Chapter 85: Betty’s Lesson
Bang felt like a cold bucket of water had been splashed on her as she watched Ashley pocket the bill with that triumphant smirk. Her breathing grew jagged, her eyes wide, darting between the two people she least wanted to see—or rather, the two people no one here would want to see at this hour.
Slowly, Ashley peeled herself off the wall and marched toward Bang.
For every two steps Ashley took, Bang instinctively stepped back until she found herself back inside Betty’s bedroom.
"For a little maid... you guys are surely something," Ashley remarked, casting Lucian a side glance. "See what I told you? They’re going to frame Betty for it."
As soon as those words reached Bang’s ears, her entire body froze on the spot. A part of her wished this was just a coincidence—that she could reason her way out by saying Betty told her to come here.
But with this?
THUD!
Before Bang could even think, her body reacted. She dropped to her knees, her forehead hitting the floor.
"Madam, Master, I can explain!" she panicked, her entire body trembling. "I was just here because I was told to come here! I wasn’t trying to do anything—it’s not my idea! I’m just following orders!"
"I don’t remember giving you any orders," Ashley said, rubbing her chin before glancing at Lucian. "Do you?"
Lucian fluttered his eyelashes ever so slowly, his gaze resting on Bang’s back. "No."
"Who else could give orders here aside from the Master?" Ashley hummed. "Was it Nolan? Gustav...? Betty!?"
Ashley gasped, squatting down in front of Bang. Then her expression shifted as she tilted her head, waiting for Bang to look up. The moment Bang did, her breath hitched upon meeting that pair of sharp eyes.
"Whose orders are you following?"
Bang paled, unable to blink or even look away. She tried to answer, but her trembling lips only quivered, her voice stuck in her throat.
She immediately realized that any answer other than Ashley or Lucian would kill her.
Bang lowered her head once more, her forehead hitting the floor again, already swelling. "Please forgive me, madam! Master! I was wrong and overstepped! Please have mercy on me!"
"Mercy, huh?" Ashley repeated with a long breath, pushing herself up. As she began walking away, she asked, "So, where did you put it?"
"Huh?"
Ashley stopped and looked back at her. "The one you brought in here. Where did you hide it?"
Bang clasped her hands, trying to stop her body from shaking, but to no avail. She glanced at Lucian and quickly looked away when she caught him staring.
"In the—" she stuttered, her voice shaky. "The closet. Right behind the hanging clothes."
No answer came, but she heard the closet doors open. After a few seconds of rustling, the noise stopped.
Ashley smirked as she found the bottle of bleach inside, taking it out and quickly showing it to Lucian. He glanced at the bleach briefly, but not nearly as much as he looked at her, impressed.
"Here’s what’s going to happen," she cleared her throat as she walked back to where Bang was kowtowing. "You—"
But before she could continue, the door suddenly opened. She stopped, while Lucian turned toward it.
There stood Betty.
"Madam?" Betty called, taking another second before freezing upon seeing Lucian. Her surprise, however, was short-lived when she noticed another figure on the floor.
Her gaze moved downward, her brows furrowing as she recognized the third person in her room. "Bang?"
"What... what’s going on here?" she blurted, utterly confused.
Seeing Ashley in her quarters was starting to feel normal. Betty still wasn’t used to Lucian—it was only his second time here. But why did it feel like her visitors at this hour kept increasing?
"This is what’s going on." Ashley raised the bottle of bleach, confusing Betty even more.
And so, Ashley told her to sit down, then forced Bang to tell them everything. With Ashley, Betty, and Lucian all present, Bang remained kneeling on the floor, her head lowered, her voice spilling the full truth.
The more Betty listened, the paler she became.
"What?" was all she managed, staring at Bang in disbelief. "You..."
She couldn’t even begin to fathom that they would go this far. Just moments ago, she had still been hoping those three would realize how wrong they were. After all, Betty had already believed they were behind the plantation issue.
If they had come clean, there would have been hope.
But now, she could feel her stomach twisting, forcing her to cover her mouth in disbelief.
As for Ashley and Lucian, neither of them looked surprised. Ashley had already seen this coming, while Lucian had witnessed all kinds of greed and cruelty in his life. This was nothing new.
"Please forgive me." Bang kept her head low, fear gripping her heart. She rubbed her palms together desperately, gathering what little courage she had to look up.
But the moment she did, all she saw were the sharp, cold gazes in Ashley and Lucian’s eyes. Even with the lights on, their faces seemed cloaked in shadow—only their eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Right then and there, Bang’s heart sank.
It’s over,
her thoughts echoed. I’m... doomed. What have I done? "I’ll tell Gustav to drag them away," Lucian finally said, breaking his silence as he turned to Ashley. "That should fix it."
Ashley snapped her head toward him. "Huh? Why?"
"They came from the mansion, yet they disgraced me with this," Lucian explained from his perspective. "It’s unacceptable under Dominion code."
"Oh..." she nodded, only for Bang to desperately plead again.
"Please, Master! I know I was wrong! I was greedy—I let my jealousy take over because Betty was promoted even though we’ve worked in the mansion longer than her! Please don’t kill me! I’ll repent—no, I’ll pack my things right now and live quietly like a rat!"
But her plea fell on deaf ears.
"That’s not how Dominion works," Lucian said flatly.
Dominion was cruel to its enemies, but even more ruthless toward those it deemed traitors. And this... was exactly that. Mercy wasn’t part of their code. Letting someone go too easily only meant future trouble.
Lucian had no interest in that.
And just like that, Bang understood her fate. She could only stare blankly at Lucian, knowing her life was no longer measured in days—but in hours, or even minutes.
"I didn’t bring you here because I wanted to punish her like that." Suddenly, Ashley elbowed Lucian’s side. "It’s not even a lesson for them."
Lucian frowned, only to see her faint smile. Then Ashley turned to Betty.
"It’s for her," she said, jerking her chin toward Betty. "Betty, I hope you understand this basic lesson as my secretary."
She walked toward Betty and tilted her head. "As my secretary, the only way you can help me—or protect me and my interests—is for you to be capable of protecting yourself first. Otherwise, you can’t protect anyone."
Betty’s eyes widened as she held her breath, while Lucian instinctively glanced at her, not expecting that from Ashley.
So, in other words, she allowed all of this to happen—even risking her own business—to teach Betty this lesson?
"Cheer up." Ashley lightly patted her cheek before turning back to Bang. "As for you... you’re going to set things straight first thing in the morning. Then I’ll decide what to do with you. Don’t even think about running."
She paused and elbowed Lucian again. "Or else, this guy will send his men after you—and your body will never be found. If you really want mercy, then help yourself first."
Bang could only stare at Ashley blankly, while Betty pressed her lips together, still trying to process everything.
As for Lucian, he kept his side-eye on Ashley before his lips curled upward, clearly proud of his girl.