"Now, back to those maids. I can't do much with them watching me," Silva thought, opening the door to face the maids.
"I sure can mess with their heads and turn some into allies," she grinned.
"You!" Silva pointed at Fiona.
"She's the leader they all follow," she thought, offering a friendly smile.
"You're quite bold, interrupting my conversation with my sister-in-law," Silva began, her voice smooth but sharp.
"Is that how you were taught to speak, let alone speak to your master's wife?"
Silva glared at Fiona dangerously.
"And when did I insinuate it was about my husband?"
She walked toward Fiona coldly, her every step carrying an icy certainty.
"Because it seems like you have some hidden motives, judging from the way you jumped in to support my sister-in-law's suggestion!" Silva hissed dangerously.
"Yes, let the division begin," Silva thought, anticipating the other maids would start suspecting Fiona.
"I mean, it's quite a strong hint. Human behavior tends to lean toward actions like yours earlier, which suggests hidden motives!" Silva continued, noticing some of the maids being swayed, their eyes shifting toward Fiona.
"As most of your type tend to be rather impulsive when an opportunity presents itself."
Meanwhile, Fiona couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had been loyal to Christian for as long as she could remember.
"What is this lady talking a—"
Fiona's words were cut short as a chill ran down her spine, meeting Silva's slick smile, which felt like a warning.
"No, she intentionally wants to cast doubt on the rest of the maids!" she thought, glancing around at the silent, uncertain faces of the other maids.
"Damn it! What should I say?" Fiona thought, feeling torn.
"I can't apologize, or the maids will only become more suspicious of this fake suggestion she's planted."
"I can't lash out either, or it'll suggest the same thing." Fiona stood frozen, unable to immediately come up with a response.
"Oh dear, I guess my suspicions were right after all!" Silva concluded with a sly smile.
"Damn it! This lady is such a devil!" Fiona thought angrily.
"Ma'am, if I came across that way, it wasn't my intention. I was only trying to defend Master from Miss Christiana's suggestion!" Fiona said coldly.
Silva smiled, her thoughts cold and calculating.
"Walking straight into my plans."
"No worries," Silva said sweetly.
"Rather, I propose you apologize, when my husband gets back." She added, her voice turning cold. "IN MY PRESENCE!"
Everyone looked at her in surprise, especially Fiona, as her discomfort was written all over her face.
"Or else, do you want us to think you have ulterior motives, just as I suggested earlier?" Silva pressed further.
For the first time, Fiona felt the weight of being watched by her subordinates. Reluctantly, she responded, "Yes, ma'am. I'm willing to do that."
"Perfect. I'll be expecting it," Silva said, her smile sharp as she walked away.
"Our nature says otherwise," Silva thought with a sly grin. "Despite that, some of the maids will likely be wary of her from now on."
She smiled inwardly, her gaze cold. "After all, a little doubt lingers the longest."
******************************
Silva sighed as she sat on her bed, glancing at her phone. She typed a message to Asher, letting him know she couldn't meet him tomorrow night.
"I need to protect myself first and make sure he gives me my villa before I can move freely without eyes and ears around me," Silva thought, her gaze hardening.
Meanwhile, Asher read the message, his brows knitting into a slight frown.
"Well, that doesn't matter," he muttered, letting out a sigh.
"I'll meet her sooner or later."
Just then, another message from Silva popped up on his screen:
"Regarding father's last collapse, does that perhaps have something to do with you?"
Asher's gaze turned icy as he stared at the message.
"What's this?" he thought, a hint of annoyance crossing his face.
"Didn't expect her to catch on."
A cold smile curled his lips, impressed despite himself.
"She's more perceptive than I thought," he admitted.
His expression darkened again as he considered his next move.
"I need that June to finish her off before the old man dies," Asher thought, his eyes flashing with a sinister glint.
He quickly typed a message to June, informing her that the meeting—and Silva—were canceled.
"Though I intended to keep her around, she's become too sharp for her own good," Asher thought grimly.
Meanwhile, June remained grounded by her father after the incident with Silva. She simmered with resentment, biting her finger as her thoughts spiraled.
"Silva... Sil... Silva..." she muttered, her voice low and bitter. "I'll make you pay. Just wait till I get out of this mess and marry Branden."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the message from Asher. In a fit of anger, she swung her phone across the room, watching it bounce off the bed.
"Alright, calm down, June," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath as she walked toward the window. Twilight bathed the sky in fading light, and an idea crept into her mind.
"If I can't get out, then Michael might still be my perfect pawn," she smirked, retrieving her second phone. As she dialed his number, a sudden thought struck her.
"Wait a minute..." June froze, her mind racing.
"If Silva knows she isn't pregnant, why is she acting like she is?"
Her eyes widened as the realization hit her.
"What are you planning, Silva? This doesn't make sense... and if Christian knows too, why are they both pretending?"
She clenched her jaw, suspicion gnawing at her thoughts.