3
The Sterling family rushed to the hospital overnight.
Elara Sterling cowered in Lance Sterling's arms, her face pale.
"Mom, Dad, I saw her last night! She came to kill me!"
"She must not have expected me to be so lucky. My baby took the blow for me... My poor child."
Elara Sterling reached out and stroked her belly. Everyone's heart ached for her, and they rushed forward to comfort her, cursing my mother for not being at peace even in death.
Only Mr. Crawford stood outside the hospital room, his expression dark as he watched Lance Sterling holding Elara.
With so many people watching over her at the hospital, Mr. Crawford stayed for a while before rushing home to investigate who had been impersonating the "mother" Elara mentioned.
The first person Mr. Crawford questioned was me.
"Faye Crawford, tell me the truth. Were you the one who caused Elara's miscarriage last night?!"
He was holding a feather duster, and I cowered back as if I were scared.
"Dad, it wasn't me. It really wasn't."
"If it wasn't you, who else could it be?! You're the only one in this house who can't stand Elara! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Is this what your mother taught you?!"
I immediately shook my head and used my hands to gesture at my height.
"No, Dad. Uncle Sterling said he saw Mom last night. How could Mom be me?"
After hearing this, Mr. Crawford's expression became inscrutable.
He had been away on a business trip, yet Lance Sterling had snuck into the Crawford Family home behind everyone's back. How could he not be furious?
Mr. Crawford hit me directly with the feather duster.
"Even so, you're still responsible! I was on a business trip, and you didn't take good care of your mother! How could you sleep so soundly?!"
'That "mother" wasn't my mother, but I couldn't be bothered to correct him.'
Mr. Crawford scolded me with a clear conscience, but didn't blame Helena Crawford at all, who was still sound asleep.
'But it didn't matter. It would be her turn soon.'
'No one is getting away today!'
Only after he was done scolding me did Mr. Crawford order people to thoroughly search everyone's rooms.
Finally, in Mrs. Bell's room, they discovered a large amount of jewelry, as well as a silk nightgown, still dripping water, that had been shoved to the back of a cabinet.
There was no doubt; it all belonged to my mother.
Furious, Mr. Crawford kicked Mrs. Bell to the ground.
"You old hag! How dare you take her money to set Elara up! She's causing trouble for the Crawford family even in death!"
"I had no idea a dog raised by my Crawford family had gotten so bold!"
No matter how much Mrs. Bell begged, Mr. Crawford completely ignored her.
"You like being a dog, don't you? I'll let you be one for the rest of your life."
Watching Mrs. Bell get dragged away, the remaining servants were scared into silence.
They knew best. When my mother was still alive, Mrs. Bell was the best at pleasing her.
After my mother died, she immediately switched allegiances, giving Elara Sterling bad ideas on how to bully me.
Although they hadn't gone as far as Mrs. Bell, they had all, to some extent, put me down to get ahead.
'From now on, they'll have to think twice before daring to step on me.'
As for the broken, blood-stained toy the servants had placed on the coffee table, Mr. Crawford stared at it, lost in thought.
The toy belonged to Helena Crawford. She didn't allow anyone to touch it, especially me.
Then there was only one possibility: Helena Crawford had left the toy at the top of the stairs, and Elara Sterling had accidentally stepped on it.
After a long moment, Mr. Crawford shot a cold glare at everyone around him.
"Put the toy away. No one is to mention this in front of Elara or Lena."
I let the corners of my lips curl up slightly, then quickly composed my expression and looked at Mr. Crawford, fumbling with my phone.
"Dad..."
Mr. Crawford turned back impatiently, just in time to see the phone call in progress.
And the person on the other end was Elara Sterling.
