My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 40: Betty Domination

[Flashback]

Betty stared at the untouched food on the tray meant for Ashley. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she lifted her gaze to the woman lying on the bed.

Ashley’s complexion had faded, and she lay on her side in the dim, unlit master bedroom.

"Madam, you haven’t eaten anything today," Betty said quietly, finally mustering the courage to speak her mind. "If this continues, you might die."

As expected, there was no response from Ashley.

Betty let out a deep exhale as she picked up the tray, glancing at the madam’s back again. "I’ll come back with some soup or something. Do you prefer anything?"

Still, no answer.

"I’ll come back," was all she could say before leaving to prepare something warm.

It had been months since Betty had been assigned to care for Ashley. After all, anyone who worked for her often ended up hurt. Ashley had been growing more uncontrollable by the day and more violent. The maids were rotated out before things escalated too far.

Yet for some reason, Ashley never hurt Betty.

In other words, Betty had become everyone’s last hope of calming her down.

Soon, Betty returned to the master bedroom. Ashley hadn’t moved an inch. Even when Betty tried to talk to her or coax her into eating, Ashley remained like a withered flower.

Seated on the edge of the bed, Betty stared at the madam, who now reclined against the headboard. Ashley’s head was turned slightly, her empty eyes staring into nothingness. Her attempts to escape had grown scarce lately, and everyone could tell—she had likely given up.

And this... wasn’t just another hunger strike.

Ashley was trying to kill herself.

"I’m sorry..."

Ashley slowly shifted her gaze toward Betty.

Betty gulped and forced a smile. "I’m..." she trailed off. "...sorry, Madam."

Ashley wanted to ask why this little maid was apologizing, but she didn’t. Just by looking at Betty, she already knew. The girl was apologizing simply because she felt sorry.

Betty cleared her throat. "Madam, I know it’s hard for you to trust anyone. But... I’ll be on your side."

"Why?"

Finally, Ashley spoke—the same Ashley who hadn’t eaten, talked, or even gotten out of bed.

"Huh?" Betty blinked in surprise before blurting out, "Because I work for you."

Ashley tilted her head slightly, then let out a faint scoff, ignoring both the maid and the soup she had brought.

At that time, Ashley didn’t think much of it. In her mind, it was impossible. Betty worked for Dominion. She worked for Lucian. Who knew? Perhaps Lucian had ordered the maid to gain her trust, knowing Ashley was hanging by the last thread of her sanity.

It was only later that Ashley realized Betty had meant it literally. Though Lucian still paid her, he had instructed Betty to serve Ashley alone—that she worked for Ashley, not Dominion, nor him.

But Ashley realized it too late, only after she held Betty’s bloodied body, after the maid used herself as a shield to protect her.

Ashley hadn’t trusted Betty. But from beginning to end, Betty had remained true to her.

And if Ashley had saved people she disliked in Dominion simply because they were necessary for Lucian’s safety... what more for someone like Betty?

Someone willing to stand by her against all odds?

In this lifetime, Ashley was more than willing to trust this woman with all her heart.

*****

[Present Time]

"And second, you’ll be able to prove that sucking up to someone holding the so-called empty title of Dominion’s matriarch will land you in a far better position than...cleaning up after someone with none."

Betty plopped down on the edge of her bed with a deep exhale. As promised, Ashley had washed her own plate... and left Betty to deal with the mountain of dishes like some sort of cruel joke. But after working through most of the night, she had still managed to finish everything.

Now, Ashley’s words kept replaying in her mind.

[Work for me.]

"Better than cleaning up after someone with none..." she murmured, lifting her gaze to the other maids sharing the quarter.

Betty let out a shallow breath and shook her head. "What am I even thinking? What else could she possibly do?"

"She’s probably just dreaming," she muttered, letting out a quiet laugh before pressing her lips together so she wouldn’t wake the others. "Though... it would’ve been nice."

She had nothing against Ashley, but at the same time, she knew nothing about her. In this place, the only person who truly held power was Lucian—and those he trusted. As for Ashley, just as others said, she was merely tolerated.

Not to mention... once Ma’am Nicki returns from her mission... things will definitely change... won’t they?

Betty thought of the woman everyone believed to be the perfect matriarch of Dominion—someone who had been part of Dominion long before Ashley ever entered the picture.

Moreover, Nicki and Lucian had once shared a "relationship."

Basically, Lucian’s ex—his first love.

Nicki had been away when Lucian got married and hadn’t returned since. So everyone expected Ashley to be cast aside the moment Nicki came back.

Betty lowered her head, recalling the look on Ashley’s face earlier, then comparing it to the other woman in this marriage.

"Don’t think about it, Betty," she muttered, lightly slapping her cheeks. "It’s better to choose no side at all... and just keep quiet."

That was right, she told herself. It was better to live as quietly as a dead rat in this place. Even when everyone was taking sides, the safest choice was still to take none.

Betty found comfort in that thought and fell asleep without dwelling further on Ashley’s offer. She assumed it had only been said in passing—and that if she politely declined, the madam would understand.

Oh, how wrong she was.

Because the moment the sun rose, and the family of three—Ashley, Lucian, and Primo—sat down for breakfast, Betty found herself frozen in place as Ashley spoke.

"By the way, Lu, this girl said she doesn’t want to work for you or Dominion anymore," Ashley announced while the servants served the food, pointing directly at Betty. "And she said if you don’t accept her resignation, she’ll burn Dominion to the ground—so feisty!"

Ashley gasped dramatically, while Betty turned pale, cold sweat breaking out all over her body. Her eyes widened as she stared at Ashley in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lucian furrowed his brows, and Nolan frowned. Along with Primo and the other maids, they all turned toward Betty, who looked like she was about to faint.

"I—I—I didn’t—"

"So, I told her I’ll hire her in my company instead," Ashley continued, leaning closer to Lucian with an angelic smile. "We don’t want vengeful people preparing our food, do we? So I’m saving Dominion from Betty’s domination. I’m so proud of myself!"

Everyone: "..."

Betty: "!!!"

While everyone was rendered speechless by this early morning escalation, Ashley smiled so brightly it was almost blinding.

After a moment, Lucian finally spoke.

"Dominion owes you one."

She smirked. "Damn right it does."