Independence

Miranda blinked in confusion. She wondered if Matthew didn’t have any conscience.

After dozing off for an hour, she glanced at the clock and realized it was already 8:00 am. She quickly gathered her things and rushed to the lab.

Paul noticed she was half an hour late and looked slightly off. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” he asked, surprised.

She shook her head. “Not exactly. I stayed up late.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask further questions.

Miranda slapped her cheeks lightly and forced herself to stay alert. She muttered, “It’s time to work.”

After lunchtime, she started yawning uncontrollably.

Paul noticed that and suggested, “Don’t p… yourself too hard. Why don’t you take a nap in the break room?”

Miranda was indeed exhausted and didn’t argue. So, he returned to work.

Two hours later, he passed the break room and remembered she was still there. He knocked but got no

response.

Paul hesitated before saying, “Miranda? Are you alright? I’m coming in.”

Concerned, he gently pushed the door open and saw her curled up in a corner. Her breathing was calm, and she had fallen into a deep slumber.

Paul let out a sigh of relief, then chuckled to himself. Miranda really did look like a little kitten–calm and endearing.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

After two days in the hospital, Ingrid couldn’t stand it anymore and demanded to be discharged.

The two maids couldn’t decide, so they called Hansel, but he hung up immediately. Left with no other choice, they called Evelyn.

Over the phone, Evelyn berated Ingrid, “Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. If you want to be reckless, go ahead. But if something happens to that baby, you’ll be sorry.”

Ingrid gritted her teeth but didn’t dare to argue.

In the end, Evelyn reluctantly agreed to let her leave the hospital but warned, “Don’t make this a habit. Take care of your pregnancy.”

When Ingrid returned to the mansion, the housekeepers, who had enjoyed two peaceful days, groaned because the troublemaker was back.

Martha, especially, was not thrilled.

When Ingrid came home, Martha, who had napped in the utility room, looked utterly defeated. “I was just resting.”

T

Ingrid had barely made it home before the family doctor, arranged by Evelyn, showed up. He strictly outlined her daily schedule and even designed a special diet, which was nothing but bland food. She wanted to rebel but didn’t have the nerve to call Evelyn

“I want to go out now!” Ingrid shouted at the maids to vent her frustration.

Soon, the driver arrived, and Ingrid got into the car, followed by the two maids.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ingrid asked.

“Mrs. Johnson said we are to stay by your side at all times to ensure your safety and the baby’s,” Eleanor

said.

Ingrid was furious upon hearing that.

She ordered the driver to stop at the mall, stormed inside, and started swiping Hansel’s supplementary card for anything expensive she wanted–clothes, bags, everything she usually wouldn’t splurge on.

She handed all the shopping bags to the s. “Aren’t you supposed to stay by my side? Keep it up!”

The maids, groaning inwardly, had no choice but to follow. Their arms were full of shopping bags. At that moment, they wanted to say, “Martha, we feel for you.

Meanwhile, Hansel listened to the department manager’s quarterly report in the conference room. His phone kept buzzing nonstop on the table.

Everyone in the room cast curious looks his way.

Hansel glanced at his phone and saw a flood of transaction alerts.