold bar with a clear conscience." "Actually, yes. I remember the Gingers would always have Pippa ready some supper and hangover soup after these banquets, right?" "Yes, but how do you know all this? You've been here for just two days." Mildred took out the packet of powder and handed it to her. "Add this to both." The maid's eyes widened in shock before she lowered her voice and fearfully whispered, "Wait, are you poisoning the Gingers?" "...Please, it's just laxatives." "Oh! Can I get another pack for Pippa? She always bullies me and my sister just because she has Ms. Tamara backing her up." Mildred smiled. "Don't bother. You and your sister are going to be safe soon enough." The maid blinked before bursting into a grin. "Got it!" She bounced toward the door, then turned back and asked, "Ms. Mildred, aren't you worried I'll tell Mr. Kieran?" "I know you won't, Hazel Pike," Mildred said, shaking her head. "You remember my name!" Hazel beamed. "Don't worry! I won't breathe a word!" As Mildred watched her leave, she remembered another memory from her previous life—She'd just treated Hazel's sister once, and when she was framed for kidnapping Tamara, Hazel had been the only one to testify for her. But that hadn't done much to shake the powerful Gingers. Mildred had ended up locked in the basement, only to receive news of Hazel's death in a car crash. This time, no one would die for her. … At 7:00 pm at Luzon residence the next night, the ballroom on the lower floor buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses. Upstairs, the wine room was calm and serene. "Kieran, is your family truly set on this exchange?" Margaret Pearson asked as she sipped her wine and eyed Kieran across from her. She'd summoned Kieran the moment the Gingers arrived. With none of the Ginger elders around, he had the final say on everything. Kieran politely replied, "Mildred is our blood, and marrying her instead of Tamara shows how much we value this alliance. Is there a problem, Mrs. Luzon Senior?" Margaret gave a cold snort. "Everyone knows Tamara was raised as the apple of the Ginger family's eye and is flawless in all aspects. On the other hand, Mildred spent half her life lost in the slums. She doesn't have any quality fit to be the lady of the Luzon family, does she? "Honestly, Arthur's health has improved significantly over this recovery period, so would you reconsider? Our families have been close for years, and I'd hate for a marriage alliance to come between us." Kieran swirled his wine glass with a dark, unfathomable look in his eyes. Then, he replied, "This set must be that showpiece from the last auction, right? It's melted, shaped, and refined until it's perfect. It'll only be worth every coin to those who know its value." In other words, Tamara was carefully groomed by the Gingers for years and destined to marry a first-tier man of the elites. She'd never waste her worth on a dying man. Margaret's expression hardened. "Well, aren't you clever with your words? Fine, we shall not force things then; Mildred it is!" Tonight, they'd see Arthur Luzon greeting the guests, free of his usual sickly pallor. She was certain that Kieran, who'd scoured the world for doctors to heal his legs, would not be able to resist asking for the miracle doctor who'd restored Arthur's health. By then, the Gingers would regret every ounce of their arrogance.