Chapter 22 Chapter 22
The mansion felt different that morning. The air was heavy, the silence sharp, and every maid in the house moved on tiptoe. Nathaniel had gone to work, leaving Cassandra fully in charge, and she was not wasting the chance.
She stood in the grand living room, her eyes cold as she scanned the line of maids standing before her. They looked nervous, afraid of what she would say next.
“You all listen carefully,” Cassandra began, her voice sharp like glass. “Things have changed in this mansion. From today, I am in charge here. I don’t want to hear Savannah’s name in this house again. That woman is gone, and she is never coming back.”
The maids glanced at one another but quickly looked down again when Cassandra’s eyes narrowed.
She continued, “When I wake up, my breakfast must already be on the table. I don’t care if it’s midnight or dawn, you will make sure I am comfortable. When I return from shopping, all of you will stand by the door to greet me. And when Nathaniel is home, this house must be spotless. I won’t tolerate mistakes.”
Her voice rose. “If I find dust on the floor, you will pay for it. If my clothes are not ironed well, you will pay for it. If anyone dares to speak back to me, you will regret ever stepping into this mansion.”
The maids bent their heads lower. “Yes, Madam,” they all murmured.
Cassandra’s eyes landed on the maid she had slapped earlier. The girl’s cheek was still red. Cassandra smirked. “And you… learn to keep that mouth shut. In this house, you don’t think. You obey.”
The girl nodded quickly, fighting back tears.
Satisfied, Cassandra walked slowly to the big couch and sat down like a queen. She crossed her legs and leaned back against the cushion, a smug smile playing on her lips. For a moment, she closed her eyes and imagined herself as the rightful lady of the mansion.
She saw herself hosting grand parties, her name printed in magazines beside Nathaniel’s, and the pack of maids rushing to serve her every wish. The thought made her laugh softly to herself.
One of the maids stepped forward carefully. “Madam, would you like tea?”
Cassandra raised her chin. “Green tea. In my gold cup, not the regular ones. And make sure it is hot, not warm. I don’t drink leftovers.”
“Yes, Madam.” The maid hurried away.
The others remained standing until Cassandra waved her hand. “Why are you still here? Go do your work!”
They scattered quickly, fear guiding their steps. The girl she had slapped earlier wiped her face with her sleeve, but no one dared to comfort her. Cassandra’s rules had already taken root.
She leaned back against the sofa and looked around the wide living room with its shining floors and expensive furniture. “This is mine now,” she whispered to herself. “Everything Savannah thought she had belongs to me. Nathaniel, his wealth, his power… all mine.”
She picked up her phone and snapped a picture of herself sitting elegantly on the couch, then sent it to Vanessa with a short message: ‘Balanced. The mansion is under my control.’
Within seconds, Vanessa replied with a clapping emoji followed by, ‘Perfect. Soon, the company will be ours too.’
Cassandra smirked, feeling unstoppable. For the first time, she believed Savannah was truly out of the picture, and nothing could stand in her way.