"What's going on? Why are you standing behind her?" Ella asked, her curiosity piqued as Rita hurriedly darted behind the maid.
Ella had walked in unexpectedly. Rita, fearing discovery, had already removed the fake silicone bump
"Mmm… something looks fishy," Ella muttered under her breath, surprised that the rude and arrogant Rita was now acting friendly with the maid.
But there was nothing concrete to point at, so she brushed it off and headed to her room, though suspicion lingered.
"Uhhhhh… that was too close," Rita whispered to herself, her heart racing.
She hurried into her room to freshen up and carefully strapped on the fake silicone bump again, desperate to avoid being caught.
"What is she planning this time?" Ella whispered, a knowing glint in her eyes. She understood Rita too well to be completely unsuspecting.
During dinner, Ella grew curious, wanting to understand the sudden closeness between Rita and the maid. She knew Rita well enough to know she usually downgraded people with nothing, so this behavior was unusual.
"Is that so…" Ben asked, his tone calm but probing. "I'm surprised, as you are," he added thoughtfully.
He concluded that Rita's unusual friendliness must be because of the pregnancy. Maybe she wanted someone to talk to, and since he was mostly at work, she had chosen the maid as her confidante.
"Mmm… mmm… mm," Rita cleared her throat, hesitating for a moment before asking Ella a question.
"Ella, how do you feel about Jasper?" Rita asked, her tone calculated, aiming to remind Ben that Ella wanted Jasper, not him.
"Jasper is a kind man. He listens to me, is never arrogant, doesn't judge, and never looks down on anyone…" Ella continued, talking non-stop, unaware of the growing jealousy in Ben.
Ben's patience snapped. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice echoing over the table.
"Table manners," he added sharply, his eyes flashing with controlled anger.
"Eat your food. You can have this conversation later," Ben continued firmly, having heard more than enough about Jasper.
Rita smiled to herself, a quiet thrill of satisfaction curling on her lips. She had achieved what she had hoped, stirred Ben's jealousy and reminded him of her presence in his life.
Later that evening, Ella couldn't sleep. She decided to take a walk around the house, perhaps sit beside the pool, and think.
" Hurry and come get her, she's getting on my nerves," Ella heard Rita saying to someone on a phone call.
"Who are you getting rid of this time?" Ella whispered to herself, curiosity burning. She wanted to know who Rita was speaking to at this late hour.
Rita panicked as she realized Ella was there.
"Oh… it's you," Rita stammered, forcing a fake smile.
"It's nothing serious. You don't have to worry about anything," she added, walking away quickly, her steps hurried and tense as she almost got caught.
Rita paused briefly, confused, but continued her walk, deciding not to think too deeply about what had just happened.
Ella sat beside the pool, letting the cool night air wash over her, reflecting on everything; how she had started and where she was now.
"I've come too far to let everything go…" Ella whispered to herself, her determination hardening. No one would be an obstacle to what she wanted.
"You couldn't sleep too, I guess," Ben said as he walked toward Ella.
Ben hadn't been able to sleep either, his mind replaying what Ella had said about Jasper during dinner. The thoughts churned uncomfortably, keeping him awake.
"Why are you up?" Ella asked, expecting he might be with Rita.
"Nothing… I just wanted to feel the cool night air," he replied softly, stepping closer to sit beside her.
The night hung heavy with unspoken tension, the quiet pool reflecting their inner thoughts. Ella's determination, Ben's unresolved feelings, and the subtle undercurrent of jealousy that refused to fade.