Chapter 4 There's No Scar

"Master, the lady's face..."

Arianna's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, am I about to be exposed?

In a flash, Audrey quickly lowered her head, grabbed a damp towel from the sink and hid her face quickly before he could see her. Sooner, she found her mask and exchanged it with the damp towel hovering over her face. She then grabbed the servant's hand tightly.

"Oh, I just took off my mask for a moment and scared her."

"Madam, it wasn't that I was scared, it was..." The servant's words were cut off as she felt a sharp pain in her hand-Arianna had pinched her in a moment of panic.

"Madam!..." The servant stared blankly at Arianna. Why wouldn't the lady let her tell the truth?

Arianna patted the servant's back in a comforting manner. "It's okay, it's okay. I'll keep my mask on from now on so I won't scare you. Don't be afraid."

The servant's mouth hung open, unable to close. Why was the lady saying the opposite of what she meant?

Derek watched the bizarre scene unfold, pondering for a moment before furrowing his brows.

"Arianna?"

"Yes Derek," She replied with a little smile hanging on her face.

"If you're ugly, you should know your place. Keep your face covered and don't embarrass me."

At the same time, Derek felt a chill run down his spine. Arianna's face had scared the servant into screaming-just how ugly could she be?

Arianna nodded in agreement. She breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he believed it. Derek turned and went downstairs, not even wanting to enter the bedroom after what had just happened.

"Madam, your face... there's no scar. You look beautiful. Why are you pretending...?"

Audrey seized up the maid, a young girl who seemed to be in her early twenties. Her face was innocent, and her eyes were bright, not the type to stir up trouble.

What's your name?"

"I'm Beatrice."

"Hmm... nice name. Alright, Beatrice. Keep this to yourself, don't tell anyone. I have my reasons for doing this, trust me, you'll be rewarded for your discretion."

"Reward? Um... okay," Beatrice managed to squeeze out the words with difficulty.

After Beatrice left with the dishes, Arianna picked up her phone. She had missed a few texts from her best friend, Theresa Cabello.

"Hey Ann... what's good? Are you still alive? Haven't been torn apart by the Gregory Family yet?"

Arianna quickly typed back, "You witch wishing for my downfall. Can't you hope something good for me? By the way, how are the new Khora's Lifestyle jewelry pieces selling?"

Theresa responded almost immediately, "Lol, I'm just worried about you! As for the new K.L. jewelry, they're selling like hotcakes. Arianna, you're amazing. Every piece you design is a hit. You're truly a little genius in design."

"I think you mean 'genius in disguise', lol." Arianna laughed out. Arianna twirled the small ruby ring on her middle finger, her smile radiant.

"See? From now on, treat me better. Stick with celebrity Ann, and you'll always have good fortune."

"Pfft... Celebrity my foot. But seriously, are you really going to keep wearing that mask around the Edwards Family? You have a goddess-like face, yet you hide it and let people think you're ugly. Such a waste."

Arianna replied, "I'll keep wearing the mask until i get tired. I was forced into this marriage. Once Derek fully accepts I'm hideous, he'll be eager to divorce me. It won't be long before I'm free again. During this time, I need to find Carlton and convince him to perform the surgery on Grandma. That's my goal."

Arianna only married into the Gregory Family because Paula and Kayla threatened her with her grandmother's surgery. Her grandmother had a large tumor in her brain that completely required a very complicated removal procedure.

Currently, only two people could perform this surgery: Kayla's uncle, Diego Miller, and Derek's cousin, Carlton.

Carlton was a mysterious figure, known by name but rarely seen. Until Arianna could find Carlton , her grandmother's only hope was Diego. Because of this, Kayla had Arianna under her thumb, controlling her every move.

If she didn't marry Derek in place of Kayla, Diego wouldn't agree to perform the surgery for her grandmother.

Rumor had it that Derek was a worthless cripple. Kayla, with her high aspirations, would never marry a cripple.

The Gregory's family's betrothal gift was a piece of land, which greatly tempted paula Miller. Since Kayla couldn't marry, Paula devised a plan to have Arianna marry in her place to secure the generous gift from the Gregory family.

After chatting with Theresa Cabello, Arianna felt a bit thirsty, she started looking for water in her room, but the kettle was empty. Having no other choice, she decided to go downstairs to find some water.

Once downstairs, Arianna grabbed a servant. The place was so big that she couldn't immediately tell where the kitchen was.

"Where's the kitchen? I'm thirsty," she asked.

The servant stared at Arianna's face, seemingly trying to see through the mask to the ugly scar beneath. She frowned, and the servant suddenly realized her rudeness.

"Madam, please follow me."

Following the maid towards the kitchen, Arianna glanced back. The maid had given a strange look at the door they had just passed.

Was there something odd behind it?

Once in the kitchen, Arianna instructed, "Go add some water to the kettle in the bedroom."

After sending the maid away, Arianna took a sip from her cup. She then left the kitchen and headed towards the door which the maid had been glancing at.

The door was slightly ajar.

From inside, a soft, delicate voice could be heard.