Secrets In Chopard Manor

Chapter 10

A/N: Did you sign up for bookclub loves?

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"I would like a sandwich, please."

Four maids stood in front of me, but only three turned around to acknowledge my presence. Raven and Eve glanced at Sairose before both turning their attention back to me.

"I'm sorry," I cleared my throat. "Maybe I should have been more specific. Sairose, please make me a sandwich."

Sairose, on the other hand, sighed heavily, as if burdened by the mere thought of making me a sandwich. Pausing from where she stood washing the dishes, she looked over her shoulder. "Breakfast was less than ten minutes ago."

"It wasn't filling," I replied, and Eve glared at me.

"I'll do it," she said, letting out a noise of disbelief and walking over to the refrigerator.

"Eve, the weeds in my mother's garden are taking over, and if I remember correctly, that is your responsibility."

Eve froze, aware of the direction this was heading, and I hoped I wouldn't have to spell it out.

As much as she wanted to be the protector of her friend right now, I had a bone to pick with Sairose. I shoved my hand into my pockets, and Raven stepped away from the counter, leaving before I could tell her anything.

"What do you want, Ledger?" Sairose sighed exasperatedly, staring out the window and avoiding my gaze.

"A sandwich," I said, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms. I could sense her exhaustion and her irritation as her hands tightened around the plate, but I couldn't let her off the hook that easily. After seeing her saunter inside the manor's door last night with that... degenerate, we had to have a discussion

"I don't have time for this. I have a raging headache and chores to finish. So if you don't need anything else but a sandwich -"

"But you always have time for Onyx," I interjected, narrowing my eyes. Sairose scoffed and shook her head.

"There it is," she said, resuming her task of washing the plates. I leaned over the counter, desperately trying to catch her eye, but she stubbornly avoided my gaze. It felt like I was talking to a wall, cold and unyielding. This wasn't the Sairose I knew.

"Where did the two of you go last night?"

"That's none of your business."

"Why would you get drunk with a stranger in such a sloppy manner?"

"That's also none of your business," Sairose scrubbed harder and harder, the fibers protesting against the plates. I stared at her, hoping that she would meet my gaze. It felt like I was talking to a wall, cold and lifeless—and that wasn't the Sairose that I knew.

I reached out to touch her chin, hoping to bring her face closer to mine, but she pulled away abruptly, her eyes narrowing with anger.

"Don't you dare," she snapped, narrowing her eyes. It was the first time she had looked at me since I arrived, and I searched for a flicker of tenderness in her eyes. But all I found was disappointment. My shoulders sagged, and I slowly dropped my hands, nodding in defeat. "You should leave before someone catches us."

"Were you going to let him kiss you?" I couldn't help but ask, last night the vision of them so close... her lips –

Sairose laughed, dropped the plate into the sink, and turned towards me completely. "Whatever I do from here on out, Ledger, is my business. You don't get to question me anymore. Why don't you understand that?"