Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
“Madam, they’re lying! It was Alice who shut off the power-I saw her do it!”
The accusation sent a shockwave through the room. Alice and her cohorts paled in an instant.
The speaker was Fiona, the quietest maid in the house, and it was obvious she’d had to summon every ounce of courage just to say it. Now, with everyone staring at her, she was visibly trembling.
Serena had always had a good impression of Fiona. Her expression softened a little as she offered quiet reassurance. “Don’t be afraid. Tell me exactly what you saw.”
Fiona met her eyes, found a spark of encouragement there, and drew a shaky breath. “It was Alice. She was the one who turned off the main switch. I saw her, and so did those two.”
She pointed straight at the other maids.
The two maids and Alice all blanched at once.
Alice snapped, “Fiona, what nonsense are you spouting?! If you’re so sure, show us your proof!”
Fiona’s face paled with panic-she’d only caught a glimpse by chance; she had no real evidence.
She hurried to explain herself to Serena. “Madam, I swear I’m not lying…”
“Relax. I believe you,” Serena replied calmly.
Fiona let out a shaky breath, relief flooding her face.
But Mary was far from satisfied. “Madam, what’s that supposed to mean? You’d condemn Alice without a shred of evidence?”
The other two maids chimed in, “We didn’t see Alice touch the fuse box at all. Fiona’s making it up! If you punish us for this, it’s not fair!”
Serena smiled, but there was nothing warm in her eyes. “I gave you all a chance. You chose not to take it. You want evidence? Fine. I have some.”
Alice’s heart skipped a beat, but almost immediately she remembered-she’d already erased the security footage. What proof could Serena possibly have?
Her nerves settled. There was no way Serena could-
“You didn’t really think I’d only have one camera in my room, did you?” Serena’s voice cut through the tension.
She’d known someone would try to steal from her; there was no way she’d leave things unprepared. Yesterday, she’d installed a tiny hidden camera in her room- one that wasn’t affected when the power was cut.
Serena pulled out her phone, her pale fingers tapping lightly on the screen. A moment later, a video popped up-there was Alice, holding a key, furtively opening Serena’s drawer.
Alice went sheet white.
And in the next frame, the two maids appeared in the doorway, whispering, “Alice, did you find it? If you don’t flip the power back soon, people will notice!”
Now it was their turn to go pale.
Serena arched a perfectly shaped brow. She hadn’t even watched the video before this-she’d been too busy getting her marriage license, only confirming that it contained proof of Alice’s guilt. She hadn’t expected to catch the other two as well.
“So? Anything else you want to say?”
“It was all Alice! We only kept quiet because of Mary, Madam, please just give us another chance!” The two maids didn’t hesitate to throw Alice under the bus, scrambling to beg for mercy.
Alice looked furious, as if she could slap them both right there. She turned to Serena, her voice shaky with anger. “It’s not like I was going to steal from you! If it weren’t for you-“
She stopped herself just in time, reason reining her in.
Serena lifted her chin. “If it weren’t for me what? Go on, finish your thought.” Alice’s face turned an ugly shade of purple.
She wanted to say, If it weren’t for that recording you’re hiding, I’d never have needed to steal from you. But she didn’t dare-if she did, she’d have to explain what recording, and then Mr. Salerno would never let her off the hook.
Earlier, she’d found those text messages, thinking she finally had something on Serena that would ruin her for good. She hadn’t been afraid of that recording coming to light-after all, once Mr. Salerno cast out Serena, who would care what she’d done? He certainly wasn’t going to defend her anymore.
But who could have predicted that Serena, that conniving woman, would somehow manage to win Mr. Salerno’s sympathy again?
When Alice failed to utter another word, Serena let out a cold laugh and turned to Mary.
“Breaking into the owner’s room to steal-Mary, how do you suggest we handle this?”
Mary’s face was thunderous with anger.
Alice was her daughter-how could she bear to let anything happen to her?
“Alice didn’t really take anything. Just have her apologize to Madam and let’s be done with it,” she said, her voice sharp as she turned her lined face to her daughter. “Alice, apologize to Madam. Now.”
Alice looked humiliated, her lips barely moving. “…I’m sorry.”
Serena nearly rolled her eyes. Who was Alice trying to fool with that half- hearted apology? She didn’t want to say it, and honestly, Serena didn’t want to hear it.
Did they really think a simple “sorry” could sweep this under the rug? How convenient for them.
“If I remember right, Mary, you once said anyone caught in serious wrongdoing would be thrown out, didn’t you?” Serena’s voice was cold as steel. “Alice opened my drawer. Isn’t that serious enough? Not to mention, just the price of my phone alone is enough to call the police.”
At this, both Mary and Alice’s faces blanched.
Mary’s tone turned threatening. “Madam, sometimes it’s best to show mercy. Don’t make me take this matter to Lady Margaret.”
Serena almost laughed. She hadn’t done anything wrong-what did she have to fear? What made Mary so certain Lady Margaret would side with Alice in a situation like this?
She picked up her phone. “Go ahead. Or shall I call Grandma myself?”
Mary faltered, lost for words.
Serena’s expression hardened. She set her phone down on the table with a decisive thud. “Mary, you set those rules. Don’t forget them now.”
She turned to Alice, her voice firm. “Go pack your things. I don’t want to see you at dinner tonight.”
Then she looked at the two maids standing nearby. “That goes for you two as well. Mary, make sure they get their wages settled.”
The maids panicked. “Madam, we truly haven’t done anything-!”
Alice stomped her foot, furious. “You have no right to throw me out! Mr. Salerno owns Rosewood Manor. Who are you to decide anything?”
Serena gave a cold, derisive laugh. “I’m the lady of Rosewood Manor, Mr. Salerno’s wife. Isn’t that qualification enough? Unless you’re royalty and I somehow missed the memo? Because as far as I recall, Mr. Salerno said you’re just a maid here.”
Alice’s face turned scarlet, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Enough. Go pack your things,” Serena said icily to all three.
Her gaze swept over the other servants, who stood silent and wide-eyed. Serena’s voice cut through the room like ice. “I’ll say this once, so listen closely if you work at Rosewood Manor, know your place. Mind your words. If anyone can’t remember that, then you know where the door is. We don’t keep people here who don’t respect the rules.”
Everyone understood-she was talking about those who’d gossiped along with Alice before. The servants all bowed their heads, hardly daring to breathe.
Even Mary didn’t seem to intimidate the new mistress, and she was tossing Alice out without a second thought. What chance did anyone else have?
Anyone who’d looked down on Serena before now knew better.
Satisfied, Serena concluded, “That’s enough. Get back to work.”
The servants scattered as if granted a royal pardon.
Alice stormed back to her room.
“Mom, I’m not leaving! Serena has no right to throw me out!”