The teapot was always on the clay stove, steaming when Brian picked it up.

Sarah jumped up, scalded, disregarding her dignity.

She constantly shifted her legs, patting and shaking off the water that spilled on her skirt. Despite her efforts, her inner thighs still burned painfully.

Brian’s face darkened as he glanced at the maids standing frozen at the door. “What are you all standing there for? Take my mom to rinse with cold water!”

The maids finally rushed over, hurriedly helping Sarah to the restroom. The butler had just brought the hotel’s manager upstairs, and seeing Sarah’s pained, pale face and trembling legs, he quickly ran downstairs to buy burn ointment.

As the maids left in a flurry, Ashley tried to blend in with the crowd and leave with them. She had just taken a few steps when...

“Miss?”

Ashley stopped in her tracks and turned back. “Miss James.”

The maids had all followed Sarah, leaving only the three of them in the room.

Olivia smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry, was I too willful just now and made things difficult for you?”

“No, it’s me who should apologize.” Ashley lowered her head and eyes. “I study ballet, so I lack confidence in pole dance.”

Of course, that was an excuse.

Ashley hesitantly glanced at the two of them, feeling puzzled.

Olivia didn’t take this opportunity to gain favor with her future mother-in-law, and Brian showed no concern whether his mother was scalded or not.

While pondering, she saw Brian’s gaze sweep towards her, so she quickly looked away.

Olivia continued, “I’m really sorry. How about... I treat you to some fruit? What do you like? There’s plenty here—ah!”

As Olivia reached for the fruit plate, Brian also extended his hand from the opposite side. His cool fingertips brushed over the back of her hand lightly.

Olivia quickly withdrew her hand, her wet eyes looking at Brian, and her ears turning red.

Brian remained composed, picking up a wax apple and placing it on a small plate in front of Olivia. “No need to give it to her; it was prepared especially for you. Just brought in from Thailand, wanna have some?”

Olivia blushed deeply, her gaze fixed on Brian. Under his pampering look, she lowered her head and took a small bite, “It really is sweet, thank you, Brian.”

Ashley stared hard at the floor.

After eating half the wax apple, Olivia suddenly remembered Ashley. “Miss, what’s your name? Are you a relative of the Quinn Family?”

“Ashley, I’m a maid for the Quinn Family.”

Olivia was surprised. “You’re really a maid?”

She turned to Brian, “Brian, your family treats maids so well? She’s wearing the latest G-brand outfit, I thought she was a distant relative.”

A G-brand outfit, especially the latest season, was not something a maid could afford.

Ashley’s heart tightened.

Brian poured Olivia a cup of tea. “The clothes were bought by Emily, but the size was wrong, so she gave them to her.”

Emily Quinn, Brian’s sister, the beloved second daughter of the Quinn Family.

Ashley subconsciously touched the soft, smooth fabric of her dress, feeling the tightness around her chest, the looseness at her waist, and the short hem...

No wonder.

Looking at the stains on her knees from kneeling, and her semi-new discount shoes, Ashley smirked slightly, thinking she was easily deceived.

Sarah soon returned, and Olivia helped her to her seat, showing great concern.

Brian announced the start of the meal, and Ashley stepped back, rejoining the maids.

During the meal, the previously sweltering weather suddenly turned into a fierce storm.

Sarah glanced out the window and advised Brian, “The weather is bad. After dinner, take Olivia home early, so the James Family doesn’t worry.”

Brian nodded and looked at Olivia. “My car got dirty this afternoon. Can I ride with you? Hope you don’t mind.”

Olivia quickly nodded, “I don’t mind.”

“What happened? Didn’t you just get a new car?” Sarah asked.

Brian either didn’t want to answer or didn’t hear her. He remained silent, using the serving chopsticks to place sweet and sour pork ribs on Olivia’s plate.

Sarah, annoyed, glanced at Ashley standing idly by the door and remembered the earlier incident, her anger flaring up again.

“Ashley, I asked you to dance for Olivia earlier, and you were so hesitant and shy. What kind of behavior is that! Even though you have a gambling father and a weak-willed mother, you grew up in the Quinn Family and represent our reputation when you’re out. If you continue to be so ungrateful, I’ll have to ask Melissa how she raised you! If I hadn’t been kind enough to keep you back then, you—”

“That’s enough,” Brian interrupted Sarah, “Olivia is still here.”

Sarah held back her anger, turning to Olivia with a forced smile. Due to her fierce appearance, her smile in the midst of anger looked even more frightening.

“Olivia, don’t be scared. I’m just disciplining the maid. Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. You shouldn’t be too soft-hearted either, understand?”

Olivia obediently nodded, “I understand, Auntie. My mom taught me the same.”

Sarah felt a bit relieved.

Brian took a napkin and leisurely wiped his fingers. “Let her wash the car then.”

Sarah was puzzled. “What?”

“Aren’t you complaining she’s an embarrassment?” Brian chuckled lowly, “Ashley, the Quinn Family doesn’t keep useless people, you got it?”

He casually tossed something at Ashley’s feet.

Ashley looked down and saw it was a car key.

In an instant, she remembered the ridiculous sex in the car that afternoon.

“Clean it up,” Brian said lazily, “or don’t come back.”

Ashley agreed.

But she murmured, “I should have squeezed him off back then.”

...

The car was new and not dirty.

But after a session of sex, the inside was a mess, and being sealed for hours, the smell was weird.

In the pouring rain, Ashley bought deodorant spray and alcohol wipes, and climbed into the car, meticulously cleaning for five hours.

When she returned to the Quinn Family, it was already 3 a.m.

The rain had long stopped, and the temperature had dropped slightly.

The main gate was locked, so Ashley didn’t want to knock. She circled to the side gate, entered, and walked along the back path to the main building.

The rain-soaked lawn squished under her feet.

Ashley walked along, just reaching the swimming pool when a male voice called out.

“It’s so late.”

Ashley stopped, turning her head to see a flickering spark from a cigarette behind a magnolia tree.

Brian stepped out from behind the tree.

At midnight, all the decorative lights in the courtyard were turned off, leaving only a few dim lights to barely illuminate the path.

The man’s tall figure looked even more imposing under the faint light, his handsome face outlined in deep shadows.

Ashley hesitated for a few seconds and softly said, “The car was hard to clean.”

Brian flicked away his cigarette butt and stepped out of the shadows. “What, blaming me?”

Ashley shook her head.

Brian approached her, lifting her chin with his fingers.

Their eyes met, and Ashley quickly looked away.

Brian chuckled, wrapping his arm around her waist.

Ashley nervously looked around, “Mr, don’t, please, someone might see—”

Before she could finish, Brian suddenly toppled to the side.

“Pop—”