''…..''
Those words did not lessen the smile on her Ayana's face. Rather, she simply remained seated in silence and observed the small pout on Arabella's lips. A familiar habit of her cousin who always attempted to look cute and somewhat coquettish.
Both in her past and in this life.
Whenever her cousin desired something from her, she always acted in this manner. It was a very familiar trick that had always worked on her because she didn't want her cousin to be devastated about her refusal.
Her little brother had never gotten the chance to demand something from her, yet she had foolishly indulged Arabella, both in her past life and in this life before her return.
Just thinking of her foolish acts made Ayana feel a bit humiliated at the moment.
''Your words are quite amusing, Arabella.'' Ayana replied with her unwavering smile. ''Jason is more important than anything to me in the world.'' At the mention of her little brother, her eyes softened with undeniable warmth. ''He is also the family I have left apart from mother and father. You are the last-born child from Uncle and Aunt, so you can't comprehend the protectiveness that an elder sibling should have towards their younger ones.''
In other words, Jason requires my attention and care, and he's far more important than anyone else. Who are you to speak as if you're my only family?
Arabella's pout faded and her face changed as she realized the deeper meaning behind her cousin's words.
Not only her, but Mark and Lucinda reacted slightly at her words.
Mark still remained calm and deep in his thoughts. His reaction was not as bad as Lucinda, who almost could not digest that her precious daughter was spoken to in such manner.
''Haha, I didn't expect our Ayana to be such a good elder sister to Jason.'' She forced a chuckle out from her lips. ''If I had given Bella a younger one, perhaps she could learn a thing or two.'' With that sentence, Lucinda cleared away the rising tension in the atmosphere.
If it weren't for her husband's good plan, she wouldn't be this accommodating towards a spoiled brat.
'Once you're in our custody, I'll teach you a lesson to respect your elders.' A ruthless glint flashed past her eyes.
She then displayed a warm smile, staring at Ayana with a soft gaze, like she was her own daughter.
''Ayana, truth to be told, we came to meet with you concerning some matters.'' She used the opportunity to divert the attention from her daughter and gradually leaned towards the real reasons for their arrival.
''One of them is about the housekeeper who visited your uncle about her sudden dismissal.'' She glanced at the quiet Madam May as a gesture of whom she was speaking about to Ayana.
''I understand that you must have vented your anger and grief on another. However, that should not be an excuse to dismiss someone who has been working for the family for a long time. Your parents had chosen Madam May to care for you and your brother—''
''So, Aunt is saying that I should let a murderer stay near Jason and I in this mansion, right?'' Ayana interrupted calmly. Her action might have been rude towards an elder, but she couldn't listen to those hypocritical words any longer.
This was the reason why she deeply disliked her uncle's wife, Lucinda Barley.
Apart from her elegant beauty, this woman has a reputation of being a loving wife and mother to her family. Her reputation also boosted her image as a very kind and generous woman with the heart of an angel.
However, Ayana knew that this woman was a poisonous viper in disguise.
''Ayana, it's best if we stay together as a family. You and your elder sister can also be very close to each other.''
''Ayana, Your Uncle can help with the management of the Kingston corporation. There is no need to learn business management when your uncle is there for you and your brother.''
''Ayana, why don't you enter the entertainment industry with your elder sister? You must show that woman you are not one to be messed with.''
Her Uncle might have come up with plans for her downfall and her brother's. However, his wife was the real schemer who pulled the strings for him at every chance.
She and her daughter were like two devils who whispered every word to her ears that she took as their care and affection. All of her actions were practically influenced by them in her past life.
Like a foolish puppet.
"W-What…" Ayana's words caught Lucinda off guard. The woman did not expect to be interrupted—especially not by a child.
''Ayana…'' She tried to talk once more, but Ayana wasn't having any of her words.
''Nanny has always talked about Jason's slow development, and it was very suspicious since I was much different at his age.''
''Aunt, the Madam May you're defending? She poisoned my mother when she was pregnant with Jason.'' Ayana revealed with her gaze on the stunned Lucinda.
She inwardly scoffed at the woman's act.
Why should Lucinda be surprised when her family was behind everything?
When Ayana sent Jason to boarding school and only received his corpse in her past life, it was said that her little brother had died from an overdose of drugs.
Once many had learned of this news, her dead brother was instantly labelled as good-for-nothing heir who became a drug addict at a very young age.
Then, Ayana stood over his lifeless body, devastated and confused. She had been very disappointed in her little brother, wondering how he could have gotten involved with drugs. She didn't think look deeply into the situation and only wept bitterly over his coffin at his funeral.
Even though they had been estranged as siblings, it didn't change that Jason was her only blood-related family in the world. And he just disappeared from the world without warning like a puff of smoke.
Her grief had not lasted long as her relatives and her lover, that man, had instantly cheered her up.
Now, the question was exactly how did Jason get involved with drugs in her past life?
Just like her, Jason was like a prince in a fairytale with unimaginable wealth, power, and connections at the tips of his fingers. He was also the heir to the Kingston corporation, and not just a mere young master.
Why would someone like him get involved with drugs?
Was it merely a curiosity? Was it from the influence of another? Ayana did not have a way of knowing since she had paid little attention to her little brother. She didn't even know if he had struggled with slow development in her past life.
Jason must have been a late bloomer, since he seemed perfectly fine before she had sent him away to boarding school.
"The family doctor ran a full body checkup on Jason," Ayana's voice grew colder, perhaps stirred by the bitter memories of her past life.
"The report revealed that his body contains traces of teratogen."
