Between the devil and the bottomless sea

She hadn't thought that anything would make her more nervous today than the phone call with Gavin and the impending meeting his that demonic wizard. She was hoping with her life at stake that she wouldn't make any mistakes so until noon, she wanted to read through everything she had put together again until they were a part of her.

Now, however, her plans were derailed. A summons, delivered by Betty, had directed her to the Matriarch's private study. On a weekday. Alice hadn't even realized the woman resided at the mansion during the working week.

She had barely spoken to the woman since the wedding dinner disaster. And now, she was being called to her private study. That couldn't mean anything good.

A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach as she tried to think about why she had been summoned. But maybe at this point, there were a lot of reasons but she didn't want to think about them when Priscillia's threats continue to replay in her head with every waking second.

She paused before the study's imposing double doors, taking a moment to compose herself. But Betty didn't care about her. The witch knocked on the door and then opened it even before permission came.

Alice could see the faint smirk on her face as she stepped aside for Alice to go in..

This lady was the least of her problems right now.

She adjusted the silk scarf that concealed the faint bruises on her neck. She had checked the mirror a couple of times to be sure everything else was in place.

Her makeup was meticulously applied, her suit impeccably tailored. Maybe everything was in place, except for the frantic hammering of her heart.

The study was elegant but suffocating. It looked like the kind of place that would make Alice run mad if she was locked in here for a day.

The Matriarch, Elisa looked very busy, organizing a stack of documents on her desk and labeling them. She was dressed in an ivory suit, her hair pinned back in perfect waves, not a strand out of place.

Alice swallowed. "Good... morning?"

She wasn't sure what to say to this woman.

They weren't exactly in good terms.

The woman paid her no mind. She didn't even look up.

Alice was lost but decided to take a seat but just as her butt was about to settle, the woman's sharp eyes lifted from the documents before her, landing on Alice with a thick disapproving glance that made her pause before she stood up.

Well, this was not going to be interesting.

Alice stood stiffly, forcing herself to keep her breathing steady. The matriarch returned her focus entirely on the stack of papers in front of her.

The silence stretched, very thick and oppressive.

Then, without warning, the woman picked up a single document and tossed it across the desk to Alice. It slid over and fell on the floor.

"Look at it," she said coldly.

Alice hesitated before picking it up. She recognized the document. It was a copy of her ranking sheet.

She almost released the heavy breath she had been holding while wondering what this woman wanted her here. The CCTV? Her real identity? The fight she had almost gotten into with that Vik guy?

But it was her ranking.

"A D," Elisa repeated, her voice smooth but dripping with disappointment. "Out of everything. I expected at least an A-. But this? Pathetic."

Alice bit the inside of her cheek. She was tempted to say that she was at least better than her second son but she kept her mouth shut.

"It's not as if I took a test and failed," she said quietly. "I was placed there by whoever decided to give me a grade without my permission. They gave me something I never asked for—"

Her sharp gaze flicked up, pinning Alice in place. "Fix it."

Alice was lost. How was she supposed to fix this?

"You're part of this family now," Elisa continued, each word deliberate. "And as long as you live in this house, you will not drag the Wildfire name through the mud. You will change that ranking."

Change that ranking? She hadn't even known it was posible to change it. Suzy hadn't mentioned anything about that.

"Is that possible?" Alice asked quietly.

Elisa exhaled sharply, something between annoyance and irritation flashing across her face. "Every estate ranking can be adjusted," she explained, crossing her legs elegantly. "Your score is a reflection of your value, your usefulness. Prove that you are more than a disappointment, and it will change."

Alice tightened her grip on the paper. This was getting more difficult. Because... she had a feeling she would be proving more to them that she deserved less than that D. Haha.

"Excel in your work. Make yourself indispensable. Show them you are an asset, not a liability. Until the next ranking review in 6 months," She tilted her head. "Your case, for example. If you prove yourself useful to the legal team and win—"

Alice's breath caught.

Not this again.

"Also, the other activities lined up. No matter what, be at the top.

Elisa leaned forward slightly. "Do not embarrass this family, Aurora."

Alice's grip on the paper tightened, but she forced her face to remain neutral.

"I won't."

The woman smiled. It wasn't warm. It wasn't kind.

But it was approving.

An obedient girl. Just like she liked.

"As for Hades's case..." she started again, this time, getting up to go drop a stack of files on the well arranged shelf. "You must make sure it never reaches trial,"

Wait... what?

"I don't care what you have to do—fix it. Resolve it. Nothing should taint this family's name."

She wanted to ask how she was supposed to do that. Of course, she also didn't want it to get to that level—trial. But...

"And your little accident," she went on, turning to look at Alice with a piercing gaze, "do tell me, how did you manage to ruin your car in just the first day?"

Alice's breath hitched. Of course, she knew. Nothing got past this woman.

Alice's jaw clenched. She should have known this would come up.

"Someone bumped into me," she said carefully. "I didn't get into an accident."

The matriarch stared at her, unreadable. Alice didn't dare fidget under her gaze, though impatience clawed at her insides. There was nothing she could do right now. Priscilla's threats were still fresh in her mind. She had no allies, no backup. She had to endure. Everything.

Just when she thought she was finally free to leave, she spoke again.

"One more thing."

Alice exhaled slowly. Of course, there's more.

The woman returned to her seat, her fingers against the armrest. "It is time you took your household responsibilities seriously."

Alice frowned. "Household responsibilities?"

"You are the second mistress of this house. The first daughter-in-law of the Wildfire family. You cannot remain cooped up in your apartment like a guest."

Alice's pulse spiked with dread.

She didn't like where this was heading to.

"You will join the household staff in their duties," Elisa declared. "Home-making is just as important as other matters. Consider this… training."

Alice's eyes widened.

"You want me to—" She stopped herself before she could finish that sentence with something like 'do cooking and cleaning?'

"Yes," Elisa said simply, as if reading her thoughts.

Alice was stunned. She had expected threats, warnings, maybe even a veiled bribe. But this?

Elisa took in her stunned silence with the barest hint of amusement.

"You may go now," she said, dismissing her with a graceful wave.

Alice turned stiffly, her thoughts a whirlwind as she walked out of the study.

Home-making?

And making sure Hades never stood trial?

Improving her ranking by the next six months?

How was she supposed to handle all of this?

Her nails dug into her palms.

She had no idea.

It seemed like that woman had a plan to leave her frustrated. She could see it in the way she looled at her. The way she talked to her.

Elisa hated her.

And if she remained here, she did not think she would survive it.

There was only one option— move out.

And so she had to think.

It would either be the Block A with the Wildfires. Or Block C with Hades.

This was a choice between the devil and the deep, bottomless sea. Either way, each option was a wildfire. Literally.

Not to mention the crazy people who also lived with him.