Chapter 693


    Esther''s eyes widened with terror, and she struggled desperately as Bradley gripped her jaw firmly. He


    was domineering and insane,manding her, "Swallow it!"


    The taste of buttercream filled Esther''s mouth, but instead of sweetness, she tasted nothing but the


    metallic tang of blood.


    Bradley began smearing the blood-looking cream all over her face.


    He warned, "Esther, remember this. I''m only merciful once. If there''s a next time, you''ll watch as her


    hand is cut off and delivered to you."


    Nausea churned in Esther''s stomach. She didn''t care that Bradley was still there and knelt down to


    vomit nearby.


    Now she understood that the severed hand from earlier wasn''t real—it was a creation by a cake artist.


    Despite its artificial nature, the fear it had instilled made her scalp tingle, and she felt the pain as if she


    were truly being tortured.


    Bradley paid no attention to Esther''s agony. He turned to Sally and dered, "You''re fired."


    "Mr. Warner, I''m sorry..."


    Sally dreaded losing such a well-paying job with minimal work and a great environment.


    Bradley gestured, and ck-d men came forward. They carried Sally and the bloodied Mike and


    tossed them onto a small boat.


    The sea breeze gently ruffled Bradley''s hair as he stood up and ordered curtly, "Now that the servant is


    gone, you''ll be the vi''s maid."


    Esther looked at Bradley anxiously, unable to believe he would let her off so easily this time.


    "Go and freshen up, then prepare dinner."


    "Yes," Esther replied hoarsely.


    The trauma of the severed hand still haunted her heart. She stood up and walked into the vi. Despite


    walking on solid ground, every step felt like she was floating, disconnected from reality.


    "You can only use the bathroom on the third floor."


    "Okay."


    Esther held onto the railing and ascended to the third floor slowly. She pushed open the bathroom door


    and felt a surge of sadness when she looked at her reflection in the mirror.


    Suddenly, the memory of the severed hand rushed back, and she dared not cry. Without wasting any


    more time, she quickly took a shower.


    When she emerged from the bathroom, she found a set of maid''s clothes outside the door. The


    uniform, a pure ck shirt-style dress, seemed tailor-made for her, fitting her shoulders, chest, and


    waist precisely.


    Esther secured her hair in a hai, donned the white apron, and slipped into the ck leather shoes


    meant for the maid. She entered the kitchen without dy, opening the refrigerator and meticulously


    preparing dinner.


    Bradley went to the living room and turned on the news channel from the couch.


    "It''s reported that Richard Pendleton used his position to protect his son, Chadwick Pendleton…"


    Esther couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction hearing the news about Richard and Chadwick''s


    crimes. Despite that, she didn''t dare show it in front of Bradley and continued to prepare the meal


    diligently.


    Thanks to Bradley, she had spent five years in prison, during which she had acquired various skills,


    some of which might have seemed unnecessary but were still valuable. Perhaps one day, she would


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    need those skills.


    Esther was careful not to provoke Bradley. When she finished preparing dinner, she approached him


    with respect.


    "Mr. Warner, dinner is ready."


    Bradley tore his gaze from his tablet, where he had been handling business matters.