Monitor

The sound of objects smashing and curses filled the air, echoing relentlessly from the adjacent walk-in closet. The maid, Ava, dared not lift her head, focusing solely on polishing the desk.

She had worked here for two years, yet this was the first time she had seen the lady of the house lose her composure so completely.

"Ahhhhhh—!"

 "You wretched woman!!!"

 "Wretched! Wretched! How dare she humiliate me like this!!!! Ahhhhh!!!"

 "I lost my composure in front of Damien!!!!"

Elena violently hurled neatly arranged clothes and hats to the floor, grabbed expensive handbags from the shelves, and flung them at the walls. Then, as if crushing Vespera's face beneath her feet, she stomped down viciously on them with her high heels. Still unsatisfied, she tore apart several silk scarves with her bare hands, her fingers turning white from the force. She panted heavily, yet the rage in her chest refused to subside.

One hand pressed against the wall as her chest rose and fell erratically, the only visible trace of her recent outburst.

The door swung open from the inside. Ava held her breath, quickening the pace of her cleaning as though she could make herself invisible. Elena stepped out briskly. She now carried the poised elegance of a noblewoman, as if the person who had been cursing and smashing things moments ago had never existed.

With her usual warmth, Elena smiled at Ava. "Apologies. Would you mind cleaning up in there?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Ava, relieved, stepped into the walk-in closet, where nearly everything had been tossed onto the floor. She had no time to lament the mess and immediately set to work, quickly picking up and reorganizing the items.

Meanwhile, Elena's fury gradually cooled as she began to reflect. Where did things go wrong? She had always been kind to the household staff and had meticulously maintained her image as a refined socialite.

Yet, ever since Vespera arrived, she had lost control—twice. The first time might have been coincidence, but the second? Absolutely not.

There's something wrong with that woman.

Elena paced aimlessly in her room, her mind churning. Then, her gaze landed on Ava, still cleaning up the wreckage.

An idea struck her.

"You."

She pointed at Ava, her tone imperious. "From now on, I want you to keep an eye on Vespera. Watch her every move. Understood?"

"M-Madam, I…"

"Anyone can do housekeeping. You know I don't keep useless people around."

"…Yes, ma'am."

Ava had seen Elena's dominance and the implicit threat in her words. As a single mother supporting two children, she desperately needed this well-paying job. She had no choice but to obey.

Elena nodded in satisfaction. Vespera, you'd better not have any ulterior motives for coming to my home. Otherwise…

Suddenly, something else came to mind.

"What's your name?"

"M-Madam, my name is Ava."

"Ava." Elena smiled, but there was something cold beneath it. "Find someone and send them to this address on Beach Avenue—there's a woman in the basement. Make sure she's well-fed. Don't let her die."

Ava's heart skipped a beat.

"I recall you have two children in this city, correct?" Elena mused. "Being a single mother must be tough."

Ava stiffened.

"Remember—don't ask questions you shouldn't be asking. And if anyone asks, you know how to respond." Elena's lips curled into a smirk.

Ava nodded reluctantly, inwardly crying out in despair. All I wanted was to be a simple housekeeper… How did I end up entangled with someone so terrifying?