Independence

The night was dark and quiet. The only sounds were the keyboards tapping and the handling of lab equipment.

Paul glanced over to see Miranda diligently recording data. The light illuminated her face and cast a faint shadow from the bridge of her nose.

He had always worked late alone, sometimes even pulling all–nighters. But now, he had someone keeping him company. It felt strange and yet oddly fascinating.

By the time they left the lab, it was already early morning. They exchanged goodnights when they reached. the apartment building, and Miranda headed Inside first.

Paul watched her slender figure disappear into t‘ standing in the hotel lobby earlier as if she had ju… slender waist and fair skin, then snapped out of it.

partment. He recalled her wearing a dress and stepped out of a romantic film. He thought of her

He cursed himself and quickly turned to enter his apartment. If he stayed out a second longer, his flustered expression would be impossible to hide.

After showering, Miranda fell asleep immediately.

Meanwhile, Ingrid tossed around under the same night sky and couldn’t fall asleep. It was already 2:00 am, and Hansel still hadn’t returned.

The harsh words from Evelyn earlier that day have lodged in Ingrid’s mind. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Eventually, she got out of bed in her nightgown and left her bedroom. The villa was empty and dark, with no single person in sight.

“Where is everyone? Where did they go?” she yelled. “Get out here, now!”

The two malds were sleeping soundly in the middle of the night when they heard Ingrid shouting. Thinking something urgent had happened, they quickly jumped out of bed and didn’t even bother to put on their dressing gowns.

“Ms. York, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” one of the maids asked. “Do you have a stomach ache? Should we call a doctor?”

Ingrid stood there with a cold expression. “You two are sleeping like pigs. Are you here for your comfort. or to take care of me and the baby?”

The maids were dumbfounded. What else would they be doing besides sleeping in the middle of the night? If Ingrid wasn’t going to sleep, why shouldn’t they? It felt absurd.

They didn’t dare voice their thoughts, though. After all, Evelyn had brought them over from the Johnson

estate.

The maids knew Ingrid was pregnant with the Johnsons‘ precious heir, so they didn’t dare to defy her. So, they swallowed their frustration and kept quiet.

“Do you have other instructions, Ms. York?” the maid, Eleanor Mitchell, asked.

Ingrid replied, “I want gourmet honey.”

“Now?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Ingrid sneered. “Is that a problem?”

Eleanor hesitated and said, “No. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Ingrid’s mood improved slightly. She stretched and felt the strain from sitting in class all day. On top of that, she had been tossing and turning all night and felt exhausted.

So, she glanced at the other maid, Lilian Davis, standing nearby. “Come over and give me a massage.”

Lilian was momentarily confused when Ingrid point at her. “Are you talking to me?”

Ingrid snapped, “Who else would I be talking to? Is there a third person here? Stop acting clueless. I’m exhausted, so come give me a massage.

Lilian frowned. “Ms. York, you’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be getting

wet any macer

“Oh, you’re just too lazy to help me, right?” Ingrid argued.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I’m just a certified maternity care specialist. So, I know what’s safe for pregnant women and what isn’t”

When Ingrid heard “certified specialist“, she flared up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Just give me the massage and stop making excuses.

“Are you trying to get yourself fired? I don’t care if you’re a specialist or not. If you can’t do it, just get out!”

Lilian had wanted to argue, but seeing Ingrid’s stern stance, she reluctantly gave up.