Chapter 3: Defiance in the Parlor

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Savannah was about to kill the mayor’s wife. The sunlight slanted through the window just as before, dust motes dancing in the air. Mariah’s cries echoed down the hallway. But this time, I felt a fierce determination settle in my bones. My grandma was still alive. There was still time to change everything!

So before Savannah could act, I dropped to my knees with a thud. The sound echoed in the marble-floored parlor, startling everyone. I felt the eyes of the other servants on me, their faces pale with fear. But I kept my gaze locked on Savannah.

Savannah lifted her gaze, lazy and bored. “Tessa, what are you doing?” Her tone was bored, but there was a glint of curiosity in her eyes. She tapped her manicured nails against the arm of her chair, waiting for my answer.

I took the dagger from her hand. “Miss Langley, you shouldn’t get your hands dirty with this woman’s blood. Why not let your servant take her out, finish her, and turn her skin into a lampshade for your room?” I bowed my head and held the dagger out, hilt first. My voice was steady, my face a mask of obedience. Inside, my heart hammered like a trapped bird.

Savannah gave me a long, thoughtful look, but said nothing. She studied me for a moment, her lips pursed. I could feel her weighing my words, trying to decide if I was being loyal—or clever.

Jackson Evans, however, frowned slightly and spoke first. “Miss Langley, it’s better to kill her here—no need to complicate things.” He sounded calm, but his eyes darted nervously. He was always careful to keep Savannah’s favor, never daring to challenge her outright.

People called Jackson Evans a genius—devoted, caring, the perfect husband. The newspapers printed his picture on the front page, hailing him as Maple Heights’ golden boy. Folks said he was the kind of man every girl dreamed of marrying. But who could see his cold heart now? Standing there, he looked nothing like the hero in the headlines. There was a hardness in his eyes, a chill that made my skin crawl. The person he wanted dead on the spot was the woman who’d given him her heart, her savings, and years of support through his toughest days. Mariah had stood by him when no one else would, scraping together money for his tuition, believing in him when everyone else had turned their backs. And now, he paid her back with betrayal. Every drop of blood on the ground belonged to his own unborn child, not yet three months old. The thought made my stomach twist. I glanced at Mariah, her hands trembling as she tried to shield her belly. She was fighting for two lives, and losing both. All to curry favor with Savannah—he couldn’t wait to erase his wife and child. He stood stiffly, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on Savannah as if she were the sun and he was just a moth, desperate for her approval.

I let out a cold laugh, then stepped forward and offered the blood-stained dagger to Jackson. “If that’s the case, why not kill your wife yourself, Mayor Evans? Such a fine show—surely Miss Langley would enjoy it.” I made sure my voice carried, lacing each word with mockery. The room went quiet, every eye on Jackson. I could see the sweat beading on his forehead.

Savannah laughed with delight. Her laughter was sharp and bright, cutting through the tension like a knife. She clapped her hands, her eyes shining with amusement. “Oh, Tessa, you do know how to entertain.”

Jackson, on the other hand, turned pale and froze. His hands trembled, his lips parted in a silent plea. For a moment, I thought he might faint. I watched him, mocking. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The dagger slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor. The sound echoed in the silent room. No one moved to pick it up.

Savannah’s lips curled in disdain. “Useless!” She spat the word like it tasted bad, her patience worn thin. The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in around us.

Savannah spat, lost interest, and ordered me to take Mariah away and finish her off. She waved her hand dismissively, already bored. “Get her out of my sight,” she drawled. The guards hauled Mariah to her feet, shoving her toward the door.