Chapter One Night in The Ancestral Hall
Chapter 9 One Night In The Ancestral Hall
Beatrice’s eyes flashed with resentment, but she forced a smile, stepping toward Annabel. “Annabel, are you heading out?”
“Yeah,” Annabel said, glancing at Beatrice’s stomach with a small, mysterious smile.” Beatrice, take it easy. Hope you have the White family heir soon.”
Beatrice’s face went pale, the words hitting hard.
Annabel’s smile vanished, her face blank as she walked out.
Beatrice stood by the door, her expression twisted, watching Annabel leave. She slowly relaxed her clenched fist.
Her mind fumed. ‘What a jerk.‘
She turned to the living room but stopped dead when she saw someone coming. “Charles, what are you doing here? I…” Beatrice said, her voice shaky.
Charles, his face stormy with rage, brushed past her like she wasn’t even there.
First Annabel’s jab, now Charles ignoring her–Beatrice shook with anger, her hands trembling.
“Mom?” someone called out.
Beatrice jolted awake. She saw Lillian, looking messy, coming from the room Charles coming out. Her expression shifted.
“Lillian, you… you and Charles…” she stammered, her voice tight with shock.
Lillian scrambled to fix her clothes, panicking. “No, Mom, you’re wrong–nothing happened with me and Charles.”
She fixed her messy clothes and then ran upstairs.
Beatrice watched Lillian’s frantic escape, suspicion growing in her eyes.
Lillian hurried to her room, her chest tight with anger as she thought about the day’s humiliations.
When she passed Annabel’s room, she saw only a maid cleaning.
“Where’s Annabel?” Lillian asked sharply.
The maid flinched, bowing fast. “She went out. She told us to clean everything,” she said nervously.
“Really?” Lillian’s eyes darted to the computer on the desk, a dark look crossing her face. “Hurry up then–my room’s a Successfully unlocked!
“Yes, Miss,” the maid said, nodding.
Chapter 9 One Night In The Ancestral Hal
With Lillian watching, the maid finished and moved to her room.
When she left, Lillian sneaked back into Annabel’s bedroom.
Her plan was simple: get into the computer. But it had a password.
She tried a few birthdays, but none of them worked. Lillian frowned, ‘Annabel, always on that laptop, must be hiding something big.
A nasty smile spread across her face.
She grabbed a glass of water from the bathroom and poured it slowly over the powered–on computer.
“Hiss–crack.” The screen went black. Pleased, Lillian walked out.
She didn’t notice the door shut behind her as sparks shot from the computer, black smoke curling up.
Annabel was out to pick up Walter. For some reason, she parked outside and waited.
Walter came out with an older woman, sharp–looking despite her age, her eyes bright.
They said goodbye, and Walter got in the car. Annabel stayed quiet, stealing a glance
or two.
Walter’s face looked heavy, weighed down by worry. Annabel hadn’t seen this face of his in a while.
A few minutes later, they arrived home.
Annabel walked in and heard Lillian’s sharp voice. “Tell me! Who spilled water on Annabel’s laptop?”
The voice and the word “laptop” caught Annabel’s attention.
Annabel frowned, stepping into the living room. A group of maids knelt on the floor, heads down.
Walter, noticing the noise, frowned. “What’s happening?”
Lillian jumped at the chance, rushing to him. “Grandpa, someone poured water on Annabel’s laptop. I smelled it just in time, or it could’ve caused a fire.”
Walter’s face darkened, slamming his cane on the floor. “Who did it? Should I call the police?” he asked, his voice firm.
The maids whimpered, some crying quietly, but no one spoke.
Lillian’s face twitched, her voice careful, like she was testing the waters. “Grandpa, it was probably a maid being careless. Calling the police might make people gossip. Not a good idea.”
Victor and Beatrice, who’d been watching, spoke up to calm Walter.
It was just a maid’s mistake; no need to make a big deal.
2/4
Chapter 9 One Night In The Apenetraitiali
“Grandpa, it’s okay,” Annabel said, her voice clear as everyone turned to her. She gave a small smile. “I know how to figure out who did it.”
Walter raised an eyebrow. “Oh?“.
Annabel walked to the living room TV, moving slowly and deliberately. Lillian felt uneasy, as this seemed too familiar,
“I have a hidden camera in my room,” Annabel said calmly, her fingers working the
controls.
The screen flickered on, showing Lillian White sneaking into Annabel’s bedroom. She touched the laptop, grabbed water from the bathroom, and poured it over the keyboard.
“I…” Lillian stuttered, panic gripping her as everyone stared. Her voice shook. “It wasn’t like that I thought Annabel’s computer was dirty and tried to clean it.”
Annabel’s smile was sharp, almost taunting. “So I should thank you for wrecking my laptop, nearly causing a fire, and making everyone kneel while you scolded them?”
The words hit hard, leaving Lillian pale and unsteady.
Beatrice hurried to support her, her voice full of worry. “Annabel, Lillian didn’t mean harm–it’s just a laptop. I’ll buy you as many as you want tomorrow.”
Annabel let out a cold laugh.
Beatrice’s words were clever–defending Lillian’s excuse while subtly blaming Annabel, mocking her for making a big deal.
Victor, clueless as ever, nodded along, frowning. “Annabel, don’t blow this out of proportion–family matters more than a damn laptop.”
Annabel’s eyes scanned them–Lillian, acting innocent; Beatrice, pretending to be fair; Victor, doting on the two.
Family? She had no family here.
They were the real family.
Walter White saw Annabel’s silence, her icy glare at Victor and the others.
Worried she’d give up, Walter snapped. “You fool. Look at Lillian. Blaming maids for her own mess. What’s next, pinning a murder on Annabel?”
Victor shouted back, his voice booming. “Dad, Lillian’s a sweet little girl! She’d never do that!”
Lillian’s tears flowed, her voice cracking. “Grandpa, I didn’t mean it. Annabel, please don’t be mad. I’ll apologize…”
She started to kneel, but Annabel stopped her with a quick nudge of her foot, making Lillian stand.
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Chapter One Night In The Ancestral Hall
I
“Don’t,” Annabel said, her eyes cold. “I don’t want your parents saying I bullied you.”
Victor bristled at her sharp tone. “Annabel, are you going to keep this up forever? I’ll-”
His words turned into a pained yelp.
Walter raised his cane, ready to hit again, his voice thundering. “No father’s this blind. I don’t need a ‘sweet‘ granddaughter like Lillian–send her away to the countryside now.”
“No way,” Beatrice and Victor said together, their voices sharp.
The countryside was home to the White family’s distant relatives, a tough place. Lillian, spoiled and soft, wouldn’t last there.
Lillian dropped to her knees with a thud, sobbing. “Grandpa, hit me–please, just don’t send me away. I can’t leave Mom and Dad.”
Walter’s head pounded, his patience gone. He looked at Annabel. “Annabel, what do you think?”
Annabel met Lillian’s eyes, spotting the jealous hatred flashing in her rival’s gaze. She paused, then spoke. “Since Lillian’s so eager to kneel…”
“Let her kneel in the ancestral hall for a night,” she said, her voice calm.
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