17:00pm & 5:00am (WAT TIME) / 00:00am & 12:00pm (GMT TIME)
Teratogen.
A harmful substance that disrupts the development of a fetus.
Her late mother had been exposed to this drug while being pregnant with her younger brother. Fortunately, her mother had what appeared to be a smooth pregnancy, and Jason was born healthy.
Or perhaps her parents might have had concealed any complications from her, given how young she was at the time.
Though, it was actually a year ago.
"Y-Young miss..." Ayana heard the shaky voice of her Nanny and turned her gaze to her. The look of shock and paleness on her nanny's face made her second guess seem all too possible.
Her Nanny must be aware of what her late mother had gone through because of that drug. Now, Jason was being affected as well.
''Aunt must know the severity of that drug.'' Ayana shifted her gaze back to Lucinda who also wore a similar expression as her Nanny.
''And you are speaking for the culprit without listening to the reason of her dismissal.'' She mocked softly, throwing a glance at her cousin.
It was just like when Arabella had complained earlier. Her uncle and his wife hadn't intervened to stop Arabella, which meant they had silently agreed with her words.
''What do you have to say for yourself, Madam May?'' Ayana locked eyes with former housekeeper who flinched under her sharp gaze.
''Mother and father would have found it hard to believe that you would bite the hands that feeds you and your family.''
The only way her late mother would have been unknowingly afflicted with such a harmful drug was through the servants working in the Mansion. Someone trustworthy and capable of carrying out the act without being caught.
That person would also have a reason of accepting bribe because of their unfortunate circumstances.
Madam May was very fitting for that kind of person.
With the help of her bodyguard Sam who had his own connections, and her Nanny's granddaughter, she was able to trace everything back to the Madam May.
According to Sam's investigation, Madam May held two bank accounts under different names. One was her active primary account, where she received her monthly salary under her real name. The other inactive account was under completely different name. An alias, which had been mysteriously funded with five million dollars—far beyond what her monthly salary could explain.
How could a mere housekeeper accumulate such wealth without a second job?
Sam had thoroughly investigated Madam May, leaving no stone unturned. There was no way she could have saved that much money from her monthly salary, especially with a family to support.
Even if she had, it would have taken years to accumulate such wealth.
The five million dollars had been deposited in Madam May's account about a year ago. How could it be a mere coincidence that her late mother was pregnant with Jason around the same time?
Her Nanny's granddaughter, Paige also mentioned that Madam May had always loved personally serve her late mother her pregnancy cravings. No one would have suspected a thing since her late mother and Madam May had been quite close.
''I gave you a letter of recommendation under the mercy that you have been with for the Kingston family for years, and also because of your pitiful situation, Madam May. It seems I was far too lenient with someone as ungrateful as you. You also dared to disturb the peace of my uncle and his family.''
Madam May must have been confident that she would have listened to her Uncle since she was supposedly close with his family than her own.
'It must have been the same as then.' Ayana briefly lowered her gaze at the thought of her past life. If Jason truly had the same problems as then, then Madam May must have betrayed her family before the death of her parents.
Through her, it would have been easy for her uncle to infiltrate the entire mansion with his spies.
''So Aunt, do you still want to defend Madam May?'' Ayana raised her gaze, meeting the sight of Lucinda. ''I could recommend her to you, since you seem so eager to involve yourself in the affairs of my family.'' She nearly laughed at the distorted expression of her Uncle's wife.
Ayana wasn't afraid of falling out with her Uncle and his family. It was much better for them to be aware of her sudden change of attitude than to be putting up the façade of false affection.
Besides, her relatives could do nothing to her no matter what. Not only was she the key to her and Jason's custody, they also had quite the number of shares to their names in the Kingston corporation.
Her Uncle would definitely think twice before trying to mess with her.
''A-Ayana….'' Lucinda was momentarily speechless. How exactly did the conversation lead to a servant's recommendation?
Her plan was for Ayana to accept Madam May as the housekeeper had been part of her husband's good plans. However, this brat was recommending the same servant to her since she was supposedly nosy.
''We can't afford to have such deceptive person, Ayana.'' Mark decided to step up for his wife who seemed dumbfounded by the twelve-year-old. ''Your aunt has always been soft-hearted to the servants. I sometimes worry that she might be deceived by them one day.'' He casted a warning glance at his wife, aware that his niece's words had struck a nerve.
To think both his wife and daughter were rendered speechless by a twelve-year-old.
'I wonder what happened?'
His niece had never behaved this distant and sharp to his family. It was the same as in the funeral.
Back then, he had assumed that his niece had not meant anything with her words. But now, he couldn't dismiss his suspicions easily like before.
Especially when she had discovered one of his schemes, which also puzzled him deeply.
Had his brother and sister-in-law's death triggered a change in his niece? Mark could sense the alienation she had for his family. The fact she discovered one of his schemes this easily….
'How did she find out?' Mark suddenly wondered. His spies had not mentioned any personnel from the Kingston corporation visiting his niece.
'The Nanny?' He suspected the Nanny, but was quick to dismiss his suspicions against her. He had investigated every person around his niece and nephew.
The Nanny wasn't someone to watch out for.
''I understand, uncle.'' Ayana flashed a small smile to her uncle who finally decided to speak up. She assumed he would remain quiet till the end. Perhaps, he couldn't watch as she easily dealt with his wife and daughter.
''Aun—''
''Spare my life! Young miss!''
All eyes were instantly drawn to Madam May who suddenly fell on her knees with on her head on the bare floor.
''Please spare my life and save my family, young miss!''
17:00pm & 5:00am (WAT TIME) / 00:00am & 12:00pm (GMT TIME)
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