Chapter 3
After that meal, Mrs. Shields became distant towards Jules, no longer as close as she had been initially. It was as if something now stood between them. This brings us to the results of the investigation into Mrs. Lewis. Upon searching, they found Mr. Shields‘ discarded undergarments in the room assigned to Mrs.
Lewis at the Shields‘ residence.
It’s unclear how the Head Cook Mrs. Lewis had managed to obtain them.
Oh, and there were numerous secretly taken photos of Mr. Shields as well. Her phone’s memory was nearly full, clearly showing the extent of her obsession with him.
How could Mrs. Shields not be furious upon discovering this?
There’s a saying that fits well here.
When you spot one cockroach, it usually means there are many more hidden in the
house.
In her anger, she thoroughly investigated everyone working in the Shields household, including many long–time employees like Mrs. Lewis who had been with the family for years.
The results were far from satisfactory. Besides those coveting Mr. Shields, there were some harboring secret desires to “accidentally” encounter the Eldest Brother and Second Brother, attempting to create a “love around the corner” scenario. Others were trying to bring their daughters or nieces to spark young romance with
the Rebellious Brother.
Their methods were diverse, each scheme more unique than the last.
Mrs. Shields, suppressing her rage, replaced every servant in the Shields. household. Even the butler wasn’t spared.
As for Mr. Shields…
He was also displeased with his wife. He didn’t expect Mrs. Shields to be career- driven; he only wanted her to manage the home front well, providing him a place to relax both body and mind.
Who could have imagined Mrs. Shields would mismanage such a grand household
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like the Shields‘? It was as full of holes as a sieve, hiding a horde of unsavory characters! In the end, he even had to worry about his own chastity!
In his resentment, he started coming home even later…
Of course, all of this had nothing to do with me, newly arrived at the Shields. I was just a caring daughter helping her mother defend Dad’s innocence!
How could I be at fault for exposing the hidden dangers in the household early? For the next month, I truly enjoyed the luxurious life of the wealthy.
Mrs. Shields, in an effort to get closer to me, took me to various high–end venues and hired instructors to teach me music, horseback riding, and other skills essential for high society.
As the start of school approached, I followed Mr. and Mrs. Shields wishes and transferred to a private elite high school, where my classmates were all from wealthy or noble families.
However, my classmates‘ attitudes towards me weren’t particularly friendly. I calmly wrapped the insect carcass in a tissue and tossed it into the trash can. Jules was surprisingly popular at this school, even having a fan club with numerous admirers.
I knew that if I didn’t take action soon, the young masters and misses who found my reactions underwhelming would surely escalate their “pranks.”
So, on a new day, I brought an enlarged human anatomy chart and spread it out on my desk.
Due to its large size, the chart showed internal organs in great detail, complete with intricate blood vessel networks.
The vivid red coloring made for quite a striking visual impact at first glance. My desk mate was a member of Jules‘ little clique. Usually, she was reluctant to speak with me, but this time my behavior exceeded her expectations. She tried to hold back but couldn’t resist asking. “What are you doing w chart? Isn’t it creepy?”
ing with that
A hint of contempt played at the corners of her mouth as she continued, “Don’t tell
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me you’re planning to become a doctor. You’re from the countryside, do you even have the grades for that?”
Engrossed in studying the chart, I replied offhandedly. “I’m not planning to be a doctor. It’s just that your methods against me seem to be escalating, so I’m making
some preparations.”
My bluntness apparently caught her off guard, causing her to stammer, “W–what kind of preparations?”
I smiled at her kindly, my voice dripping with sweetness, “You kids, while studying. you should also pay attention to current events, you know?”
I tapped and clicked on my phone, then showed her a news article.
The headline was in bold: Man Stabbed Over Twenty Times, Each Stab Avoiding
Vital Organs, Classified Only as Minor Injury.
My desk mate’s pupils dilated in shock. She looked up abruptly, glancing between me and the anatomy chart, then back again. Her mouth opened and closed, too stunned to speak.
After a while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence, barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz, “T–that’s illegal!”
“Weren’t you all planning to bully me? It doesn’t make sense that you can bully me, but I can’t fight back.”
“W–when did we ever bully you?”
“What about the dead insects on my desk these past few days? Don’t tell me they were your pet bugs that came here specifically to commit suicide? If so, it seems my spot must be quite the auspicious location!
I’ve never been one to back down from a verbal sparring match, and now I was mercilessly firing away at my speechless desk mate.
“We both know whether it’s bullying or not. If things escalate, I’ll take appropriate measures to protect my personal safety.”
I glanced at the anatomy chart from the corner of my eye and continued nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, I’m a quick learner. I should be able to achieve the
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‘minor injury‘ accomplishment, right?”
The slight questioning tone in my voice nearly broke my desk mate. She looked at me as if I were a terrorist, as though I might pull out a knife and start
demonstrating at any moment.
People value their lives, especially these pampered heirs and heiresses who
consider their lives extremely precious.
My desk mate’s voice trembled involuntarily, “Y–you’re not afraid of having to
answer to Uncle Shields for this?”
“Answer for what? Why should I explain something that hasn’t happened? Besides, what I do next depends on you all, doesn’t it? If you behave, we can all coexist peacefully!”
I mimicked Jules‘ pure, innocent smile.
Under my gaze, my desk mate became even more nervous. She stood up and darted out of the classroom, her face full of urgency.
Watching her retreating figure rush away, I calmly opened my textbook to prepare for the upcoming lesson. Unexpectedly, a soft chuckle came from beside me.
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