A Beauty with Multiple Masks novel Chapter 12

Soon, Janet had been brought over to Henrick forcefully. As soon as she saw Henrick, Janet started shouting in panic, “Mr. Southall, I’m innocent! I went out only because my useless son got into trouble again! I have nothing to do with the cobra incident! Please, I’ve always been loyal to the Southalls!” Janet’s pleas fell on deaf ears as Henrick ordered for her to be tied up. Without any hesitation, the housekeepers did as instructed.

Still ignoring Janet’s cries, Henrick walked around the hall and found a leather belt left behind by a guest. “Whip her!” he ordered as he handed the belt to the housekeeper. Despite his initial hesitation, the housekeeper eventually carried out Henrick’s orders. Snap! With just one whip, Janet’s skin instantly split open. The pain was so unbearable she started screaming and writhing on the floor. Arielle watched silently by the side, her gaze cold and unfeeling.

It looks like the person who had snuck onto my balcony to release the snake is this old hag. Arielle was furious and felt no pity toward Janet. It’s only fair that she pays the price for this. After ten lashings, Janet was drenched in a cold sweat, unable to make a sound anymore. Despite the pain she was in, she still refused to tell the truth. She’d be charged with murder if she did, and she couldn’t let that happen.

The housekeeper who had been whipping Janet couldn’t tolerate any more and spoke up. “Mr. Southall, we can’t hit her anymore. At her age, if we keep this up, she’s not going to be able to take it.” Henrick understood the concern, and likewise, he didn’t want any mishaps before he got to the bottom of the matter. Before he could give the order to stop hitting Janet, another housekeeper returned from his investigation.

“Mr. Southall, I’ve asked around the markets in the southern district. One of the sellers said he sold someone a venomous snake at midnight.” Janet froze when she heard that, and the subtle change in her demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by the eagle-eyed Arielle. “Was it Janet who bought the snake?”

Arielle asked. The housekeeper shook his head. “I didn’t ask, but I did bring the seller here. He’d also be able to confirm if the snake did come from him.” “Very good,” Henrick replied. “Bring the man in!” Soon, the snake seller walked in cautiously and greeted Henrick. After getting someone to bring the severed snake over, Henrick asked, “Is this the snake you sold?” It only took one glance before the seller nodded. “Yes, sir, this is the one. Some of the scales on its tail had come off during the transaction. That’s why I recognized it immediately.”

Henrick scoffed and walked over to Janet, who hadn’t dared to look up since the mention of the snake seller. He brought her to the seller and once again asked, “Did this old lady buy the snake from you?” The snake seller had no idea what was going on, only that he shouldn’t lie to a man like Henrick. He took one good look at Janet and nodded. “Yes, that’s her. She said she wanted to try making some exotic snake wine, so I recommended her the most venomous snake I have.”

With a witness and evidence, the truth was finally out. Henrick pushed Janet away angrily and asked coldly, “So? What do you have to say for yourself now?” Janet sat on the floor shaking like a leaf. And yet, she remained silent. “Janet, look what this has come to,” Arielle chimed in. “It’s time to come clean about everything. Before the police get here, tell us why you want to harm Shandie! You watched her grow up, and yet you want to see her dead?

Don’t you think that’s too cruel of you?” “No, I didn’t. Why would I want to harm Ms. Shandie? She’s like a daughter to me!” “Then who exactly did you want to harm? Is it my father?” Arielle continued. “Did someone else put you up to this to frame me? Or are you going to say I was the one who got you to buy the snake?”