Mrs Williams’ voice rose to a shout, her words tumbling out in a furious torrent. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to burn me to death serving me this kind of tea?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs Williams. I didn’t know it was too hot for you,” Fulvia whispered, her voice trembling as her words spilled out in a rapid, breathless stream.

“You and you, come here,” Mrs Williams barked, pointing to two maids standing by the corner. Her eyes burned with disgust as she sneered at Fulvia. “Didn’t I tell you not to call me mother? Your own mother must have been so disgusted by you that she committed suicide.”

The maids hesitated, fear flashing in their eyes.

“What are you waiting for?” Mrs Williams screamed. “Teach her a lesson for me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes cold and unfeeling. “Punish her harshly,” she ordered.

*****

Fulvia couldn’t see what was happening, but she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. Before she could brace herself, rough hands yanked her hair back, forcing her head upwards.

“Madam, please, it was my fault! I made the tea. You should punish me instead,” Mia cried out, her voice shaking as she fell to her knees before Mrs Williams.

Mrs Williams’ lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Wasn’t she supposed to make the tea herself? Is her job just to sleep and wake up in this house?” Her eyes narrowed in hatred as she slammed her hand on the sofa angrily. “I think she intentionally did this. Wasn’t she supposed to detect the temperature of the tea before serving it?”

“I’m sorry, madam. It was really not young madam’s fault. It was mine. I should have used the temperature detector, but I didn’t. Please punish me instead. I will take any punishment,” Mia pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Mrs Williams’ eyes darkened. “Wait a minute. Who are you to question my orders? If I say she should be punished, then so be it. If you say one more word, your work here will be over. Trust me,” she said slowly, her tone cold and dangerous.

Mia rushed towards Fulvia, who had been forced to her knees by the maids. She grabbed Fulvia’s trembling hands, crying, “Madam, please, I don’t mind if I lose my job. Please spare young madam.”

Mrs Williams’ eyes flashed with rage. “Are you following her orders or mine?” she shouted at the maids. “Continue what I asked you to do. And you—” her gaze bore into Mia, “—if you don’t keep quiet, you might put yourself in serious trouble.”

Mia swallowed her sobs and went back to her line, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

*****

“We are sorry, madam. We will do what is supposed to be done right now,” one of the maids said shakily.

“Look at you,” Molly sneered close to Fulvia’s ear. “Ugly and useless.”

Fulvia’s heart pounded harder. She flinched as a sharp slap cut through the air, pain exploding across her cheek. Tears welled up in her sightless eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“Please...” Fulvia whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

“Shut up!” the second maid snarled, slapping her again, harder this time. Fulvia staggered, nearly losing her balance. She tasted blood as her teeth cut into her lower lip.

“Drag her outside. Make her kneel under the sun until sunset,” Mrs Williams commanded calmly, her words chilling. “Maybe then she’ll learn her place.”

“Madam, please, spare me. I had no idea the tea was too hot for you. I would never deliberately try to hurt you,” Fulvia whispered brokenly, her words barely above a whisper.

“Are you watching her? Aren’t you supposed to do what I asked you to do? Or do you want to get sacked?” Mrs Williams spat out, her tone venomous.

*****

Fulvia felt the maids’ grips tighten around her arms as they dragged her across the living room floor. Her knees scraped painfully against the tiles before the heat of the afternoon sun hit her skin like burning coals. They threw her down roughly on the concrete floor outside.

She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out, tears slipping down her cheeks despite her efforts to stay strong.

*****

Twenty minutes later

I can’t take this anymore... Mia thought, clenching her fists tightly. She walked towards Mrs Williams, her hands trembling as she fell to her knees and held the hem of Mrs Williams’ gown.

“Please, madam. Young madam didn’t do anything wrong. Please, I will do anything, even leave my job behind. Please spare her,” Mia begged, her voice breaking with sobs.

Mrs Williams pushed Mia lightly, but Mia’s head hit the centre table with a dull thud. “Ah...” Mia gasped in pain before her eyes fluttered shut and she fainted.

“Mia! Mia!” Roselia, one of the maids who was Mia’s friend, rushed to her side, patting her cheeks gently. “Wake up, Mia. Please wake up.”

