I let out a disgusted scoff and looked at Ingrid right in the eye. For straight 30 seconds, I gravely stared at her until she felt the core of my rage.
Ingrid is the woman and the accomplice of Arthur Lim in further leaching out wealth from our poor Ma. The other woman, the thick-faced mistress.
In my head, I laughed victoriously when Ingrid fixed her posture and swallowed hard while still trying to keep up with my piercing gaze.
"I said, do this dirty laundry!" She scowled at me, even emphasizing the word 'dirty' right into my face.
I gave her a tight lip smile while my fists were clenched, shaking at the side of my body. "Yes.", was all I could say. I badly wanted to slap her face so hard until my hand leaves a throbbing red mark on her literal thick face.
Ryan and I haven't met each other since we arrived here in the mansion. He has been working on the farm since day one. I am sincerely hoping my younger brother is doing alright there and not making him work like a buffalo.
Later that day after I finished washing the loads of dirty clothes, I encountered my half-sister Amira for the first time.
I was watering the plants in the garden when she decided to have her afternoon snacks there. Amira is wearing a girly glam dress, her hair is perfectly styled, and with a full-face make-up on.
"Is this the new maid?" She pointed at me and asked the woman serving her snacks on a nearby coffee table.
The servant gasped, darting her anxious gaze from me to Amira and uncertain whether Amira is just playing dumb to not acknowledge me as her older half-sibling or she is really dumb.
Raising her eyebrows, Amira threw a fit. "Why aren't you answering me?!" She threw the tray containing the food which scattered on the newly mopped floor.
Unable to contain my disgust, I butted in. "Hey! There's no need to do that!" I furiously growled and threw the water hose I am holding on the side and I took huge strides to her direction.
The moment I stood up in front of Amira, she looked at me from head to toe and covered her nose.
"I am Celestine Lim. Your older half-sister." I introduced myself to her as if it would make a difference in her already filthy attitude, a self-entitled brat.
The remaining servants busied themselves in cleaning the mess Amira made as if this is a daily occurrence.
Amira held her chin up and glared at me, she then sashayed away from the garden.
Now I am beginning to think whether staying in this house is a good choice for Ryan and I. We have been staying here for less than a week but I have already seen how horrible this household is.
Money is surely not everything.
I am not surprised not to see our father. Back when he was still with our family, he was rarely home.
He devoted his entire time building his business empire, making it prosper and become the leading company in the world. Arthur Lim is ambitious.
Contrary to how people see him as a compassionate and kind family man, he is rotten deep inside. Though he is practically absent in his children's growth, Arthur Lim instills fear in his household.
For three years I have not seen him since the day I begged him to help our sick mother. He had all the resources to do so, he could even buy an entire hospital if he wanted to but our father did not spend even a penny to help our Ma live a little longer.
Considering how he managed to do that to our Ma his legally wedded wife and to us his biological children, how monstrous can he become?
"Sir Arthur wants you in his office." His male secretary in his late 30s wearing a tie and suit informed me as he strode ahead of me while I followed him behind. We went inside a transparent glass elevator to reach his office located on the third floor.
Remorse flushed all over my entirety the closer we get to his home office. I clenched my fists on the side. Rage dominated all over me.
Our father's home office occupied the majority of the third floor of the mansion. Two gigantic wooden doors greeted me as soon as we arrived outside the office.
Even the doors screamed authority to the ones spectating it. I bit the insides of my cheeks before pushing the huge doors simultaneously open creating a resounding creaking sound.
As I got inside, a strong scent of old books and freshly printed papers entered my nostrils. Opposed to the gold and white interior of the house, our father's office seemed to be built and designed differently.
The floor is made out of shiny high-quality wood which is so well-mopped that it could almost pass off as a mirror.
He is standing on his back, looking outside by the window where he could see the entirety of his vast estate.
I cleared my throat to get his attention. He then faced me in an instant with his shoulders back. I must say he looks younger than most 50 years olds do.
"Celestine Lim, my firstborn. The news turns out to be correct, you are indeed the spitting image of me." He said in an authoritative tone while he took wide and calculated strides back to his table with his hands on his back.
The reputable Arthur Lim is wearing his usual custom-made suit which makes him look a few years younger. His hair is well-kempt with a styling gel.
Aside from being a cunning businessman, our father is known for his extreme efforts to maintain his youthful shape. He works out a lot in order not to look like those average businessmen with big stomachs and excessive fats.
How unpleasant for him to call me his firstborn because I did not feel like it was something to be proud of. More than once in my life, I have been told that I do look like the female version of him, charming and strong.