"Does it still hurt?"
In the small bedroom upstairs, Mia knelt in front of Juliet, carefully applying medicine to the little girl's swollen cheek with a cotton swab.
"Mommy!"
Juliet's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Mia. "Mommy, it hurts."
"Shh."
Mia frowned, raising her finger to gently press against the little girl's lips. "Don't say that."
"I'm your maid. Don't call me mommy, sweetie."
"Oh."
Juliet wiped away her tears, her big, watery eyes full of grievance. "M-Miss Larson, this is the first time I've ever been hit like this."
Her small body shook with sobs.
Mia's heart ached, and her nose stung with emotion.
It was all her fault.
She shouldn't have left Juliet here alone to reduce Michael's suspicions.
Taking a deep breath, she held Juliet's hand, her eyes filled with guilt.
"It's not your fault. It's that bad woman's fault."
Juliet pouted, "I hate her so much."
"Don't talk like that."
Mia bit her lip, speaking softly. "She's someone your daddy likes. If you have conflicts with her, it will only put your daddy in a difficult position. So from now on, stay away from her, okay?"
Kyle was an adult, and Michael had pampered her for years.
Juliet was just a little girl who had recently returned to Michael's side.
If you can't fight, avoid.
"Okay, I remember. I'll steer clear of her from now on."
"Good girl."
Taking another deep breath, Mia continued to apply the medicine to Juliet.
In the hallway outside, a tall man stood, listening to their conversation through the slightly open door, his eyes growing darker.
Back in his study, Michael gave a cold order, "White, continue searching for a suitable maid for the little princess."
White was taken aback. "Sir, about Mira Larson..."
Michael looked up, his gaze cold and piercing. "I won't keep a woman with ulterior motives around for long."
"Yes, sir!"
After the medicine was applied, Juliet lay down on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
After settling Juliet, Mia returned to the maid's room that White had arranged for her.
The maid's room was clean and tidy, though small, it was fully equipped.
She took off her clothes and turned her back to the mirror to check the injury on her back.
The kick Kyle had given her earlier had been full of force, hitting her old injury perfectly.
Seeing the bruise forming on her back in the mirror, Mia sighed and squatted down to search for medicine in the first aid kit.
When Michael pushed the door open, he saw the woman squatting on the floor in her underwear, her back turned to him.
Her skin was white as snow, contrasting sharply with the bruise on her lower back caused by Kyle's kick.
Michael frowned. "What are you doing?"
The sudden male voice made Mia's body stiffen.
She instinctively stood up and turned to face him. "Mr. Kingsley."
She was only wearing a white bra, her alluring figure quite striking.
Mia's face, already sculpted to be extremely beautiful, was now accentuated by her graceful posture.
"At a time like this, still trying to seduce me?"
He narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms and leaning against the door, his gaze filled with contempt.
It was only then that Mia realized her attire was inappropriate.
She quickly grabbed a nearby coat and draped it over herself. "Is there something you need, Mr. Kingsley?"
Michael looked at the red, swollen handprint on her face. "Does it still hurt?"
Following his gaze, Mia touched her face.
She had been so focused on the injury on her waist that she had forgotten about the slap she received from Kyle, which had left her face slightly swollen.
She smiled. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Michael strode into her room and sat down on the bed.
"Why were you recording earlier?"
His gaze was cold as he looked at her. "Ordinary people don't think about recording all the time."
This man's vigilance was still so high.
Mia squinted slightly but maintained a humble smile. "Earlier, when I was at my place, Assistant White was discussing my future salary and benefits with me."
"I was worried he might renege on some verbal promises, so I secretly recorded it."
"I didn't expect you to get a call about Miss Juliet, and I followed along. I forgot to turn off the recording."
"Is that all?"
The man walked up to her, his dark eyes staring into hers as if he could see through all her thoughts.
Mia felt incredibly uncomfortable under his intense gaze. She turned her face away, avoiding eye contact. "Of course, that's all."
"I don't like scheming women."
Michael lifted her chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Keep your little schemes to yourself."
"I can make your life at Blue Bay very comfortable, or I can make it impossible for you to live in Banyan City."
With that, he let go of her harshly and walked out, leaving Mia standing there, watching his figure disappear down the hallway.
Cold sweat drenched her back.
Just then, her phone rang.
Mia snapped out of her daze and closed the door.
The call was from Olivia.
"James finished his class. I brought him back. Are you not home?"
"Olivia."
Mia took a deep breath. "I need to stay here tonight with Juliet. Can you look after James and take him out for something to eat?"
"Of course!"
Hanging up the phone, Olivia rubbed James's head. "Come on, let's go get something delicious!"
James pouted, dodging Olivia's hand. "Mommy isn't coming home tonight?"
Olivia nodded. "It seems not."
"You'll stay with me tonight and sleep at my place!"
James pouted and sighed lightly. "I'm so pitiful."
"You little rascal, staying with me isn't pitiful at all!"
Olivia rolled her eyes and dragged James to the nearby mall.
After buying some personal items for James, Olivia took him to the restaurant on the top floor of the mall for dinner.
As soon as they entered the restaurant, James spotted Kyle sitting in a corner.
He pursed his lips and led Olivia to a spot not far from Kyle.
Kyle was on the phone, her voice filled with anger and resentment. From where James was sitting, he could clearly hear her words.
"I really didn't expect that she survived that car accident years ago and even had a daughter."