"The Second Master has commanded for you to stay inside the Eve Mansion till you have fully recovered."

’Silence’

...

The wind was blowing gently through the half open windows. Soft dark hair flowed slowly, revealing the side profile of the woman sitting by the window. She was wrapped in bandages and there was a distinct air of melancholy around her.

For a moment, Bertha halted in her tracks upon witnessing the scene. It has been a long time since she saw such a look on Ella’s face.

Bertha turned to the side and signalled something to the servants.

In two minutes, there was a rustling noise and tiny paws rushed inside the room.

Riri and Lala approached Ella, circling around her legs.

Bertha exchanged a glance with Rin, who had come to stand beside her at some point. The mother-daughter saw similar thoughts in each other’s eyes. They both hoped that this would uplift Ella’s mood.

Moments passed, and Ella finally moved.

She reached out to stroke Riri and Lala. But after a while, she resumed her sitting position, looking out of the window.

Both the cat and dog probably sensed her sadness because they, too, quietly sat on the floor, curled up against each other.

Rin sighed and pulled Bertha aside, "How could the second master lock her up inside again? Things have changed and she is no longer running away from him then why must he keep her captive here...!"

"Shhhh!" Bertha’s eyes widened as she hurriedly checked her surroundings, "One of these days, that tongue of yours will get us into trouble."

"But I am only telling the truth!"

"Who said the second master locked her up? Would he leave the door open if there was anything as such?"

"Still, he is not allowing her to go outside..."

"She is injured... The Second Master must have his own thoughts regarding this," Bertha said.

Rin frowned, "But... but..."

"No buts! Go back to the quarters and stay out of this!" Bertha gave no space for Rin to argue.

After Rin reluctantly left, Bertha entered Ella’s room. Not so surprisingly, Ella had chosen to be in the room where she used to stay when Adrian and her were not as close.

There was something wrong between the couple but it was not Bertha’s place to talk or think about that so she put a halt on her thoughts and knocked on the door twice.

"Bertha," Ella turned.

Bertha cleared her throat, "Second Madam..."

"I have told you many times you can call me as you used to call me before. Please don’t make me awkward here."

Bertha froze.

It was true they were commanded by Adrian to address Ella by her title. But she would always ask them to address her normally.

Just now, Bertha probably called her by the title out of instinct. But this time, Ella seemed stern in asking her to not do that.

With a light bow, Bertha said, "Miss Yu, do I set up the lunch here or the dining room?"

Ella’s eyes widened slightly when she heard lunch, a hint of sparkle in them.

’Good, at least she has an appetite,’ Bertha’s eyes lit up and she mentally wiped her tears. She wouldn’t know how to answer Adrian if Ella starved herself.

"You can set it up in my room," Ella said, her voice picking up a bit.

Bertha nodded eagerly and turned to leave.

But she had barely taken a step when Ella’s voice rang out again.

"Ask the chef to prepare seafood for me, especially King Crabs... and some great roasted chicken... for desserts, I need some tiramisu and some..."

Five minutes later, Ella finally stopped speaking and Bertha recovered her senses.

"Miss Yu, the rest is easy but this is not the season for King crabs... it will be difficult to arrange fresh ones..." Bertha trailed off as a hint of disappointment, "But it’s not impossible at all!"

Ella smiled, "Thanks."

"Miss Yu, shall I arrange some supper till lunch is prepared?"

"No need," Ella paused for a second before she pointed her chin to the cat and dog sprawled on the floor, "Take Riri and Lala to their room. They have been playing all day, let them take some rest."

"Yes... Yes..." Bertha followed the commands immediately.

Downstairs, Rin walked towards her mother once she spotted her.

"Mother, what did Miss Yu say?"

Bertha briefed Rin about what happened before she sighed in relief, "It’s a good thing that Miss Yu is enthusiastic about food."

Rin fell into a daze for a moment before she opened her mouth, "But..."

"No more buts. I told you, if somebody hears you, we’d be in trouble. No more jinxing," Bertha said sternly before she walked away.

Rin blinked, "But... Miss Yu has long not been so simple-minded that she would get distracted by food... Even before she changed, it never happened..."

In Rin’s eyes, Ella has always been a stubborn person.

Even before, she would starve herself for days, let alone now when she had openly spoken against Adrian on many occasions to stand on equal footing as him.

Rin slapped her head as she mumbled to herself, "I probably read a lot of webnovels from Miss Yu’s library. I must be overthinking."

2 hours later.

Bertha walked upstairs, followed by a huge row of servants, only to stop in front of Ella’s closed bedroom door.

"Miss Yu... your lunch is ready."

No response.

"Miss Yu... Miss Yu...?"

No response.

Bertha’s heart dropped.

She turned around and glanced at two of the male servants standing behind her, "Knock down the door."

They acted on command and with a ’bang’, the door was kicked open.

Upon seeing the sight inside the room, Bertha’s mouth hung open, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The room was completely empty and Ella was nowhere in sight.

Bertha glanced at the satin sheets that hung huddled from the window.

With shaking hands, she grabbed her phone and dialled Adrian’s number. But soon, her hands turned cold as the call went into voicemail.