Inside the Maxwell residence, the atmosphere was heavy and tense. Mr. Harrison had just returned from work, retiring to his private study to relax and go through some documents.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Madam Mary walked in, carrying a tray with a cup of tea, but her expression was far from warm. She placed the cup down gently, then stood before her husband, her face twisting into a look of deep disapproval.
"Harrison, there is something I really need to tell you," she began, her voice soft but laced with poison. "It is about Isabella again."
Mr. Harrison looked up, lowering his glasses. "What about her?"
Madam Mary let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head dramatically.
"You weren't here the other day, so you didn't see how she behaved. She came back home wearing... can you believe it? She was wearing a man's oversized coat!" She spoke the words as if they were the most disgusting thing imaginable.
"Think about it, Harrison! A young unmarried girl walking around in a man's clothes! Where is her dignity? Where is her shame?" she continued, raising her voice slightly to ensure he heard every word. "Who was the man? Where did she get that coat from? God only knows what she was doing before she came back. She acts so cheap and loose, just like a woman with no morals!"
She stepped closer, looking him directly in the eye, painting the worst picture possible.
"I tried to stop her, I tried to question her, but she has no respect at all. She walks around this house as if she owns the place, dressing inappropriately, bringing shame to our family name. Everyone in this house saw her, and they were all whispering. It is so embarrassing!"
"She is already so useless, doing nothing all day but eating our food, and now she is starting to behave like a street woman! Harrison, you spoil her too much. Look at how she is turning out... she is going to be a total disgrace to you and this company one day if you don't discipline her properly!"
Madam Mary stood there, faking concern and sadness, doing everything she could to poison Mr. Harrison's mind and make him see Isabella as a sinful, improper girl.Mr. Harrison listened to her words in complete silence. Then, slowly, he lowered the papers in his hands and looked up. His gaze was ice-cold, piercing right through Madam Mary, making her take an involuntary step back.
"Stop right there," he said, his voice low and dangerous, echoing in the quiet room.
"Don't think I am blind. Don't think I don't know exactly what you are doing to her just because she hasn't told me herself. You are only safe right now, you are still off the hook, simply because she is too kind and hasn't reported your behavior to me."
He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with fury.
"But mark my words... if she had come to me and told me everything you do to her whenever I am not around, you would have known exactly what I am capable of. You wouldn't even be standing here in this house right now. You would have been gone long ago."
Madam Mary paled, her hands trembling slightly as she stared at him in fear.
Mr. Harrison stood up abruptly, adjusting his suit jacket, his expression full of disdain.He pointed a finger at her, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"And don't you ever allow those things to repeat themselves again!" he warned sternly. "Because if you do... even if she does not come to report it to me, I will find out, and I am going to deal with you severely. You won't like what happens next."
He said it with absolute seriousness, his eyes filled with a terrifying authority that left no room for argument.
Madam Mary stood rooted to the spot, her face draining of all colour. She was completely shocked and terrified.
How does he know? her mind raced frantically. I have hidden everything so well. I made sure she was locked away. The servants in this house are all loyal to me, they would never dare tell him anything. There is absolutely no way he should have found out the truth!
She couldn't understand it. She had planned this perfectly, coming here to paint Isabella as the bad person, hoping to turn her husband against her. But instead, her plan had backfired miserably. She realized that Mr. Harrison was not as blind or unaware as she thought.
Fear gripped her heart. She dared not say another word or act rashly anymore. She lowered her head submissively, hiding the hatred and anger burning in her eyes.
As she turned to leave the study room, her hands clenched into fists behind her back. A cold, malicious smirk touched her lips.
Just you wait and see, she thought venomously to herself. You think you can protect her? We shall see. After tonight... I will make sure she is humiliated completely. Let's see what will become of her then.
After leaving the study, Mr. Harrison walked slowly towards his bedroom, the heavy atmosphere weighing down on his shoulders. The moment he entered, the silence of the room embraced him.
He walked over to the bedside shelf and picked up a framed photograph placed right there. It was a picture of his late wife, Lauren, smiling gently, her face radiating warmth and kindness.
He held the photo tightly in his hands, his fingers gently stroking the glass surface, as if trying to touch her face one more time.
His eyes filled with tears, his voice breaking into a whisper filled with deep pain and regret.
"I'm sorry, Lauren..." he murmured, his heart aching. "I am so sorry. I promised to take care of her, but I couldn't give our daughter what she truly deserves... a happy home filled with love."
He lowered his head, tears finally escaping and rolling down his cheeks.
"It is all my fault. I failed her. I am so sorry for letting her live like this..."With a heavy heart, he pressed the photograph firmly against his chest, holding it tight as if he was holding onto the last piece of her that remained.
"Please... watch over her," he whispered one last time, before slowly lying down on the bed.
Exhausted by the weight of his worries and guilt, he closed his eyes. The picture remained clutched safely in his arms as he drifted off into a deep, troubled sleep.