Chapter 2: Cursed Tongue, Household Enemies

Because of my outrageous words on the wedding night, Sebastian—who, in the original plot, was supposed to demote me to a housemaid—completely forgot about it.

He’s been busy these days tracking down Savannah. Hasn’t had time to bother with me, so I, the tragic female lead, have managed to survive under the title of Lady Whitfield.

Honestly, I was just grateful to have a roof over my head. And my own room—even if the wallpaper was peeling and the sheets smelled like old cologne. Beats getting tossed out on the street.

Sebastian’s mother died young. Now, the household is run by his old nanny, Mrs. Greene.

Mrs. Greene? She basically runs the place.

She’s always dreamed of getting her own daughter, Claire, into Sebastian’s bed. But he only ever had eyes for Savannah, that fake innocent, and insisted on marrying her.

They’re both bitter. Really bitter. When they found out I was a stand-in, and that Sebastian didn’t care for me at all, they fawned to my face. But behind my back, they plotted to cut my portions.

I was annoyed. But I didn’t plan to make trouble. After all, I was living under someone else’s roof.

But my curse is too strong. My inner thoughts always spill out.

“Wow! Just these wilted lettuce leaves? Even pigs wouldn’t eat this!”

“What, is the famous Whitfield estate bankrupt, that the lady of the house gets served this slop?”

Mrs. Greene and Claire glared at me. Fury in their eyes.

I couldn’t help but blurt out—

“Oh boy, this is bad—staff bullying the lady of the house!”

“Jenny, go get Lord Whitfield to come see this!”

Jenny, my maid, had already been scared stiff by my words these past few days.

Hearing that I was actually confronting Mrs. Greene and her daughter, she whispered in my ear, “Miss, I heard Mrs. Greene is Lord Whitfield’s old nanny, and Claire grew up with him.” Childhood friends…

The message was clear. Don’t mess with them.

I didn’t want to. But my mouth had a mind of its own.

“So what? Just because she’s his nanny, she can ignore all boundaries and act like she owns the place?”

“Does she think I stole her daughter’s place as lady of the house and now wants to teach me a lesson?”

“She’s dreaming! With her daughter’s sharp chin and, honestly, not much else going for her, she’s never caught Lord Whitfield’s eye. If she could, why hasn’t she even become a mistress after all these years?”

I said all that. Then I covered my mouth and cried.

In the original novel, Mrs. Greene and Claire were seriously evil. There was no limit to the bad things they’d do.

What if they drugged me? Slashed my face? Dumped me at a mass grave, just like in the book?

To avoid being quietly disposed of, I decided to strike first. Make a scene.

I yanked Mrs. Greene’s hair. Scratched up Claire’s face.

Sebastian hadn’t found Savannah. He’d been sulking in his room for days.

When he heard I was fighting with his nanny and her daughter, he zipped over in his wheelchair. Without even asking what happened, he pointed at me and yelled—

“Annie Carter! You troublemaker, what are you up to now?”

“Trying to get my attention again, are you?”

“No matter what you do, I’m not even going to look your way!”

Heaven knows!

How is this making trouble? This is perfectly reasonable resistance.

I didn’t say a word. Instead, when Sebastian wasn’t looking, I picked up a wilted lettuce leaf. Stuffed it in his mouth.

His face changed instantly. He spit it out with a "blech, blech."

“Ugh… Annie Carter, you menace—what did you just make me eat?”

“This stuff is so bad, even pigs wouldn’t touch it!”

Finally, Sebastian said something fair.

I turned to Mrs. Greene and Claire. “Did you hear that? That was straight from your lord’s mouth!”

Then, with tears in my eyes, I raised my fist and accused, “Lord Whitfield! Is this really what the lady of the Whitfield estate gets to eat? Not even a main and three sides?”

“No wonder Savannah ran off. No wonder Savannah ran off with a broke musician—turns out you’re even stingier than he is!”

Sebastian’s face went dark. Really dark.

He glared at Mrs. Greene and Claire. Fury in his eyes.

“What’s going on here?”

Mrs. Greene, knowing his temper, rushed to explain. “Sir, please don’t be angry. The staff must not have known their place and neglected Lady Whitfield. I’ll handle it…”

Claire, on the other hand, was brazen.

She said to Sebastian, “Sir, what kind of lady of the house is she? She’s just a replacement.”

“I heard that on the wedding night, she made you so mad you stormed out.”

“I was just trying to help you teach her a lesson…”

I may be timid. But my mouth is fearless!

It spits out every single thing I’m thinking.

I couldn’t stand Claire’s words.

“Who do you think you are, anyway? What makes you think you’re so important?”

“What a joke. The Whitfield estate’s rules are really something! Even a maid dares to cut the lady’s food, all in the name of ‘helping the lord!’”

“Sir, are these two your nanny and maid, or do they run this place?”

I was done pretending. Whatever. Let them come crawl through my window tonight—I was going to say my piece.

Jenny, seeing me at it again, was nearly in tears as she tugged at my sleeve, shaking her head, “Miss, please, say less…”

I wanted to. But I couldn’t help it.

Not only am I cursed to tell the truth. I literally can’t hold anything in.

Sebastian was shaking with rage. His already cold face making the room drop several degrees. Everyone around shivered.

They all looked at me with pity. Certain I was done for.

But unexpectedly, Sebastian said, “Then tell me, what do you want to eat?”

I froze.

Was he… actually going to improve my meals?

I meant to say. Just three sides and a main would be fine.

But what came out was…

“Lobster tail, prime rib, duck confit, roast chicken, honey-glazed ham, grilled salmon…”

Yeah, I know. Overkill.

Sebastian was silent for a long time. Then finally said, “We can’t afford that kind of country-club menu for the lady of the Whitfield estate.”

“From today, you’re not the lady of the house—you’re just a mistress. An entree and three sides, every day.”

I was stunned.

Didn’t I just mock Claire… for not even making it to mistress?