Alonzo knew serving his young miss was a bad idea, but he couldn't tattletale on ber because she would be in serious trouble if he said anything. Elisa and her daughter had told him to add bean powder to Harlow's soup like always to make her sick again.
But he had declined their offer and rather added much pepper to their soup instead. Ateast for once, they should suffer as much as Harlow does.
"How long have you worked here?" Elisa demanded, glaring at him.
"More than 20 years, ma'am," Alonzo replied evenly, he's tried his best to hide his fear. Fear meant he was guilty and might be killed by this wicked woman.
Elisa's hand lashed out, slapping him hard across the face. "Twenty years is enough time to know that both I and my daughter are allergic to spice! What do we do with this old fool?"
She turned to Claudia, her fury unrestrained.
Claudia glowered at Alonzo, her embarrassment still fresh from the evening's events. This old fool had tried to embarrass her before Alanis tonight.
Harlow watched the scene with quiet amusement, her lips curling into a faint smile. Both Elisa and Claudia were completely oblivious to the fact that their guests were silently watching their true form. This is who they truly are.
Beasts in human form.
Elisa, honey, why don't you come back and finish your dinner? We can handle this later," Frank, interjected, trying to diffuse the situation.
Elisa turned on him, her anger unabated. "I know you don't care about me, Frank, but at least show some empathy. This man almost killed me today, and you're just sitting there like always, watching from the sidelines!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air.
"When will Claudia and I have a place in this household? When will you all treat us like family?"
Harlow chuckled again. Can her step mother stay a day without spewing rubbish? Even for a mere head chef, she's playing the victim again.
What do you want to do with him?" Frank asked in resignation. He knew his wife well enough to understand that when Elisa set her mind on something, she wouldn't stop until she got her way.
"Behead him," Claudia declared suddenly, her voice venomous. The humiliation she had suffered tonight was unforgivable, and she wanted retribution.
"Isn't that too much?" Frank asked, but Elisa shot him a withering glare.
"Beheading it shall be," Elisa agreed, her voice cold and decisive. She turned to the other servants, "Take him away and prepare for the lesson tonight."
Both Alanis and Charlotte didn't care about both women's ruthlessness. Every wealthy family had their way of punishing their servants, as long as they can clean their tracks.
"There's no need for that," Harlow said calmly, drawing everyone's attention. She had finally remembered her script. For a moment, Alfonzo held his breath, and only when he heard Harlow's voice did he start breathing again.
Today would have been his end. From now on, he would never partake in their dirty family games. His little miss will surely be the end of him.
"I asked Alonzo to add extra pepper to the soup. I was feeling cold and needed the heat"
Her confession shocked the room into silence.
"What?" Elisa hissed, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward Harlow.
"Doesn't it taste wonderful, Mr. Hamilton?" Harlow asked, her green eyes locking with Alanis's.
"It's perfect," Alanis replied almost instantly, nodding in agreement.
Harlow raised an eyebrow at his quick response. The Alanis she remembered would have been furious that she hurt his beloved Claudia. He would have demanded she apologize or expressed his disappointment.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Something about him felt so different. Something she couldn't place her hands on.
How... dare... you...?" Elisa sputtered, her face turning an alarming shade of red. "If you were cold, why didn't you drink hot tea or hot water? What does adding extra spice have to do with that?"
"Father, did you hear this? Harlow just confessed to poisoning us!" Claudia cried, rushing to her father's side. "She knows we're allergic to spice, yet she deliberately instructed the butler to poison us."
"Oh, please," Harlow scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You and Elisa poison my food every single day. You add bean powder to my meals, knowing I'm allergic. This is just payback."
Claudia froze, taken aback by her sister's boldness. Harlow had always been the coward who let the step on her over and over again.
Father, are you just going to stand there and let her get away with this? Harlow openly confessed to poisoning us!" Claudia pressed, her voice trembling with indignation.
"Don't twist my words, dear sister," Harlow said with a wry smile. "I'd never stoop to your level of evil. I simply asked for extra spice because I like it."
"Enough!" Frank's voice thundered, silencing the room. He rubbed his temples, exhaustion etched into his features. His family never fail to embarrass themselves before guests.
He had no idea what had come over his daughter Harlow or what bad behavior she learned from the Hamilton's.
For the few hours she was there with them, she had also caused trouble there. He didn't know where she'd learned such attitude from, the Harlow he knows was forgiving, loving, peaceful...
This one seated before him was the opposite. Ever since she returned all she has done is cause trouble.
"Harlow, how could you ask the chef to add spice to the general food, knowing your stepmother and sister are allergic? That's why we stopped eating spicy food in this house."
For years, Harlow has been fed beans even if she was allergic to them. She would always fall sick after eating from the family, it is the reason she had stopped attending general dinners.
When she married Alanis, she had thought her new home would be different, but she had to put up with his family's shenanigans for them to like her. Considering other people over herself had been her mistake in her past life, in this life, she would be selfish with every damn thing.
"We have compromised their allergies in this home for years, but what about mine? How many times have we all stopped eating bean soup because I am allergic to it?" She asked.
"Father I can't believe you would be this inconsiderate. You want me to compromise but others cannot?" Frank was momentarily speechless for a minute.
"Bean paste soup is my favorite, I am not going to stop eating it because of your allergies Harlow," Elisa said.
"Neither will I stop eating spices because of your allergies Elisa." Harlow challenged. For a moment Elisa was shocked by her response.
"Such an uncultured girl." She hissed.
"You're doing too much now Harlow, how can you be so heartless? You know mother loves that soup so much." Claudia's words made her sister laugh out loud.
"To make things fair, there will no longer be Bean paste soups during our general eating or spicy foods." Frank Blackwood said. All he wants is peace in his household and he would do anything to achieve that.