Chapter 69: So what?

Chapter 69: So what?

Gwen leaned against the door casually, like she had all the time in the world. Her long hair fell over her shoulder, and she wore that expression she always carried, the pretty, cold, and careless expression.

“Don’t stop,” Gwen said. “Finish what you were saying.”

Lorrine jumped like she’d been slapped. She stumbled back, bumping into the counter.

Yvonne stared at Gwen, her jaw tightening. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here,” Gwen answered smoothly. “Same as you, only that this is my house.” She crossed her arms, her eyes sliding to Lorrine like she was looking at a bug. “Go on then. Tell her.”

Lorrine’s breathing got worse. Her eyes darted between Yvonne and Gwen.

Yvonne stepped in front of Lorrine protectively. “Why does she look like this? What did you do?”

“Me?” Gwen raised her brow like the accusation amused her. “I didn’t do anything. But she was about to tell you something very interesting. And I’d love to hear it too.”

Lorrine shook her head violently. “Please… please don’t make this worse.”

Gwen smirked. “Worse? Sweetheart, I haven’t even started.”

Yvonne snapped, “Back up, Gwen. Whatever this is, stay out of it.”

Gwen laughed quietly. “Stay out? Yvonne, you have no idea how deep in it I am.”

Lorrine squeezed her eyes shut like she wanted to disappear.

Yvonne turned back to her. “Lorrine, what did she do to you?”

“N-nothing,” Lorrine whispered.

“Don’t lie to me!” Yvonne snapped.

Gwen tilted her head. “She’s not lying. I didn’t do anything. I just gave her a choice.”

Yvonne’s stomach dropped. “What kind of choice?”

“The type people make when they want to keep their jobs,” Gwen said smoothly.

Lorrine covered her mouth and sobbed harder.

Yvonne stared at Gwen like she was looking at a monster. “You made her put something in Audrey’s food?”

Gwen didn’t even blink. “If she wants to say that, I’d like to hear it from her mouth. Lorrine, tell her. Did I force you? Or did you take what I gave you because you didn’t want to lose your paycheck?”

“Stop,” Lorrine whispered, shaking her head. “Please stop.”

“Tell her,” Gwen insisted, her tone sharp.

Yvonne moved again, blocking Gwen’s line of sight toward the maid. “She doesn’t have to tell you a damn thing.”

Gwen laughed. “You think you’re protecting her? If she talks, she’s done. If she doesn’t talk, she’s still done. Either way, you’re talking to the wrong person. You’re acting like she’s the victim.”

“She is the victim,” Yvonne snapped.

Gwen scoffed. “Please. She put the stuff in the food herself. I didn’t hold her hand. I didn’t drag her to Audrey’s room. I didn’t feed Audrey the damn plate. She did all that on her own.”

Lorrine cried harder.

Yvonne turned to her again, softer now. “Lorrine… what was it? What did she give you?”

Lorrine swallowed. “She said… it wasn’t deadly. That it would just… make Audrey tired. Slow her down a little. She swore it wouldn’t hurt her.”

“And you believed that?” Yvonne asked, her voice cracking with anger and disbelief.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” Lorrine whispered. “I didn’t want to lose my job.”

Gwen lifted her chin smugly. “There you go. Truth in her own words.”

Yvonne glared at Gwen. “You’re insane.”

“No,” Gwen said calmly. “I’m realistic.”

The room went silent for a moment. Only Lorrine’s shaky breathing filled the space.

Then Yvonne spoke, her voice low. “Does Tennessee know?”

Gwen smirked. “If he knew, I’d be dead by now. So no.”

Yvonne looked at Lorrine. “I need to tell him.”

Lorrine shook her head so fast her hair flew. “No. No, please. He’ll kill me. He’ll actually kill me.”

Gwen folded her arms. “You see? She doesn’t want to talk. So let’s stop pretending like this conversation is going anywhere.”

Yvonne stepped closer to Gwen, her voice dropping into a cold tone. “You think nobody’s gonna find out?”

Gwen shrugged, bored. “People find out what I let them find out.”

Yvonne stared at her, disgusted. “You’re sick.”

“And you talk too much,” Gwen replied. “You wanna help Audrey? Go back upstairs. The doctors told you to stay with her. Why are you down here interrogating my maid?”

“She’s not your maid,” Yvonne spat.

Gwen lifted a brow. “Could’ve fooled me.”

The tension in the room felt dangerous now. Heavy. Like something in the air was about to crack.

Lorrine wiped her face again. She looked empty, like she was standing in the wreckage of her own decisions and didn’t know how to escape.

Yvonne finally grabbed her arm. “Come with me. You’re not staying down here with her.”

Gwen chuckled under her breath. “Run all you want. It won’t change a thing.”

Yvonne ignored her and led the trembling maid toward the door.

Before they stepped out, Gwen spoke again.

Her voice was soft, but it carried across the room like a blade.

“Make sure you think very hard about who you’re planning to confess to. Because once you open your mouth… there’s no going back.”

Lorrine froze again.

Yvonne pulled her forward. “Lorrine, I am very mad at you but let’s go.”

The kitchen door opened, they stepped out. The door shut behind them.

Gwen smiled.