Chapter 126 Maid Outfit
"Isn't that kind of... much?" Zoey looked startled. She wasn't the type to use underhanded tactics to get what she wanted.
Amelia smiled. "You won't know unless you try. What if he says yes?"
Zoey laughed. "Okay, I'll give it a shot."
She was just humoring Amelia. There was no way she'd actually send photos like that to pressure Charles.
Watching from the side, Matilda couldn't help smiling. If Zoey really did become Charles's wife, Amelia would definitely favor her and keep finding new ways to make Matilda's life hell. Everyone had their own fate, she supposed.
But she couldn't bring herself to be jealous of Zoey. Who wouldn't like a sweet, genuine heiress like that?
At noon, Matilda got a message from Ethan: [Matty, Happy New Year. I'm back in Phoenix City.]
Ever since Ethan had fallen for Carol, Matilda considered him a good friend. Seeing his message made her happy, and she immediately called him.
"Ethan! You're back. What about Carol? Did she come with you?"
Ethan was silent for a moment. "No."
"She wouldn't come back with you? Or is she planning to come later?"
"She said she hasn't figured things out yet. Told me to come back first. If she works through it, she might come. If not..." He trailed off.
"How long?"
Ethan laughed bitterly. "She said six months. If I don't have a new girlfriend in six months, she might come find me. If she doesn't, I should find someone new."
"Give her some time. I really think she'll come to you. You're an amazing person, and her late husband has been gone a long time. She needs someone."
"I guess that's all I can do."
Because Zoey was around, Amelia didn't harass Matilda—she didn't want to scare the girl off. Plus Zoey seemed like the justice-warrior type who'd definitely intervene if she saw Matilda getting bullied.
But Amelia had brought Matilda back specifically to make her give up and leave. So when Amelia went to visit relatives, she didn't take Matilda along, just left her home to keep Zoey company.
Zoey picked up on the vibe. "Matilda, does Amelia not really like you?"
Matilda smiled. "It's normal. Not everyone's going to like me."
"But Wentworth likes you, and that's what matters. Unlike me—Amelia liking me is useless if Charles doesn't. Matilda, if I ever become your sister-in-law, I'll totally have your back. I promise."
Matilda smiled. "I can take care of myself. You just worry about you."
She was putting up with this because Amelia hadn't crossed her line yet. If that happened, she'd fight back. Who was afraid of who?
The next morning, the household staff and chef returned, and the Gonzaga estate finally felt a little livelier. Then Amelia made an announcement. "Tomorrow we're hosting a New Year's party."
Jessica lit up. "Yes! I love parties."
Zoey got excited too. "Oh, I know about these! I came to one with my dad last year and accidentally let Charles's husky loose. That was hilarious."
Amelia remembered. "That was you?"
"Yep, that was me! That's when I fell for Charles."
Amelia laughed. "I only knew some reckless girl had unclipped the dog's leash and it ran all over the place, freaking out half the guests. I had no idea it was you. I guess that's fate."
Jessica hadn't been there last year and kept pressing for details. The two of them got all animated talking about it.
Matilda was completely left out of the conversation. She smiled to herself. See? If you liked someone, everything they did was charming. If you didn't, everything was wrong.
After their chat wound down, Amelia suddenly turned to Matilda. "Matty, tomorrow at the party, you'll need to help entertain guests."
Matilda's heart sank. Entertain guests—in what capacity? If it was as a Gonzaga daughter-in-law, that meant Amelia acknowledged her. But Amelia hadn't specified.
Only Zoey seemed happy for Matilda. "Matilda, you have to dress up super pretty tomorrow!"
Before Matilda could respond, Amelia said, "Cathy will bring her outfit to her room tomorrow morning."
Matilda nodded, but she had a feeling this wasn't going to be simple.
Sure enough, the next morning Cathy knocked on Matilda's door early. The moment Matilda opened it, Cathy shoved an outfit at her. "Put this on and go help set up."
Matilda looked at the clothes in her hands—blue and white, identical to what Cathy was wearing. A maid's uniform.
So that was the plan. She was supposed to attend as staff. Of course.
Amelia would never make things easy for her.
"Mrs. Gonzaga said everyone works for the Gonzaga family—the position doesn't matter. You're new here and don't know the protocols, so she can't bring you out to meet guests. This is for your own good. You wouldn't want guests thinking the Gonzaga family married some clueless woman, would you?"
Cathy was basically gaslighting her.
Matilda smiled. "She really is looking out for me. Don't worry, I'll wear it."
She closed the door and took a deep breath. For Wentworth, she'd keep enduring this.
Downstairs, the setup was already underway. Wearing the maid's uniform with a mask, Matilda helped out. She tried to console herself—maybe this was actually better. She really didn't know how to entertain high-society guests anyway. Meeting them would just make her anxious.
After adjusting her mindset, the work didn't feel so bad. Someone taught her which glasses to use for different wines, how clean they needed to be, how to cut fruit so it looked neat and pretty... She was learning something, at least.
While she was working, Cathy appeared again. "Today besides our regular Gonzaga family staff, we've hired some temp workers too."
Matilda didn't know why Cathy was telling her this. "Whatever you guys decide is fine."
Cathy smiled. "Among the temp workers, there's someone you know."
"Someone I know?"
Cathy pointed to several temporary workers cleaning the venue in the distance. "Over there."
Matilda looked. One of them was wearing a mask, but she'd recognize that person anywhere.
It was Brianna.