Mrs Williams clicked her tongue in irritation. “What is wrong with her? Why is she so fragile? Suddenly fainted from a little push... was I even meant to call that a push?” she said slowly, her tone dripping with scorn.

“Madam, it’s nothing serious. It happens to her often. She just passes out if her head gets hit slightly. It’s her nature. Even if she has a slight headache, she will pass out,” Roselia explained hurriedly, her voice trembling.

“Stop. You talk too much. I ask a simple question and you start opening the diary of her life to me. What does that have to do with me?” Mrs Williams snapped. “Now listen, since it’s nothing serious, get her out of my sight and give her whatever treatment she uses.”

“Yes, madam,” Roselia replied quickly, struggling to lift Mia up.

“Are you idiots just standing there? Help her out!” Mrs Williams shouted at the other maids.

A maid rushed forward to assist Roselia in carrying Mia. Together, they lifted her carefully.

*****

“You—get me a cup of juice right this moment,” Mrs Williams ordered coldly, pointing at one of the maids.

The maid quickly rushed to the kitchen to get what Mrs Williams asked for.

“Hey, you two carrying that lady, come here!” Mrs Williams shouted after them.

Roselia and Aurora paused, glancing back nervously.

Oh my goodness, what is it again? Aurora thought miserably. Why is Mia so soft-hearted? She got herself into trouble, and now I am also being punished. Almighty, what have I done to deserve this?

“Madam, you called us back?” Roselia asked, her head bowed as they gently laid Mia back on the floor.

“Yes, I called you back. Are you supposed to be asking me if I called you back?” Mrs Williams snapped, her gaze sharp.

A maid walked in, placing a tray of juice on the table and pouring a small quantity into a glass cup. “Your juice, madam,” she said softly, handing the glass to Mrs Williams before stepping back quickly.

Mrs Williams sipped the juice leisurely, then said in a calm, almost soothing voice, “Let her know when she wakes up that her work here is finished. She should pack up and get out. She dared to talk while I was talking. To cut the long story short—she is no longer needed here.”

Roselia’s voice trembled as she pleaded softly, “Madam, please... she hasn’t got any other job anywhere. Please don’t sack her.”

Mrs Williams scoffed. “I think you would like to go with her too, right? I can grant your wish, trust me,” she mocked, her tone scornful and ridiculing.

“No, madam. I also haven’t got a job elsewhere,” Roselia replied quickly, tapping Aurora to lift Mia up again.

“Wait a minute,” Mrs Williams said, stopping them once more.

What is it again? Aurora thought bitterly.

“You seem to be her friend, right?” Mrs Williams asked Roselia.

“Yes, madam. We grew up together,” Roselia replied quietly.

“Then carry the burden alone. Put her on your back. Since you are her friend, carry her alone,” Mrs Williams said coldly.

Aurora let out a silent sigh of relief. “Thank Almighty you answered my prayers. Are you ready?” she asked Roselia, helping her lift Mia onto her back.

“You may go back to your order,” Mrs Williams said to Aurora dismissively.

“Thank you, madam,” Aurora replied quickly before stepping back to her place.

Mrs Williams scoffed under her breath. “A bunch of low-class girls... can you imagine? The first one: ‘Madam, please spare young madam.’ The second one: ‘Madam, please don’t sack her, she hasn’t got a job elsewhere.’ No wonder they’re friends—they sound exactly alike,” she mocked, mimicking their voices in derision.

*****

Ten minutes later

A car honked outside the mansion gate. The security man quickly opened the gate.

“Young master, welcome,” he said, bowing slightly before closing the gate behind Henry’s car and returning to his post.

Two maids rushed forward to welcome Henry. One carried his suitcase while the other took his suit jacket from him.

“Welcome, young master,” they both chorused.

Henry nodded absently, walking towards the mansion entrance. Suddenly, his gaze shifted to the side yard. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Fulvia kneeling under the scorching sun, her head bowed low while two maids stood guard over her.

His chest tightened with rage. He dropped his briefcase and rushed towards her. “What the fuck is going on here?” Henry roared, his voice echoing through the compound. “Why is my wife on her knees?”

“It was madam’s order to punish this ugly monster...” Molly tried to explain, her voice trembling.

Smack!

Henry’s hand struck Molly’s cheek so hard that the sound echoed like a bomb exploding.