"Joana, wait!

"

Joana gasped when suddenly someone's voice echoed through the air. She swiftly hid her hands behind her back, then turned around, turning to the source of the sound.

There was a middle-aged woman who was none other than Veronica, standing a few meters in front of her.

"Madam?

" She whispered nervously with a slightly trembling lower lip.

Without responding, Veronica walked slowly towards Joana. A pair of hazel eyes stared blankly, scrutinizing every expression on Joana's face. A bitter smile immediately appeared on her face, as if something from Joana was bothering her.

Flustered. Joana was increasingly unable to control the tremors that had never been absent from her body, since the appearance of the middle-aged woman. Oh **. She should have been more careful earlier.

"What are you doing here?

" Veronica asked with the same look, after standing right in front of Joana.

"Madam?

" Joana grew nervous, even making it difficult for her to answer Veronica's questions.

"I asked, what are you doing here? Is there something important you want to tell my son?

" Veronica asked again, as if she wanted to interrogate Joana on purpose.

Slowly and unconsciously, Joana took a step back. Maybe as a reflex of the body because of the feeling of tension and nervousness she is currently dealing with. That cynical gaze seemed to have succeeded in disturbing her body and soul.

"Why do you look so nervous, Joana?

" Veronica lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked back at Joana's face.

"N-no, Madam,

" answered Joana still stammering.

Oh **. Why is it so hard to control her nervousness? Wouldn't Veronica be more suspicious if she saw her like that?

"What do you mean? Why don't you answer my question? What are you going to do here?

" Veronica attacked looking suspiciously.

"I-I ... I just wanted to ask about Mr. Lucas' food, Madam. I don't know what food Mr. Lucas shouldn't eat, so I have to make sure first, to make it easier for me to choose the menu for him.

" Joana explained while trying to neutralize her feelings.

"Why don't you just ask me?

" Veronica sarcastically.

"That was the intention, but I didn't see you again. I also looked for you first. Since you weren't there, I decided to ask Mr. Lucas, but you appeared first.

"

Joana tried hard to explain with reasons that she thought were not quite right. Ah, the situation made her unable to think straight, so it was difficult to come up with an excuse.

As with Ellena's message that Veronica should not find out about the envelope in her hand, that's what Joana is currently fighting for. She didn't want to break her promise to Ellena.

She didn't know exactly why Ellena left the house, but seeing the look on Ellena's face before left, she felt that Ellena was in big trouble. She felt, she had to be able to help Ellena, in order to reunite with Lucas.

"My son is resting, don't disturb him! For other less important matters, you can ask me!

" Veronica said firmly with her gaze directed to Joana's hand which was hidden behind her back.

"Okay, Madam. I'm sorry,

" said Joana immediately said goodbye, not wanting to stand in front of Veronica for too long.

Joana immediately left the place and turned her hand forward, not wanting Veronica to see what she was holding. However, she had only taken a few steps when suddenly Veronica called out to her again,

"Wait!

"

Joana's steps reflexively stopped, then turned her body back to face Veronica. The voice of the woman in the maroon shirt made her jolt enough, that her heart seemed to jump.

"W-what is it, Madam? Can I help you?

"

Again Joana put on a nervous expression. It seemed that Veronica was so scary to her, that it made her look so scared.

Veronica immediately approached Joana.

"That's what you're holding?

" She pointed at Joana's hand which had turned back.

Joana rounded for a moment. Unlucky. Looks like Veronica accidentally saw the envelope in her hand.

"I-I'm not holding anything, Madam,

" said Joana, biting her lip, neutralizing the tremor that was getting stronger and stronger.

"Lies! I saw it. Give it to me!

" Veronica asked as she stretched out her hand in front of Joana.

"But, Madam—

"

"Give it to me!

" Veronica concluded firmly.

However, Joana still tries not to comply with Veronica's request. How could he possibly help Ellena, if the envelope believed to contain the letter was taken by Veronica?

"Give it to me!

"

"Madam, don't!

"

Joana jumped when Veronica snatched the envelope from her hand. Within seconds the envelope was in Veronica's hand.

Oh **. Why did Joana miss that? She shouldn't have let Veronica snatch the envelope from her hands.

"Madam, I beg you to give me the envelope.

" Joana pleaded pleadingly.

"Why are you so worried about this envelope, huh? What's in this envelope anyway?

" Veronica asked as she lifted the envelope into the air.

"It's nothing, Madam. It's just an unimportant envelope,

" said Joana evasively.

"What? It's not important? It's not important, but you are very worried about it? I'm curious, what's in this envelope.

