Chloe's POV
"You know how much your sister values tonight's banquet, how can you keep her out of it for the sake of an outsider?"
I could recognize that's Victoria's voice. Clearly, even though she had sided with Ethan earlier, she was unsatisfied with Ethan's punishment of Maggie.
"Chloe is not an outsider, Mother. She carries our surname; she is part of our family." Ethan, now a grown man, spoke in a deeper, more authoritative tone than before. I could imagine his face, exuding the pride and pressure of a true leader as he spoke.
"But—"
"No buts. If you don't want the Obsidian pack to sense any flaws in our house, you'd better treat Chloe as your own daughter. Otherwise, all these years of scheming will be for nothing, Mother."
Flaws? Scheming?
I pondered over Ethan's words, slowing my dishwashing in the process.
"Slacking off again, Chloe?"
A harsh voice suddenly came from behind me, almost causing me to drop the dish I was holding.
"Slacking off, as expected. How long does it take to clean a pile of dishes?"
The old maid, Nancy, pinched my waist sharply, causing me to gasp in pain. "You worthless thing! Get your ass off here and go clean up the ballroom terrace!"
Nancy snatched the dish and sponge from my hands, driving me out of the kitchen. I knew exactly why Nancy did this. Compared to other tasks, the kitchen work was easier and offered more chances to interact with the Colins family members. Earning the masters' praise might lead to becoming the mansion's butler, wielding more power.
However, Nancy's ambitions had no appeal to me. Because my dream was to come of age and gain my own wolf. According to the werewolf tradition, werewolves could leave their original pack to find their fated mate, once they have their Alpha's permission. Given James Colins' disregard for me, I believed he wouldn't refuse my request. He likely wouldn't even remember he had a foster daughter.
"Didn't you hear me, Chloe? What the hell are you still doing here? Get out!"
Nancy's roar brought me back to reality from my pleasant daydream. Filled with anticipation for the future, I smiled, took off my apron, and lifted the sides of my baggy pants, deliberately bowing mockingly to the rude and ugly woman.
"Yes, ma'am."
Nancy was stunned, taking a moment before muttering, "What a weirdo."
Nancy's words couldn't dampen my mood at all. Honestly, nothing that happened today could affect my mood. Because at midnight tonight, I would turn eighteen, and my dream would come true.
I walked through the corridors of Colins Manor, climbing the spiral staircase to the ballroom on the second floor. The ballroom had been thoroughly polished, even the wooden floors had been waxed, reflecting a beautiful sheen in the sunlight.
The last time the Colins family had cleaned this room like this was for the occasion of Catherine Colins, the eldest daughter, meeting the heir Alpha of the Blue Blood pack.
Thinking of this, I suddenly realized why Maggie valued tonight's banquet so much. Could Alpha Alexandra be her future husband?!
"Hey, you there, the girl cleaning the windows, what's your name?!"
A male voice suddenly startled me, making me scream. I turned around, scanning the terrace, but I was clearly alone.
So, who was speaking?!
Frowning in confusion, I was about to resume cleaning the window when the young male voice spoke again.
"Hey, look up here."
Through the polished glass in front of me, I finally saw the bold man. He had somehow climbed a old tree outside the manor and was sitting leisurely on a branch, which happened to be parallel to the terrace.
"Are you a maid here?" The man on the branch tossed an apple in his hand, with a roguish but charming smile on his face, did not look like a nice guy.
I decided to ignore him. I dipped the rag into the bucket of water and continued wipping the glass.
Plop!
A sudden splash of cold water soaked me as something fell into my bucket. "Ah!"
I stared in surprise at the red apple bobbing in the water, anger rising within me. "What the hell?!"
"So, you can talk. Why didn't you answer my question?"
"Because I don't know you, you jerk!" The man's smile only fueled my repressed anger. "And you shouldn't be messing with me! I can tell you're not from the Colins family or the Silver Moon pack. So, you better get out of here before I report you to the guards!"
"What if I say no?" The man tilted his head, as if deliberately challenging me. "What can you do about it, maid girl?"
"I'm not a maid here! After tonight, I won't belong here anymore!"
The man's harassment made me so annoyed that I inadvertently revealed my plans. That wasn't good.
But my words piqued his interest. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why tonight?"
"It's none of your business anyway."
I grabbed my bucket and ducked into the ballroom. Through the windows, I could still feel his eyes following me.
What a strange man.