My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39: An Empty Title is still a Title

Betty let out a deeper breath as she stepped into the dirty kitchen. It had only been an hour since she finished the tasks left by the other maids. But after dinner, the head maid told her to do the dishes tonight—even though she was supposed to rest early.

"I should’ve just sewn my mouth shut," she grumbled, the corners of her eyes reddening with frustration. "Why am I getting punished like this?"

According to the head maid, there had been reports that she was "slacking." So, as part of her punishment, she was told to do the dishes alone. Meaning, she had to wash this mountain of dishes.

"I think I should just send my resignation letter," she muttered as she dragged herself to the counter, reluctantly putting on an apron with a heavy heart.

Despite everything, Betty still got to work, keeping her complaints to herself. Her heart, however, tightened with the disappointment building inside her. All of them were servants in this mansion—part of the lowest ring of Dominion.

Yet somehow, she felt like she was at the very bottom.

Tears slowly formed at the corners of Betty’s eyes. She wiped them away with her arms while continuing to wash the dishes. Her sniffles echoed in the quiet, dirty kitchen, leaving only the dishes as witnesses to the frustration swelling in her chest.

"Stop crying," she told herself, huffing quietly. "It’s not like this will change anything. All I have to do is shut—ahh!"

Just as Betty turned to grab something, she jumped in shock at the sight of someone seated near the long table in the middle of the dirty kitchen. Her breath hitched, her pupils constricting as realization dawned on her.

What... what is she doing here?

Betty opened and closed her mouth, staring at Ashley. Ashley was seated at the long table, casually eating something. It was already late, and everyone had finished dinner.

She should be resting by now... right? Why is she here?

Betty gulped, suddenly worried she had been speaking too loudly. Having been in Dominion for a year, she knew there were plenty of places people preferred over the dirty kitchen. Even Ashley had never set foot here—she didn’t need to.

After all, Ashley was the madam of Dominion... albeit with an empty title.

Did I say something about her? Am I in trouble? Did she hear anything?!

Ashley raised her brows, still chewing her food. She blinked almost innocently as she met Betty’s gaze, then raised a finger to her lips.

"Shhh..." Ashley hushed. Then, using the same finger, she pointed at her plate. "Don’t tell anyone I’m eating Primo’s snacks."

Betty opened and closed her mouth again, then nodded in response. She studied the madam for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

She probably didn’t hear me.

"Thanks!" Ashley waved. "Don’t mind me. I’ll just eat here. I’ll wash my own plate once you finish."

"Once I finish...?" Betty muttered under her breath, glancing at the mountain of dishes that should’ve taken at least three people to clean.

Her face twitched before she looked back at Ashley.

"Just—just leave them there," she stuttered. "I—I don’t think I’ll be able to finish that soon."

"Don’t worry! I’m not in a hurry!"

"That’s not—" Betty bit her tongue, stopping herself from speaking further. This mouth of hers had already gotten her into trouble. Even if Ashley held an empty title, she was still the matriarch of Dominion—whether people acknowledged it or not.

In the end, Betty lowered her head and quietly continued her work. Still, she couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder every now and then.

The young master really has a lot of snacks to enjoy, she thought. And she doesn’t even have to hide it.

Betty tilted her head slightly, wondering if Lucian forbade Ashley from eating sweets. Although everyone knew their marriage was dysfunctional, no one truly understood the agreement between them.

Besides, no one really knew anything about her.

How could I answer that? What difference would it make?

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