Chapter 229

Grace stood there, stunned.
The second Lydia walked in, Grace knew something was off. Was this really happening? Or was Lydia just siding with Tina just to make her look bad?
“So what, do I need to check in with you about everything I do in this house?” Lydia asked, her voice even colder now.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just thought they were lying to me. I mean, the ingredients are so expensive, it seems like such a waste to let them have it. You should be enjoying those things yourself.”
She was hinting pretty clearly. Lydia shouldn’t be giving the good stuff to Tina and her friends. Thıs content belongs to.net
Lydia let out a sharp laugh. “So you’re telling me how to run things? Or do you just think it’s not a waste if you’re the one having it?”
Lydia hadn’t been back long, but she’d already caught bits of gossip from the staff about Lucinda’s nanny. Apparently, Lucinda spoiled her with ginseng, fancy food, jewelry, designer clothes and expensive bags. If Grace wanted it, Lucinda gave it, no questions asked.
Last night, Lydia had eaten so much she couldn’t touch another bite. Tina had
stayed up late waiting for her, so she’d told Tina to have thesoup instead of letting it go to waste. But Tina hadn’t eaten it right away. She saved it, then split it with two of the younger maids the next morning. That’s when Grace caught them, instantly deciding they were sneaking food behind everyone’s backs.
Grace never expected Lydia to call her out so harshly. No matter what, she wasn’t like the other servants. Her status was different. But here Lydia was, putting her in her place in front of everyone. Grace could feel her face burning with anger.
“Miss Lucinda trusts me. She treats me like family. She’s always giving me nice things, just because she cares,” Grace said, teeth clenched, doing her best to sound calm.
Lydia just shrugged. “So what you mean is, Lucinda likes you, so you’re better than everyone else? You deserve the fancy food, but Tina doesn’t, even when I’m the one offering it? Is that it?”
That was exactly how Grace felt, but there was no way she’d admit it out loud. “No, that’s not it at all.”
“Then what do you mean? Or is it that when my parents aren’t here, you get to run the house? You give an order and everyone jumps? You get to decide who stays and who goes?”
Lydia’s voice grew colder, her eyes sharper. Grace shrank back, bowing her head quickly, trying to apologize. “It’s not like that. I swear, that’s not what I meant.”
“Grace? What’s happening?”
Lucinda’s voice suddenly cut through the air, tense and annoyed.
As soon as Grace saw Lucinda, her eyes filled with tears. She looked like someone who’d just been wrongly accused but was too scared to say. anything. It’s nothing. Miss Lydia was just scolding me, that’s all.”
Lucinda always trusted Grace more than anyone else in the house. To her, Grace wasn’t just a maid-shez was practically family, always by her side, always protecting her. Lucinda already hated Lydia. Seeing her picking on Grace was just too much.
“Lydia, Grace has worked for our family for eighteen years. Mom and Dad don’t even treat her as a servant. What could she have
possibly done to deserve this
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Lucinda’s voice shook as she tried to
keep her anger in check.
Lydia didn’t want to waste her time arguing with them, but she couldn’t just let their behavior slide.
“So you’re taking the side of a servant over me?” Lydia’s eyes narrowed, her voice icy as she stared at Lucinda.
Lucinda could feel how cold Lydia’s attitude was, but seeing Grace treated like this made her even more determined. She wouldn’t let Grace be bullied, no matter what.