Chapter 3 NOT WELCOMED

Brooklyn, the maid who had accompanied the twins earlier, stormed into the kitchen with a frown.

"Guess who's new," she announced.

"Who?" Ruth, the cook, asked, pausing her kneading.

"A nanny," Brooklyn replied. "And guess what again. She can't even talk."

A scoff came from Zara, the laundry maid. She had been walking past the kitchen when she overheard Brooklyn's voice and decided to pay attention.

"Mute? You're joking," she whispered.

"I wish I were," Brooklyn replied with an eye roll.

"Well, she's not going to last a day. Why are you so worked up about her?" Ruth asked.

"You should see how she acts-like she's better than all of us. Acting all sweet and innocent, batting those pitiful green eyes like she's some kind of angel, pretending to understand those little demons better than the rest of us."

"No one understands those two," Ruth muttered. "Not even their own father."

Skye, the maid responsible for cleaning the twins' rooms, frowned.

"She just got here, and you're already calling her names? You don't even know her. Why the hate?"

Brooklyn shot her a sharp glare.

"You weren't there, Skye, so I'd appreciate it if you just shut the fuck up. That bitch was playing innocent, acting all sweet like some kind of angel fallen from heaven. It's cringy. I bet she's not even mute-she was pretending."

Zara snorted.

"She won't last a week."

"A day," Ruth corrected. "I give her a day."

The kitchen door creaked open, and the chief housekeeper, Mrs. Edith, entered the room, looking curious. Seeing all the staff gathered in one place could only mean gossip.

She was an older woman-the eldest among them, to be exact. The murmuring died down as her sharp eyes scanned their faces one after another.

"What's this fuss about?" Edith demanded.

Brooklyn folded her arms with a pout.

"It's about the new nanny."

Edith raised a brow.

"New nanny? I thought she was just having an interview. Has she been employed yet?"

Brooklyn shook her head, frowning.

"But she's got a high chance. I can tell."

"I mean, she can't speak," Zara added. "How is she supposed to handle children if she can't even tell them what to do and what not to do?"

Mrs. Edith smirked.

"Then that means she's as useless as the rest. She's a waste."

Brooklyn hesitated before countering,

"Well, not when she looks just like her."

Edith's brow arched.

"Just like who?"

"Madam Nadia," Brooklyn replied.

The whole room went silent that instant.

"Wait, you can't be serious," Ruth whispered.

"Ginger hair, freckles, same eye color. Do you still think she won't get the job?" Brooklyn replied.

"Now, that's an issue," Edith said slowly.

"You think? We all know why she's here-for Sir King, not the nanny job. Who knows if she's even a real ginger or just dyed her hair to entice Sir King and steal his lonely heart?"

"Brooklyn, I don't think he'd fall for that easily. Sir King is highly disciplined and a sadist. If anything, he'd hate her for reminding him of Madam Nadia," Ruth added.

"And what if Sir King is still secretly in love with Madam Nadia? Why do you think he refuses to move on and love another woman?" Zara pointed out.

Skye hesitated before mumbling,

"Guys, I think we're being unfair. What if she's just a natural redhead with freckles? She didn't create herself. Hating on her is just pure jealousy."

The others turned to her with a tight frown.

"Jealous of what? Her speech disability? Please," Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

"She'll show her true colors soon enough," Ruth muttered.

"And when she does," Brooklyn added, "she'll regret stepping foot in this house."

Skye shook her head and turned to walk out of the kitchen. Maybe they were right. Maybe they weren't.

Either way, one thing was clear: that mute nanny had just walked into a house filled with enemies.

Poor thing got to worry about the twins and the staff too, she thought.

"Where are you going, Skye? Oh, you want to be the snitch?" Brooklyn cut into her thoughts, hands on her waist.

Skye ignored her and continued walking until Mrs. Edith intervened.

"Brooklyn, we are discussing something important here."

Brooklyn sighed and turned to face her.

"I need to prepare the room for the kids' bedtime. It's 6 p.m. already."

The four others exchanged glances-silent communication passing between them.

"Fine. You can go, then," Mrs. Edith instructed.

Skye exited the kitchen.

"If the nanny gets this job, she's in so much trouble, and she can't even talk," she muttered to herself and sighed.