Tears streamed down Isabella's face. "Fine her three years' salary... no, four! How about four years' salary?"
"Agnes only made a tiny little mistake. She just misunderstood and thought it was a surprise from Mom for me, that's why... that's why she touched my sister's things...”
"Mom, Agnes has taken care of me for so many years. If you relegate her to the groundskeeping crew, then... then what will I do?"
Catherine knew Isabella and Agnes were close, but this was going too far.
"As an heiress of the Lancaster family, you should understand that no matter how close you are to a servant, she must still follow the rules." She frowned, looking at Isabella with a hint of disapproval. "Isabella, this is the Lancaster estate. Without Agnes, there are other servants to take care of you. And you have family to look after you."
The implication was clear: the matter was not up for discussion.
Isabella's face went pale, her fingers clenching one by one.
Family?
Did she even have a family anymore?
Isabella was truly heartbroken now. She felt like the whole world was against her.
Serena was trying to take her down.
And her own mother, who had always doted on her, was helping Serena do it.
What family did she have left?
They were all Serena's family now!
She, Isabella, was an outsider!
It was such a small, insignificant thing.
Even if the gift box was from Nicholas, it couldn't be so precious that it couldn't even be touched, right?
"Miss Isabella!" Agnes saw how Isabella was crying and begging her mother, yet Mrs. Lancaster, who had always been so fond of her, wouldn't budge an inch.
She saw the situation clearly.
If Miss Isabella continued to plead for her, she would not only anger Mrs. Lancaster but also cause Mr. Lancaster and Master Julian to form a poor opinion of her.
She couldn't let Miss Isabella create a rift with her family!
With reddened eyes, Agnes gave Isabella a deep bow. "Miss Isabella, I know you are kind and can't bear to see me suffer, but Mrs. Lancaster is right. A mistake is a mistake. I shouldn't have touched the young lady's things. It was my fault, and I am willing to accept the punishment!"
"Miss Isabella, please don't make
things difficult for Mrs.
mymareancasteron
I'm already grateful that
she is willing to let me stay with the Lancaster family."
"Agnes..." Isabella wanted to say could beg her
more. Sn
grandfather. If it came down teet
she could even kneel before them.
Would they really refuse to relent over such a small matter, even if she knelt?
But Agnes seemed to see right through her, shaking her head ever so slightly.
Isabella's words caught in her throat.
Through blurry, tear-filled eyes, she watched Agnes bow to the famil
We serena another deeper
bumble bow content
It was so demeaning.
A sharp pain, like a needle prick, pierced her heart.
But she had understood the meaning behind Agnes's slight shake of the head.
She could only dig her nails into her palms, watching helplessly as Alfred led Agnes away.
Now, she was truly isolated and alone.
She had no one left but herself...
So this was the country bumpkin's strategy? To steal her family away, one by one.
Serena must be so proud of herself right now.
Isabella's eyes, red-rimmed, shot a resentful look at Serena.
But the cool, elegant girl showed no trace of triumph in her expression.
She was still as calm and unbothered as ever, with that lazy, carefree air about her.
It was as if the recent drama was nothing more than an irrelevant farce to her.
What an act!
She had just gotten rid of Isabella's most capable ally.
Her mother had taken Serena's side.
Now, the entire Lancaster family was Serena's to command.