Chapter 553: Too Tired

With both Lisa and Carmen in his study, Ian tried his best to remain calm, but he was struggling more than he ever had. There were many misunderstandings that occurred between him and Mina that he could not explain. She would say things or hint at things that he knew held a deeper meaning, but Ian's thoughts never delved into the possibility that someone from his staff was working with Lisa to manipulate her.

Carmen was a bit older, so he never looked at her as a threat and Ian knew his nan was always careful about who she let into his home. Carmen had been with him for years, so there was no way he could say it was his nan's recent exhaustion that caused her to make a staffing mistake, which meant he would need to overhaul everyone in his mansion.

"You have twenty seconds to come clean about everything before I lend you my assistance." Ian could tell that neither woman knew who he was speaking to, but Carmen was the first to respond, which was fitting because she was the one with more to lose.

"Miss Lisa approached me shortly before you started dating." Ian cut the woman off.

"You will need to clarify that part, because as far as I am concerned, Lisa and I never dated." Lisa's face turned pale, and she found herself feeling like a bigger fool than Vanya for not stepping away from Mina when she had the chance.

"I think she was fifteen at the time. She approached me and said that she wanted to learn more about you. I knew she had a crush on you, so I saw no harm in telling her a few things."

"And she paid you?" Carmen nodded without making eye contact. "Continue."

"Over time, her requests became more specific and every time I tried to pull away, she would send me more money." The woman looked up in a pleading manner, wanting to make excuses for herself. "President Lee please understand; I do not come from a good family. I got into the Lee family maid recruitment training because I share a name with someone, and the supervisor saw no need to correct the mistake since training had already started. Every extra dollar went toward keeping my siblings from mistreating my parents." Ian was not convinced, and he was glad Mina was not around to hear Carmen's story. He was certain she would have teared up with empathy.

"Carmen, how much do you make per year?" The woman stiffened. She made more than enough to care for herself, and with barely any living expenses, she truly had no real justification as to why she agreed to Miss Lisa.

"I admit that there was another incentive. Miss Lisa promised-" Lisa did not allow Carmen to finish her sentence as she violently pushed the woman, smacking her repeatedly. Ian just allowed the women to fight, because he wanted to see who Lisa really was, and he did not like hitting women, so it was like she was doing him a favor.

Eventually, Lisa was too tired to slap and curse Carmen; she stumbled backward until her back hit the wall and she slid down to the ground. Ian knew she was embarrassed and probably calculating her losses. It was sad, and in that moment, Ian confirmed that Lisa was not the woman she pretended to be.

Ian could hear Mina's giggling coming from outside of his study. He had purposefully left the door open because he knew Zane had come to take her out, and he wanted to catch them before they could leave. He called out to the pair, and Mina looked shocked, scared, and confused to see Carmen laying on the floor, holding herself in the fetal position. She launched herself toward the woman before Zane could stop her.

"What is going on? What has she done?" She asked in worry, while staring back at Zane. Mina had never seen him look so unbothered before, and it confused her that he saw no issue with the woman on the ground and his friend watching her with nothing but malice in his gaze.

"It is not what it looks like." Ian pointed to another corner of his study, and Mina gasped when she saw Miss Lisa sitting on the floor with her fingers laced through her hair. Full on panic crossed Mina's face and she started to breathe heavily before Zane sat her back in her wheelchair.

"Please tell me. What is going on?" Zane did not respond to Mina, instead he looked to Ian, who nodded in thanks. Ian knew his friend was allowing him the opportunity to explain the situation, but he could also tell the man did not want to. It was obvious that Zane held more feelings for Mina than he let on, but he was willing to set them aside, and Ian was appreciative.

"Mina, I need you to tell me what this woman has been doing to you." Mina's face looked confused before she spoke.

"She has only been doing what she has been asked to do." Ian gave Mina a look that said he needed more clarity and she obliged to the request of his eyes. "She assigned my cleaning days, she made sure I had the supplies I needed, she brought me books, and brought me my meals when you and your sister didn't want me eating with you anymore." Mina looked apprehensive as she spoke because she was afraid she was getting Carmen in trouble. Her mind was telling her that the woman was innocent, and because she did not know the situation, her emotions were swirling.

Ian looked toward Carmen who, while not injured, stayed laying on the floor of his study. He could tell the woman was trying her best to look pathetic, and while it may have been working for Mina, it was not working with him. He told Mina that he never ordered or asked anyone to do any of the things she mentioned, but his serious gaze was only met with a puzzled expression.

"But you came into my room and told me I could start doing my own chores again." A flash of anger crossed Ian's face and he gritted his teeth to keep from shouting. He was angry at himself for being dumb enough to believe that a woman, who could barely walk, was asking if she could clean her own room.

"A few days before, I was informed that you were uncomfortable with having someone clean after you. The person said you made a request in secret and I granted the request in person, because I wanted you to know that you didn't have to hide things from me. I would never have made you responsible for something I pay dozens of people to do." Mina's expression was complex as she looked down at Carmen, who was silently sobbing.

"So… You… President Lee…" Ian noticed that Mina was having trouble processing what she was being told. She was likely reassessing everything that Carmen had asked her to do, trying to find the liar. "Zane, I am confused." Ian did not like that Mina called out to Zane, but he knew it was because he was the only neutral person in the room, and she was already beginning to pant.

"Mina, Dom did not believe that Ian was ordering his staff to treat you poorly. After he found out that Lisa slapped you, he launched an investigation into her. It took a long time, partly because he was hiding it, and he wanted to make sure he had enough proof." Mina could see Lisa shudder as she cried without sound.

"Can we please not do this right now?" Mina asked. "I am too tired to understand. I am confused," she repeated. Ian knew that Mina was telling her truth. He wondered how many things were starting to shift in perspective for her, and he hoped she would not have another bout of nightmares.