Chapter 3
Maria woke up the next day with a headache. She stayed too long in the cold water yesterday. Coupled with not drying her wet hair, she felt light-headed.
Maria was aware that she was sick and that it would be best to rest in bed after taking medicine. However, she hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. After being tormented by Frank for so long, her stomach had stopped cramping from hunger.
Maria struggled to sit up. She wanted some water to relieve the dryness in her mouth. She looked at the empty cup and pursed her parched lips.
She would have to get used to this kind of life from now on. Compared to losing her mother, what else couldn’t she endure? Nothing!
Getting out of bed made Maria feel worse. The heaviness in her head made her somewhat unsteady.
She had to hold onto the wall to prevent herself from falling. Making her way through the long corridor, she reached the staircase, where she clutched the railing and slowly descended.
Two maids in uniforms were conversing about something downstairs. Her appearance drew their attention.
They stood still and watched Maria laboriously descend the stairs. Maria’s delicate and pale face managed to muster a faint smile as she asked, “Excuse me, where is the kitchen?”
“It’s over there,” said the sweet-looking maid, pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
The other girl with short hair, seemingly dissatisfied, looked at Maria contemptuously and said coldly, “If you want to eat, do it yourself. We don’t keep freeloaders here.”
“Karen.” The sweet-looking maid turned to Karen Ball, the short-haired maid, in surprise, about to say something when she was interrupted.
Maria interjected in a feeble voice, saying, “Thank you. I understand.”
Supporting herself on the stairs as she made her way down, she moved slowly towards the kitchen. She had to lean against the wall to stabilize herself.
The two mards behind her exchanged glances. Paige Watts, the sweet-looking maid, said softly, “Let’s go help her. After all, she is Mrs. Johnston now.”
“Paige, don’t trouble yourself. If it weren’t for her scheming, how could Mr. Johnston have married her? He already hates her. If she knows what’s good for her, she should behave and not give Mr. Johnston a reason to punish her!” Karen spoke in the direction of Maria’s receding figure. Her voice was loud enough that Maria could hear.
Maria forced a bitter smile as though she had long expected it. How could Frank let her live a comfortable life as Mrs. Johnston?
He probably had countless ways to torment her. ‘Maria, cheer up. Just one year, and then you’ll be free,’ she consoled herself.
There were plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits in the kitchen. She found a cut of beef in the fridge as well.
Enduring the pain all over her body, Maria made grilled steak but could only manage to take two bites. She couldn’t eat
anymore.
Reluctant to waste the grilled steak, she wrapped it in cling wrap and placed it in a corner of the refrigerator, planning to eat it the next time she felt hungry.
She left the kitchen. When she walked back, the two maids were gone..
Maria didn’t mind either. Back in the bedroom, unable to find medicine, she settled for drinking a large cup of hot water before lying down to sleep.
Perhaps if she slept, she would recover.
However, things did not go the way she wanted. Maria became more tired the more she slept. She tried to wake up several times, but it was as though she was bound and could not free herself.
She felt feverish and dizzy, yet there was still a trace of clarity in her.
She couldn’t die like this, could she? If she died, what would happen to her mother?
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