Thest flicker of hope in Amelia’s heart vanished.


    The exhausting days and nights pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. Her harsh mother–inw and sister–inw, the inaction of the men, <b>and </b>that wicked woman, Aurora, who asionally emerged from her hiding ce in Blessed Haven to snatch things away–it all added up.


    as a cage<b>. </b>


    This house no longer felt like a home. It was


    Dragged to Reba’s chamber, Amelia was forced to kneel beside the bed. She looked up nkly at her father–inw and Barrett, both wearing expressions of me. Her gaze shifted to her husband, whose eyes burned with fury


    He pped Amelia hard, then turned to his mom and said, “Mom, please calm down. I’ve already taught her a lesson. She won’t dare do that again.”


    Seeing her son’s devotion, Reba finally relented, “Fine. She’s not from a prominent family, so it’s not surprising that she’s a bit stingy and shabby in her ways.”


    Amelia’s cheek throbbed with pain, but it was nothingpared to the ache in her heart. After the heartache came a numbness that wrapped around her.


    The next day, before dawn, the servants preparing to go out to buy meat and vegetables noticed the back door was wide open, letting in a chilling wind.


    “Why wasn’t the back door closedst <b>night</b>? Who <b>was </b>so careless?” one of the servants grumbled. “If something goes missing, we’ll have to me someone. There are enough problems to deal with as it <b>is</b>.”


    He wrapped his coat tighter around himself as he stepped out the back door, shutting it against the cold breeze. “It’s getting colder. Why hasn’t the winter clothing been issued yet this year?”


    As he muttered, he moved to the side yard to fetch a cart and head out into the alley.


    When Benjamin woke up and didn’t see Amelia in their room, he didn’t think much of it. She usually got up early to attend to Reba. After the punishment he had given herst night, she would likely be even more attentive. Feeling slightly reassured that he had his wife under control–unlike his brother, who was at the mercy of two women–he thought nothing of it.


    The men returned to their duties, each going about their business.


    Meanwhile, Reba was furious. “What time is it? Why isn’t someone here to give me my breakfast? Go find her!”


    Reba’s maid, Tara, hurried off to look for Amelia but couldn’t find her..


    When she asked Amelia’s maid, thetter replied, “Isn’t she already with Madam Reba? Madam Amelia has been going over earlytely.”


    “She’s not there! That’s why Madam Reba is in a rage. Hurry and find her. Is she in the kitchen? Otherwise, she’ll be scolded again when she returns!”


    “It’s not like there’s no one attending to Madam Reba. Why does Madam Amelia have to wake up so early to serve her?” said Amelia’s maid, Beth, who couldn’t help but feel sorry for her mistress.


    “Be quiet,” Tara shot <b>back</b>, ring at her. “<b>What </b>family doesn’t do this? When the parents are ill, it’s the duty of the daughter–inw to care for them. If people learn of this, Madam Amelia will earn a reputation for being a devoted daughter–inw.”


    “Madam Amelia is managing the household <b>now </b>She barely sleeps for three hours a night, working from dawn till dusk. Please, Tara, say a <b>few </b>kind words for her in front of Madam Reba so she can catch her breath,” Beth pleaded.


    With a sigh, Tara relented<b>, </b>“Fine. Go check the kitchen. Is she brewing medicine? Madam Reba <b>has </b>been in a foul mood these past couple of days and won’t let her off easily. I’ll talk to Madam Reba about it in a few days.”


    “Thank you, Tara.” Beth rushed off toward the kitchen. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    However, after searching the entire Valor Estate, she still <b>couldn’t </b>find Amelia. Filled with panic, she reported back to Tara.


    Reba overheard and snapped, “Where could she be? Isn’t she just hiding with the second branch of the family and daydreaming there? Go and tell the second branch that if they aren’t going to handle the household affairs, they shouldn’t pretend to care.”


    Tara made the trip herself, but Charlotte frowned and said, “Didn’t someone juste looking for her? We already said she wasn’t here. Why would you think I’m hiding her? If Reba wants to send someone to search, let her do it. If they find her, I’ll kneel and apologize. Is that good enough?”