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nPaula could only watch the back of the confident woman who was once just as timid as she was.

nShe looked down at the bland dark brown maid's uniform she wore and then at the elegant gown the other woman wore.

n'The difference in the birthplace changes one's fate.' She derided her fate for being born to a low-level maid.

nSince she could not change her birth, her past, she clenched her fists and strengthened her resolve to change her future.

n'I will live a better life than this!' She vowed but now was not the time to make any moves.

nSo she silently followed after her Mistress as she bid goodbye to the room that she was immensely lucky to enter today.

nRaylene watched as the maid shut the door after she had exited the room and then they moved in the direction of her room.

nSince Rutherford was extremely territorial about his personal spaces, he never allowed any maid to enter their bedroom that they spent every night in.

nOnly Butler Limo was assigned with the task of cleaning and maintaining their room.

nHowever, as Raylene needed the help of a maid to get dressed every day, the room right next to the couple's bedroom was turned into a cloakroom for her.

nHere, she would make her maids help her prepare herself for any occasion.

nEverything she needed to get dressed was in this room. From the large silver mirror which she used to look at herself to the wardrobe that contained all of her clothes.

nThis was also why she was so confused when she saw Paula standing unharmed in his study room which he regarded as even more sacred than their conjugal bedroom.

nWhen they entered the cloakroom, Paula hurried to prepare a bath for her Mistress and then selected a new gown for her.

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"I want to wear a white gown.

" Raylene expressed her preferences which made Paula's hand that was hovering over the green dress to freeze.

nShe quickly moved the white dress and placed it in the bathroom so that she might wear it after she was done bathing.

nIn a few minutes, Raylene had taken her bath and when she came out she noticed a bowl in the maid's hand.

nThe contents inside the bowl seemed hot since she could make out the steamy vapors arising from it.

n'This is not lunchtime so why has she brought me food?' Raylene gaped at the bowl which held a certain liquid in it.

nHer eyes moved to the woman holding the bowl and they displayed puzzlement as she stepped in the same direction.

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"Madam, I asked the cook to make some birth control soup for you.

" Paula explained after she met those confused eyes and handed the bowl of soup over to her Mistress.

nIn the very next instant, the bowl was dashed to the floor and she was met with seething eyes which did not match the gentle face.

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"Who asked you to act on your own accord?

" The words being aimed at her were menacing and spine-chilling.

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"Have I been treating you too well, is that why you are acting without my orders?

" Raylene snarled at the presumptuous maid who had crossed her line.

nRaylene and Rutherford had not done anything that would require the usage of birth control soup.

nHowever, the maid was unaware of this fact and had asked the kitchen staff to prepare this concoction out of her own wishes.

nPaula cowered with her shoulders hunched over and continued staring at the shattered pieces of the bowl along with the soup that had spilled on the carpet, staining it beyond repair.

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"Forgive this servant, Mistress. I will not repeat this ever again.

" She apologized and immediately begged for mercy.

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"What I should do after the time I spend with my husband should not be the concern of a maid!

" Raylene roared which attracted the attention of a few maids who were passing by.

nThey all huddled together and secretly stood outside the closed door to witness the haughty maid being punished.

nRaylene had always been lenient to her when it was about matters that concerned her solely but once the other members of the family were taken into account, she would not sit still.

nThe same had happened a few seconds ago, the maid had brought her the birth control soup even before she was asked to do so.

n'Even if she has misunderstood something, who is she to tell me what to do next?' Raylene's anger knew no bounds as she glowered at the maid whom she had been taking good care of all these years.

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"Two weeks in the Lower Hall.

" She dictated and then turned away from the maid.

nPaula and the maids eavesdropping outside the room shuddered when they heard the words that their Mistress had spat out.

nHowever, none of them felt any remorse for the arrogant personal maid who would lord it over them in the absence of the Mistress.

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"Make sure you clean this up before you leave.

" She uttered and then strode out of the room.

nThe maids outside hurried to make it look as though they were just passing by when they saw the Mistress exiting her room.

nThey bowed and greeted her as she passed them by and then rushed to look at the pitiable state of Paula who remained frozen in the same place.

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"She was sent to the Lower Hall a few weeks back, wasn't she?

" One maid whispered as they gathered near the door.

nPaula could hear them but she pretended to be deaf as bent to pick up the broken pieces of the bowl.

n'The last time it was because of that arrogant daughter and now it was because of the annoying mother.' She gritted her teeth and continued her work.

nShe cursed the mother-daughter pair for bringing her troubles but she did not even bother to think that in both instances she was the one at fault.

nIf she hadn't messed things up then she never would have been punished but Paula was too deep in her hatred to realize her fault in this matter.

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