" Veronica snapped as she flipped through the envelope in her hand.

Without waiting for Joana's approval, Veronica tore the edge of the envelope in one tug.

Joana rounded perfectly at Veronica's actions in front of her own eyes. Ah, the story is over. Surely something bad will happen. Right now, she was actually worried about Ellena. Sorry for not being able to help the employer.

"Madam, I beg you ....

"

Joana hung up on her words when Veronica took out a folded piece of paper from the envelope. The more jumped when the middle-aged woman unfolded and spread the paper in front of her face.

Joana quickly covered her face. Fail. The plan to help Ellena was doomed to fail. She didn't even know what her fate would be after this, maybe Veronica would threaten her, or even fire her.

'I'm sorry, Miss Ellena, for not being able to convey your message to Mr Lucas.' She muttered under her breath.

Veronica's gaze rounded, as she read a series of sentences neatly written on the paper. Not a word, not even a letter was missed. She carefully read the contents of the letter from beginning to end. Her heart was thumping again when she found out all the contents of the letter. She didn't expect that Ellena would dare to play behind her, in order to get Lucas back.

She kneaded the paper firmly in front of Joana, after she finished reading it. A sharp gaze instantly drew towards the pair of dark brown iris eyes in front of her.

"Don't ever tell Lucas this, if you still want to work here!

" threatened Veronica emphatically.

This of course made Joana even more unable to move, because of the feeling of nervousness and fear that was taking over her entire body.

"You understand?

" Veronica asked for sure, when no answer came out of Joana's mouth.

"Yes, I-I see, Madam,

" said Joana nervously.

"Once again you dare betray me. I'll make sure you won't have a job anywhere!

" Veronica said warningly.

"W-Well, Madam.

" Joana replied in agreement, for there was no other choice but to obey the woman's orders.

The noise between the two women, in fact, managed to reach the ears of Lucas and Adley who were still busy chatting in the room.

They swiftly stopped their conversation and strained their ears, ascertaining what was going on out there.

"Did you heard that?

" Lucas asked Adley, just to make sure he didn't hear wrong.

"Yeah. What's going on outside, it seems so noisy?

" replied Adley curiously.

"Can you see it? I'm afraid something has happened there.

" Lucas asked, immediately getting a positive response from his best friend.

Adley got up and walked over to the neatly closed bedroom door. A pair of hazel eyes immediately caught the two women who were standing opposite each other in the living room, as soon as he opened the bedroom door.

It suddenly made the two women flinch and immediately turned to the source of the sound.

"Madam, what happened? I overheard a commotion here?

" Adley asked matter-of-factly.

"Ah, Adley ... it's nothing. We were just talking about Lucas' food,

" Veronica replied, looking relaxed, even though she was lying. Ah, looks like she's really good at manipulating her facial expressions.

However, do not call Adley if you immediately believe it. He seemed to be digging his eyebrows. Of course because he felt suspicious, after hearing Veronica's answer. Just talking about food, does it have to be that noisy? Can't they just discuss it in the kitchen?

Something seemed to be bothering him, especially when he noticed Veronica hiding her hands behind her back as soon as he looked it. A crumpled paper appeared in the middle-aged woman's hand. What paper was Veronica hiding from him?

"Adley, is Lucas sleeping?

" Veronica asked as if she wanted to change the subject on purpose.

Like Veronica, Adley also tried not to show a suspicious attitude in front of the woman. He then gave a small smile.

"No, Madam. He's having a hard to sleeping.

" Adley replied simply.

"Tell him, get enough rest, don't be like a child who is so hard to advise!

" Veronica asked.

"Very well, Madam,

" Adley answered in acknowledgment and quickly said goodbye to Veronica, then closed the bedroom door.

Meanwhile, Veronica and Joana were still standing in the same place. Veronica's cynical gaze returned to the young woman in front of her.

"Remember what I said. Because once you break it, you'll know the consequences, Joana!

" She firmly snapped.

"Very Well, Madam. I understand,

" replied Joana, looking down, not daring to look at Veronica anymore.

"If Lucas asks about Ellena, just say you don't know anything!

" asked Veronica again which Joana immediately responded with a nod of her head.

"Now you go and cook porridge for your master!

"

"Okay.

"

Without saying anything else, Joana immediately rushed to the kitchen. Doing what Veronica ordered with the same feeling. Fear, nervousness, and regret. All the flavors mixed into one. She should have found the right time to give the letter to Lucas. But rice has become porridge.. She couldn't turn back time.