Love Burnt Baby Stayed (by Nina R.Calder) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

E55 vouchers

Vivian walked into the living room, her heart full of anticipation. She spotted Daniel right away, with Tiffany standing nearby. But she didn’t pay Tiffany any mind.

Vivian asked Daniel, “Where’s Shep? Is he still asleep?”

“Yes, Mr. Carter is still sleeping,” Daniel replied.

“Geez, it’s already so late. That’s odd. Shep’s never one to sleep in. I’ll go get him up,” Vivian muttered as she checked the time. Without waiting for anyone’s response, she walked off toward the stairs on her own.

But Tiffany rushed over and blocked her path. She said, “Ms. Fletcher, no outsiders are allowed upstairs.”

Vivian pointed at herself and asked, “Outsider? Me?”

“Yes,” Tiffany replied.

Vivian frowned and said, “You must be new here. You seriously don’t know who I am?”

“I know exactly who you are, Ms. Fletcher,” Tiffany said.

“Then why are you getting in my way?” Vivian shot back.

Tiffany retorted, “Why can’t I stop you? Are you the lady of Carter Estate?”

Vivian replied with confidence, “I’ll be the lady of this house soon enough.”

She thought, ‘Mrs. Carter? That spot’s mine, no question.’

Tiffany looked her up and down, making Vivian feel seriously uncomfortable.

Vivian demanded, “Who brought you in here? You’ve got no manners at all.” She turned to Daniel and said, “Fire her right now. I don’t want to see her around here again.” She was acting like she already owned the place.

Daniel just stood there, looking awkward. He thought, ‘Even Mr. Carter couldn’t fire Tiffany, so what chance does Vivian have? Mrs. Evelyn Carter herself brought Tiffany in; no one would dare touch her.’

Vivian raised an eyebrow and said, “What, my words don’t count now? Fine, I’ll just tell Shep myself later. She thought, ‘Like I can’t handle some lowly maid?‘

Vivian stepped around Tiffany and kept going toward the stairs.

But Tiffany moved to block her path again. She said, “Ms. Fletcher, the way you’re acting, it looks like you’ve been here before. Do you always get to waltz in and out like this?”

Vivian lifted her chin, full of confidence and pride. She said, “Of course.”

Tiffany said, “Guess Mrs. Carter’s just too nice and easygoing. She could use someone with a backbone around

Sa

A

53

Chapter 41

her.”

EX 69 vouchers

Vivian’s eyes widened as realization hit her. She asked, “You’re working for Briana, aren’t you?”

She thought. ‘I knew it. No way Briana would just give up her Mrs. Carter status without a fight. Pretending to divorce, moving out, but leaving spies behind? Typical

Vivian jabbed her finger at Tiffany, nearly poking her in the face. She ordered, “You, get out of Carter Estate this instant, not even a second’s delay.”

Tiffany didn’t move an inch. She said, “You don’t get to decide if I stay or leave, Ms. Fletcher.”

Vivian turned to Daniel and snapped, “Why are you just standing there? Call security and toss her out.”

Daniel looked really awkward.

Vivian said, “So I’m not allowed to deal with Briana’s people? Today, I’m going to—”

Shepard’s voice suddenly cut through the tension. He called out, “Vivian.”

Leaning against the banister upstairs, Shepard looked sharp in his crisp shirt and tailored sauntered down the stairs at his own pace.

pants, then

When Vivian saw him, her face instantly softened into a gentle smile, completely at odds with the bossy attitude from seconds before.

She said, “Shep, you’re just in time. Who is she, anyway? She actually had the nerve to block me from coming upstairs to see you.”

She then held up the thermos and added, “I made you breakfast, special for you, and brought it over. It’s your favorite.”

Shepard replied coolly, “She’s the maid Evelyn personally assigned: Tiffany.”

Vivian was caught off guard, completely floored. The real shock came before she could even react: Briana suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs behind Shepard.

