Chapter 4
The opulent dining hall was suffocatingly quiet. The ivory candles burning in their brass candelabras seemed to cast harsh, judgmental shadows over Estelle’s luxurious burgundy evening gown. The polished, reassuring smile that usually charmed the syndicate members had completely evaporated, leaving behind a feral mask of desperation and cornered panic.
Ada Bennett stood her ground, refusing to shrink back into the shadows of the service entrance. The delicate maid possessed a quiet, unbreakable courage that defied the rigid power dynamics of the room. She looked down at the silver pillbox, then up at the terrifying mafia boss.
With a slow, deliberate movement, Ada reached out. She gently tilted the open silver pillbox toward Dominic, ensuring the bright, natural light clearly illuminated the total absence of any clinical medication beneath the striped peppermints. She then lifted her chin and met Dominic’s fierce gaze directly.
"Only candy. No medicine," Ada said, her voice remaining incredibly quiet, yet steady enough to resonate with absolute truth.
Dominic’s sharp jawline tightened. He did not yell. He reached out, his broad, masculine frame casting a protective shadow over the table, and gently took Margaret’s trembling hand in his own. The negative space tattoos on his fingers contrasted beautifully with his mother’s pale, aged skin.
"Did you see anyone handling this box earlier today, Ada?" Dominic asked, his deep voice directed entirely at the maid, treating her with a level of respect that infuriated his fiancée.
"I cannot say for certain, sir," Ada replied carefully, her expressive eyes darting briefly toward Estelle before returning to Dominic. "However, I did notice the smell of burning plastic near the study fireplace this afternoon, shortly after the pharmacy delivery arrived."
Estelle’s face flushed a violent, mottled red. "You lying little servant!" she shrieked, entirely abandoning her polished public manner. "How dare you imply that I had anything to do with this! I am the future lady of this house! I demand you fire her immediately, Dominic!"
"I did not mention your name, Miss Shaw," Ada pointed out gently, maintaining her graceful posture despite the vicious verbal assault.
"You didn't have to!" Estelle screamed, pointing an accusing finger at the maid. "You are trying to turn him against me! You have always been jealous of my position! You are nothing but a peasant who cleans our floors!"
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"I would rather clean floors than stand by while an innocent woman is deprived of her medication," Ada responded, her voice unwavering.
Dominic squeezed his mother's hand gently, his eyes never leaving Ada's face. The unspoken connection between the boss and the maid crackled in the heavy air—a mutual understanding built on respect and observation, utterly foreign to the superficial greed driving the woman in the burgundy gown.
