139: Don't make a sound or I'll make you

Don't make a sound or I'll make you

The maid froze on the spot, raising her shaky eyes to the woman in front of her. "Ma — madam?" she called in a scant breath, raising her brows as she could feel Heaven's grip on her bones.  0

"What… happened here?" asked Heaven curiously, lifting her eyes to meet the maid's eyes. "Why do you have such a huge burn on your arm?"

"Ah, that… I got into an accident when I was young," explained the maid meekly. 

"An accident?"

"Uhm. Yes." The maid pressed her lips into a thin line, assessing the curiosity in Heaven's eyes. The look in the latter's eyes compelled her to add a bit more detail. "I got it when I was a teen. Unfortunately, our house was caught in a huge fire."

"I see…" Heaven rocked her head in understanding before looking back at the maid's arm. She felt the maid's arm discreetly as she loosened her grip. "This must've hurt."

The maid didn't reply, studying what the young madam was doing. "Madam," she called quietly upon noticing how Heaven's attention never left her arm.

"Poor thing." Heaven sighed, holding the servant's hands with both her hands. "I can imagine how traumatizing that is for you."

"Madam, it's fine now. It was almost ten years since it happened. So, I moved on. Though the scars still sting sometimes, ice can soothe the pain."

"Is that so?" Heaven smacked her lips. "I surely am oblivious to our people and their stories. What's your name?"

"It's Andrea. Everyone calls me Andy for short."

"Andrea… such a beautiful name." Heaven continuously caressed the maid's hand with her thumb. 

The way Heaven looked at her compelled the maid to look down. Her eyes landed on Heaven's hands that were holding hers, watching how the madam caress the back of her hand with her thumb. 

This was strange. 

Why was the madam so caring?

From what she heard, even before she stepped foot in the mansion, the master's wife had always locked herself in her room. It took her months before she first caught sight of Heaven. But just a week ago, she suddenly changed. 

Many of the servants were glad of the progress in the family of three. Their perspective of the young madam even changed, praising Heaven for being generous. Some, though, couldn't help but gossip that the young madam probably got possessed. Or maybe the master and the young madam got into an agreement to put a show in front of the young master. 

No one knew, and all they could do was watch how things unfurl in the mansion. 

"I know an ointment to help with the scar." Heaven broke the prolonged silence, still not letting go of the servant's arm. "Maybe I can ask Dom to find a good specialist to check on your scar."

"Madam, there's no need." Andrea chuckled awkwardly. "I appreciate your offer, but it's fine. I don't have the money to -- "

"Don't worry about money." Heaven shook her head. "You are working in this house, and thus, you are a part of our family. Taking care of our people is our duty, after all."

The smile lines on the maid's face slightly faded as Heaven's eyelids drooped. It was hard to read Heaven's mind as her expression could be considered a glimpse of something wicked or her being extra affectionate. 

"How long have you been working here, by the way?" Heaven inquired, throwing off Andrea from her train of thought.

"Huh?" the maid furrowed her brows but still answered such a simple question. "Around six months…?"

"Six months, huh?" Heaven let out a dry chuckle. "You've been around me for six months, but I didn't even know your name. I was truly out of my mind back then. Fortunately, I got some clarity not so long ago."

The side of Heaven's lips curled up subtly as she noticed how this woman's pupils went wide for a moment, like a camera's aperture. "They said people change when they reach a turning point in their life. I can vouch for that."

"Madam, I don't understand why you are suddenly saying that?"

"It's just that I felt the need to explain. After all, I didn't just neglect my husband and son, but also my people. You are one of my people." Heaven let go of her arm, taking the bottle from the maid's other hand right after. "Don't worry. From now on, I'm going to be hands-on and take care of everything and everyone."

Heaven patted Andrea's shoulder mildly. "I'll take care of you as well." She smiled, nodding at the maid reassuringly. 

Andrea awkwardly nodded, lowering her head as Heaven walked past her. As Heaven walked past the servant, a murderous glint flickered across her eyes. In one breath, she turned on her heel and raised the bottle, swinging it straight at the maid's head. 

SMASH!

Red fluid dripped down on the floor along with the shards of the bottle, while the scent of alcohol immediately permeated the wine cellar. Heaven's eyes shone red, staring at the woman, looking back at her with equal surprise and fierceness. 

"Just as I thought," said Heaven under her breath, staring at Andrea's eyes as the latter shielded her head with her arm. "You truly have fast reflexes."

The moment the last syllable rolled out of Heaven's tongue, Andrea slapped Heaven's hand in an attempt for Heaven to let go of the broken bottle. But alas, Heaven's grip was tight and countered Andrea with a kick to the latter's stomach. 

Heaven didn't waste a second, swinging the broken bottle in front of the maid, splashing drops of wine straight into the latter's eyes. The moment Andrea let out a shriek at the burning sensation in her eyes, Heaven pounced on her, pinning her to the floor.

"Ah!" Andrea let out a squeal, only for her breath to hitch as something sharp pressed against her neck. 

"If I were you, be quiet." Heaven lowered her head, whispering. "Or I'll make you."

pqdm.com