Chapter 1065



Kallie reached out and squeezed Sophie’s rosy cheek gently. Her voice carried a playful lilt, though an undercurrent of longing softened her words.

“Sophie, can you tell me more about your childhood? I want to know everything.”

Sophie’s eyes lit up like a thousand tiny stars, her radiant smile spreading warmth.

“Really? Of course, Mom. I’d love to.” Their voices danced together as they walked away, hands clasped tightly. Each laugh and shared memory wove a comforting cocoon around them.

Meanwhile, Lacey sat slumped on the cold floor, her arm smeared with drying blood. She looked around, her eyes catching the indifferent stares of the household staff. Not one stepped forward to assist her. Not one.

With trembling limbs, Lacey forced herself upright, her movements clumsy and painful. The bitterness in her heart spilled out in a sharp, venomous shout.

“What the hell are you staring at? Get back to work!”

The servants exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of amusement, before they turned and walked away.

Lacey’s chest rose and fell, her anger crackling like an exposed wire. To her, these servants were nothing but a bunch of fools. She wasn’t here to wallow in pity or sow discord between Jake and Sophie.

When her rage simmered down, a slow, malevolent smile stretched across Lacey’s lips. They would soon learn the consequences of crossing her. Kallie. Those insufferable kids. Every last one of them.

That evening, Lacey arrived at dinner, her right hand heavily swathed in bandages. The injury was impossible to miss.

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․𝒸оm hosts thrilling adventures Noting Lacey’s bandage, Jake frowned. He couldn’t afford to dismiss it—not when Elma’s recovery depended on Lacey’s skilled hands.

“What happened?”

Sophie, seated nearby, froze mid-bite, a wave of unease coursing through her.

Lacey glanced down, her demeanor suddenly meek, as if weighed down by her own admission.

“I had a little accident today,” she murmured, her tone carefully measured.

“I hurt my hand pretty badly. I won’t be able to do much for Elma—no injections, no treatments—for the next few days.” Jake’s brow furrowed deeper.

Kallie was caught off guard. She had expected her threats to rattle Lacey, but not to the extent that Lacey would take full responsibility without a fight. A sarcastic quip? A veiled jab to pull Sophie into the mess? That was more in line with what Kallie anticipated. But this meek demeanor? It gnawed at Kallie, leaving a prickling unease she couldn’t quite shake.

Jake sighed as he processed Lacey’s explanation.

“How long until your hand heals?” he asked, his tone practical, almost clinical.

“If you need time to recover, I can arrange for a few days off. But Elma’s health can’t wait, so I’ll need to find someone else to step in.”

The words were reasonable, but the undertone was unmistakable: Lacey was replaceable.

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