Briana kept her head down, glaring at the water stains on her dress, looking totally fed up. She complained, “Shepard, how many times do I have to tell you? Stop splashing water everywhere when you brush your teeth.

“Why is it so hard for you to learn?”

She grumbled inwardly, ‘Ugh, I just changed my clothes and now they’re wet from the sink, splattered with toothpaste foam. Great, now I smell minty fresh.’

When Shepard didn’t answer, Briana pressed, “Hey, Shepard! Are you even listening to me?” She followed his gaze downstairs and spotted Vivian.

Vivian looked even more bitter and resentful than Briana. She thought, ‘Briana actually spent the night at Carter Estate last night. And she even shared a bed with Shep? What the hell is going on here?‘

Chapter 41

Vivian’s voice trembled as her eyes welled up with tears. She asked, “Shep, what’s going on?”

Shepard pressed his lips together, still taking his time as he came down the stairs.

Briana just pursed her lips.

E55 vouchers

In the tense silence, Tiffany was the first to speak up. She said, “Ms. Fletcher, isn’t it totally normal for Mr. Carter and Mrs. Carter to wake up and come downstairs together?

“What’s so weird about that? Or did you think Mr. Carter should be waking up and coming down with you?

“Wouldn’t that make you the other woman? Is that what you want? To be the other woman? To wreck a home while knowing exactly what you’re doing?”

Vivian’s face went pale, and she bit her lip in frustration, but there was nothing she could do.

Vivian could go after Briana all she wanted, but Evelyn was a whole different story. Vivian couldn’t afford to cross Evelyn. Whether she could marry into the Carter family or not was all up to Evelyn.

Shepard finally reached the bottom of the stairs and shot Tiffany a look. He said, “Watch your mouth.”

Shepard was the real boss here, the head of the Carter family. Even with Evelyn in her corner, Tiffany couldn’t get too bold. So she quietly lowered her head.

Briana laughed and said, “Tiffany was perfectly within bounds. Tell me, which word was out of place?”

Briana wasn’t some softie or an easy target: she was nobody’s fool. She thought, ‘If Shepard can back up Vivian, I can back up Tiffany!‘

Briana said, “Ms. Fletcher, you really are crossing the line. It looks like you’re chasing after a married man.”

She then glanced at the lunchbox in Vivian’s hand and added, “If you’re that bored, go get a job. Why waste your time making breakfast for someone else’s husband and even delivering it yourself?”

Tiffany’s eyes sparkled. She thought, ‘Mrs. Carter is nothing like the pushover I imagined.

Tiffany chimed in right away, “Yeah, she’s totally acting like a simp.”

Briana burst out laughing. She said, “Tiffany, you actually know what ‘simp‘ means?”

“Of course I do, Mrs. Carter. I surf the web, too. I’m up to date with all the slang the kids use these days,” Tiffany replied.

Vivian’s face wavered between pale and furious, but she held it in. She gave Shepard a look: wounded innocence, trembling lashes, a fragility that seemed ready to shatter.

Shepard frowned, about to speak, when he suddenly felt someone cling to his arm.

Briana leaned in and hooked her arm through his. She purred, “Honey, you must’ve been exhausted after last night. Poor thing. Let me give those tired shoulders a massage. You really worked hard,”

Chapter 41

155 vouchers

Shepard looked down at their suddenly entwined arms and thought, ‘What’s she playing at now? Out of nowhere, she’s acting all soft and clingy, like the picture–perfect wife‘

Briana called out to Tiffany, “Tiffany, where’s that soup you made? Is it ready yet? Pour my husband a bowl, too. He needs a little extra after last night.”

Tiffany replied, “Of course, Mrs. Carter. Starting today, I’ll be making two different soups. Yours will be the beauty–and–energy blend. Mr. Carter’s will be packed with performance boosters to keep him strong and full of vitality.”

Briana forced a blush, playing up the demure wife act. “Let’s skip the ‘performance boosters,” she said, voice just loud enough to carry. “Mr. Carter already has more energy than I can handle.”

AD