Chapter335
Early next morning. Maureen drove Zoe to Deborah’s place.
Arriving. Zoe watched her reluctantly, swallowing countless reminders into one: “Drive carefully home.”
“Okay, will do.”
Maureen nodded.
Zoe watched Maureen’s car fade into the distance until it vanished from sight, then hailed a taxi heading the opposite direction.
“Driver, to Karaville.”
Throughout the journey, Zoe steeled her resolve.
Thompson Manor.
Upon arrival, Zoe knocked. A servant answered.
“Who are you?”
“Please inform Noelle that her former housekeeper is here.”
Anticipating reluctance, Zoe pressed a tip into the servant’s hand.
The servant returned shortly, ushering her inside.
Within the luxurious residence,
Noelle steeped tea, not glancing at Zoe.
“Why seek me out?”
Zoe scanned the surrounding servants.
Noelle dismissed them all.
Only then did Zoe speak: “I know you embezzled Mr. Ramirez’s funds.”
Noelle’s hand trembled, scalding tea splashing her skin.
“Maureen told you?”
Zoe stepped forward, closing the distance: “I’m here to demand justice for Reenie. Return the money to her–or I’ll kill you!”
Zoe pulled out a knife from her clothes, pressing its blade against Noelle’s throat.
A cold touch grazed her neck. Noelle’s pupils contracted violently, the glass in her hand shattering on the floor.
“What–what are you doing?”
Zoe pressed harder. “Give Reenie her money back.”
“I gave all the money to Raymond! Where would I get any?
Put that knife down now, or I won’t be nice.” Noelle’s voice trembled.
Zoe remained unmoved by the threat.
“How exactly won’t you be nice?
What could someone like you–who can’t lift a finger or bear any burden–possibly do to me?”
Noelle felt a sting on her neck, warm blood trickling.
“Calm down! You want money?
I’ll give it to you.”
Facing death truly proved nobody’s better than anyone else.
Zoe knew Noelle feared death, but today wasn’t about killing her.
“Mom? Why’s the door locked?
I need to talk to you.” Adrian’s voice suddenly called from outside.
Zoe feigned panic, hissing, “I’ll kill you to avenge Reenie!”
Terrified, Noelle scrambled to grab the dagger.
In that instant, Zoe seized her wrist, twisted the blade toward her own abdomen, and drove it deep.
“Ah!”
Noelle let out a blood–curdling scream, staring at her hand now coated in bright red.
Yet she felt no pain–Zoe had forced her hand to stab Zoe’s own stomach.
“You. ”
She couldn’t speak, hastily releasing her grip.
Zoe collapsed with a heavy thud. As her eyes glazed over, she murmured: “I know I can’t offend the likes of you with wealth and power. But one thing I can do… is trade my life… for your lifetime of… unrest… a lifetime without freedom…”
She knew her frail body couldn’t harm Noelle.
She’d come to spend her last breath sending Noelle to the hospital.
“You lunatic, lunatic!”
Zoe spoke again, blood trickling: “Before coming, I’d entrusted someone to call the police.”
Knocking grew more urgent outside.
“Mom, what are you doing?
Police are everywhere!
Mom, open the door!”
Adrian panicked.
Had Maureen found evidence of their asset transfers?
Inside, Noelle’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
“You–you maniac, maniac!”
Her eyes reddened.
After struggling so far, she wouldn’t go to prison. Why would this maid sacrifice her life to ruin her?
Noelle frantically wiped blood from her hands, desperate to conceal everything.
But the next instant–CRASH!
The door burst open.
Noelle saw the dark crowd outside and knew her life was ruined, all by a nanny.
Zoe lay on the cold floor, remembering what the doctor had whispered to her last night.
“Ma’am, your lung fluid has reached critical levels again. You might not last two weeks.”
Zoe had pleaded: “Doctor, please don’t tell my daughter. Let me do it.”
The doctor agreed and prescribed painkillers to case her final days.
788 Vouchers
Now Zoe realized dying didn’t hurt. She felt nothing but unbearable longing for those she cherished most.
When Maureen rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news, Zoe had only one breath left.
Doctors removed all medical equipment.
Maureen knelt beside the bed, clutching Zoe’s skeletal hand.
“Mom… Zoe…‘
“1
At her voice, Zoe struggled to open leaden eyelids.
Reenie…” Her words came with heavy breathing.
“Don’t talk, don’t talk. The doctor said it can be treated.”
Maureen’s voice was hoarse, tears uncontrollably sliding from the corners of her eyes.
“Mm.”
Zoe forced a smile, raising her hand wanting to wipe away her tears, but couldn’t lift it.
Maureen felt her movement, holding her hand and placing it on her own face.
“Zoe…”
“Good girl… don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Maureen’s eyes were red: “Mm, I won’t cry. You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine.”
Zoe was clearly hanging by a thread, having a final rally, she looked at the white snow outside: “Reenie… it’s Christmas Holidays… it’s Christmas Holidays…”
There was still a week until Christmas Holidays.
Maureen nodded: “Mm, it’s Christmas Holidays.”