“Who did this?” Varley’s eyes were already burning with fire.
“Sir, this is what happened.
Jasmine, Emily, and I came here today to clean, and we saw the young mistress sneaking out with this antique.
We called out to her, and in her panic, the antique fell and shattered on the ground.
Then she said she wanted to kick us out of the house…”
Mia vividly recounted her fabricated accusation.
The other two maids remained silent, but their attitudes showed agreement.
Varley was furious: “Sarah Sullivan, what do you have to say for yourself!”
Florence, after eating the strange meal Sarah made at lunchtime, was physically and emotionally distressed and sought comfort from her husband.
So in the vast Varley Clan, Sarah found herself isolated and without support once again.
Yet she remained calm and composed.
She looked at Varley: “They are lying.
I overheard them badmouthing Brightan behind his back, which is why I wanted to kick them out.
As for that porcelain bowl, it was Mia who broke it and then tried to frame me.”
“Sir, not so!
I have been with the Varley Clan for so many years, always deeply grateful for the family’s kindness.
How could I possibly speak such treacherous words behind their backs?”
Mia knelt down with tears streaming down her face.
Thomas Varley, who always stayed by Varley’s side, finally spoke: “Sir, Mia has always been diligent and sensible, following the rules.
I don’t believe she would commit such a rebellious act.”
Steward Varley would naturally side with Mia.
Because Mia was his young secret lover.
But this relationship had to be kept secret.
Nonetheless, Thomas was confident in speaking on Mia’s behalf because there were no surveillance cameras in the old mansion.
The Varley Clan disliked being monitored everywhere.
All security measures were outward-facing.
Having such a loophole allowed them to turn truth upside down.
Varley’s expression darkened further as he looked at Sarah.
Sarah sighed deeply.
Another damned troublesome situation indeed.
Actually, even without surveillance, there were other ways to prove who broke the porcelain bowl.
For instance, checking fingerprints.
The fingerprints on the ceramic shards would not lie.
Or by tracing the motive for the crime.
She had a Centurion Black Card with limitless credit; why would she need to steal a prized Northern Song Ding kiln artifact known to the world from a previous auction?
How could she sell it even if she did?
It made no sense at all.
But Sarah didn’t want to tangle with these troublesome matters with them.
“I’ll say this once: believe what you want.
If you don’t believe, it has nothing to do with me.”
Her tone was cold as she looked at the three maids: “So what if I stole it?
So what if I broke it? The source of this chapter is g.com.
I am the young mistress of the Varley Clan!
Anything I take from this house isn’t stealing!
Now I just want these three maids fired!”
Sarah’s attitude came across as dominant, even somewhat overbearing.
Varley and the others were taken aback.
They truly did not expect Sarah to remain so righteously confident despite all the accusations?
“Sir, the young mistress is being a bit unreasonable…”
Steward Varley was about to badmouth Sarah like before.
Sarah snapped, “Thomas, don’t mistake my disregard for tolerance.
What does this have to do with you?
You’re behaving like a stray dog!”
Then Sarah pointed at Mia: “This woman kept claiming to have a powerful backer.
I’m guessing it’s you, right?
Tell me now, how are you both colluding!”
Sarah’s words startled Steward Varley.
His marriage was orchestrated by Mrs.
Varley long ago.
Kind-hearted and never one to lose her temper, Mrs.
Varley held one intolerance—a disdain for men who abandoned family commitments.
In the past, a prominent family member of the Varley Clan was expelled from the family genealogy by her for keeping a young starlet and abusing his wife.
Later, when the starlet left him and he was abandoned by all, he deeply regretted it.
Therefore, he dared to fool around with Mia but could not let the Varley Clan know.
“I’m being wronged!
Mia and I are innocent!” Steward Varley hurriedly defended himself.
“This is a mess!
You, girl, since coming to our house, there’s not been a day of peace…”
Mrs.
Varley also arrived at the study after receiving word.
Without distinguishing right from wrong, she began chastising Sarah.
Mia and Steward Varley shared a secretive glance, seeing the delight in each other’s eyes.
Sarah furrowed her brow: “Either these three maids leave, or I will.
You choose.”
Mrs.
Varley was livid: “Are you threatening me…”
Just then, a small hand tugged at Mrs.
Varley’s clothes.
Mrs.
Varley looked down and saw it was her precious eldest grandson.
“Brightan, why are you here?
Aren’t you taking a nap?” The old lady softened her tone.
Brightan didn’t speak but raised his sketch pad.
Everyone else froze, stunned!
On the A4 sketch paper drawn with pencil were four people!
Specifically, Sarah, Mia, Jasmine, and Emily!
Set right in the study room!
Brightan’s sketch didn’t just capture one scene but depicted a sequence of four scenes. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Like a four-panel comic!
…
First panel.
The three maids whispering in the study, Sarah passing by outside.
Though only images, lacking the text or narrative bubbles of a comic.
The expressions alone show they’re definitely discussing something unpleasant!
Particularly Mia’s face, filled with malice, vileness, and spite.
It was uncomfortable, making her appear repulsive.
Art imitates life, yet is higher than life.
Brightan’s depiction of people preserved their natural traits, with fitting artistic embellishments and exaggerations.
The result was Brightan’s portrayal of Sarah not only remained beautiful but full of maternal radiance.
Whereas the three maids appeared petty, repugnant, and sneaky.
…
Second panel.
Sarah bursts in, admonishing the three maids.
Sarah appeared righteous, a symbol of justice.
Jasmine and Emily looked flustered and uneasy; Mia’s expression was trembling.
Yet her sidelong glance betrayed cunning.
Plotting something sly.
…
Third panel.
Clearly illustrated Mia herself breaking the Northern Song Ding kiln bowl!
How she picked it up, how it fell, and the parts it shattered into were all captured.
…
Fourth panel.
After the bowl shattered, Mia’s face showing pride, arrogance, and provocation!
It was her challenging Sarah!
…
The four drawings were vivid, lifelike, deeply revealing!
Who says there’s no surveillance?
Brightan’s drawings are the best surveillance!
All the schemes and plots are laid bare!
All the framing and deception, exposed to the world!
Mia turned pale as if plunged into an ice cave!
She never expected to be caught by the child thought to be a fool or an idiot!