Chapter 336 - A Resolute Decision
Yvonne watched the show as the maid was picked up from the ground with the help of the two maids who had been present and practically dragged away from this place.
She had witnessed how her mother had made a resolute decision of dismissing the maid who had dared to betray her.
However, she still felt that her mother was going easy on the maid.
'This was the quickest betrayal drama that I have ever witnessed.' She rolled her eyes as this was nothing compared to the high-profile cases that she had seen and heard of in the media back in her previous world.
She had witnessed the cases where the jilted woman did not think twice before exposing the one who had meddled in the married life of another couple.
In a world where the media decided the fate of one's social life, a single post about someone could change the way people looked at them.
Public disgrace and defamation were common occurrences that were orchestrated behind the protection of monitor screens, hiding their real faces and accomplishing the feat of ruining someone's social life.
The crime of seducing a married man being exposed through the use of these media sites was to teach them a lesson as well as to warn the others not to have such wrong thoughts in their heads.
Even if the authorities were involved, how many people could they arrest for speaking about the deeds the culprit had done in secret which had now been exposed.
The virtual face-slap which was something that many achieved through the help of hackers was often seen in the news.
Following this would either be a messy divorce with an even messier distribution of assets meant as compensation for the betrayed wife.
Or, the alternative would be a compromise between the husband and wife as they tried to save the happy marriage they once had.
However, in both instances, the third party would certainly be the one who faced the most humiliation for meddling in matters she had no place in.
A face-slap, compromise or compensation, were the most probable paths one would take in such a situation.
Unfortunately, there was no 'face-slapping, no compensation nor any compromise in this exposé.
A simple decision of expelling the maid from the household while the husband and wife stood alongside each other, rendering their support to the other was what the little girl had observed from her hiding spot.
None of the expected paths taken in similar situations were seen here which made her wonder why this was so.
The little girl sighed, wondering whether the difference in the status of a noble and a commoner was the reason for the smooth dismissal and quick resolution of this entire fiasco.
However, after a moment, she shook her head and gently tapped her knuckles on her forehead.
'What matters is that the maid was exposed and Papa proved himself worthy of being called my Papa.' She declared as she once again went back to addressing him in an endearing way.
Her fears that he might have betrayed their family under the temptation of the maid were proven wrong and she was satisfied with this outcome.
Relieved of the panic in her heart, she shifted her eyes from the direction in which the maid had been dragged in and focused her eyes on the couple.
Raylene hugged her husband to avert her eyes from the scene of her previous maid being taken away.
"Ruthy…" She murmured as tears strained down her cheeks, soaking his shirt but he did not care about it.
The Earl's entire attention was on his weeping wife as he tried his best to console her.
"It's alright, Ray." He caressed her head while patting her back to soothe her weary spirit.
She had just come back from a long journey and the first thing she had to face was the betrayal of someone she had trusted for years.
He knew that no matter how hard she tried to appear strong and hard-hearted, his wife was soft and mellow on the inside.
She had remained emotionless and cold while her old maid was still here, however that facade broke once the maid was taken away.
The Butler who had been celebrating this victory was now distressed at the sight of the Madam weeping so bitterly.
Rutherford was patient as he continued to pat her back, allowing her to vent out the frustrations in her heart so that it might be washed away along with her tears.
It took a few minutes before the hiccuping sounds coming from the woman finally came to a halt.
Hooking his fingers under her chin to lift her face which had been buried in his chest, the worried husband took a look at her swollen eyes and felt distressed.
'I should have sent her to the Lower Hall before letting Ray meet her.' He regretted not having punished the one who had caused this before his wife and child got back home.
Raylene smiled though her heart ached and leaned into the palm which had come up to caress her cheek.
"Thank you." She whispered in a hoarse voice thanks to the crying session that had just ended.
Rutherford was confused why he was being thanked and this confusion was evident on his face as well.
"For choosing me." She added to clear the doubts in his mind.
However, the husband shook his head and pecked her forehead, then her nose, and finally placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
"There was never a choice, Ray. You were, are, and will be the only one for me." He corrected her and placed a few more chaste kisses on her lips.
The Butler bowed his head to give the Master and Madam their privacy while the little girl watching this scene rolled her eyes.
'Time to leave.' She determined as this was not something she was interested in watching.
Yvonne had accomplished the task of this secret mission which was to figure out what was going on.
Though she was still ignorant about what took place during the day, at least she was now sure that her father had not done anything to betray his wife.
She was also satisfied that their mission of exposing the maid and kicking her out of the Estate was accomplished by the Countess without their further interference.
Therefore, there was no need for her to remain here and watch her parents clinging to each other.
With this thought in her mind, the little girl lifted her dress a little as she began tiptoeing away from the hiding place that served as her viewing spot to watch the show until now.
"Had fun?" A voice came from behind, making her freeze in her steps.
Her foot which was raised to take the next step returned to the ground as she felt a sudden chill running down her spine.
The voice she had heard was a familiar one and it did not take her long to recognize who its owner was.
Gulping her saliva, Yvonne turned around like a mechanical doll with a smile plastered on her face.
"Hello, Papa…" She chuckled sheepishly while greeting him with a wave.
The man now standing before her did not respond to her smile nor her greeting as he remained silent, watching her actions.
The Countess and Butler too were now looking in her direction with wide eyes as they had not noticed her presence until now.
If it wasn't for the Earl's movements of walking in her direction and halting her in her steps, then they would never have realized that she had been outside.
Rutherford continued to gaze at his daughter whom they had specifically asked to return to her room but it now appeared that she had not paid heed to his wife's words.
"Had fun?" He repeated his earlier words which she had not yet answered.
His daughter, in reply, let out another sheepish chuckle and lowered her head.
Shaking his head, Rutherford picked her in his arms and returned to his wife's position.
"Let's go inside." He announced and holding his wife's shoulder, led them both into their Mansion.
Raylene felt embarrassed that her child had seen this bad side of her and hence did not dare to meet her eyes.
But her worries were for naught as her daughter was more than proud of her mother's stern and resolute actions in determining the fate of the maid who had betrayed her.
As they walked back to the house, Yvonne was trying hard to figure out where she had slipped up which alerted the father of her presence.
When Rutherford glanced down at the child in his arms, he found her deep in her thoughts and shook his head as he knew what was on her mind.
"You let out a gasp when you saw the maid fall down." He revealed the exact moment when he had discovered her hiding behind the tree.
A flash of understanding appeared on the child's face which was evident to him as well.
When Paula had fallen to the ground, defeated and distraught, everyone had turned to look at her but the Earl had turned in a different direction.
This was because he had heard a tiny gasp which his ears were able to grasp due to his training and higher skill level.
He had even caught sight of the fluffy violet strand of hair that had fluttered in the wind without her notice.
However, what he did not know was that she had not gasped at the maid's fall but something else.
'I gasped when you confessed to Mama.' She recalled his charming words which had touched her heart but chosen to keep this thought to herself.
Nodding her head, she once again looked away to avoid his stern eyes which had remained since he had caught her sneaking around.