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Chapter 7 A Public Humiliation

Renee heard Rachel's words and took the chance to suck up. "Rachel, this maid is always slacking off and messing things up! Last time, she almost burned Mr. Howard!"

"What?" Alice gasped. Had Natalie been around Adrian before?

She stormed up to Natalie and slapped her in the face, yelling, "Natalie, you did this on purpose, didn't you? If you hurt Adrian or Rachel, you'll be kicked out! Don't think we'll keep you around out of pity."

The room fell silent again. No one expected Alice to hit Natalie .

Natalie hung her head, silently sobbing. Her cheek stung, and her wrist felt as if it was on fire, yet she couldn't fight back.

In the next moment, a figure stepped in front of her. Daniel glared at Alice and said, "Enough. It was an accident. No need to be so harsh, Ms. Cullen."

"Mr. Murphy, Alice was just too worried about Rachel, and that's why she lost her temper," Avery interjected.

Hearing Avery's words, Alice quickly nodded in agreement, regaining her composure. "Yeah, I was just worried about her.. Thank goodness Rachel's okay."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. Alice was using her as a shield, trying to excuse her own callous actions.

Avery then turned to Natalie, scolding, "Rachel may not hold it against you this time, but if you can't handle simple tasks, this isn't the place for you. Go to Renee and collect three months' pay."

Natalie froze. If she left the Cullen family, how would she cope with her mother's illness?

Desperate, she ignored the pain in her hand and pleaded, "Mrs. Cullen, I know I was wrong. Please don't fire me."

Daniel started to speak, "Mrs. Cullen, Natalie—"

"Mr. Murphy, are you saying the Cullen family doesn't have the right to fire a maid?" Avery cut him off.

Every time she saw Natalie's face, she felt a wave of disgust. She even suspected Natalie might be Curtis's illegitimate daughter. Now that she had a chance to expel this mother-daughter duo in front of Curtis, she wasn't going to let it slip away.

At that moment, Adrian, who had been silent, stood up. "Rachel said she's fine. Let's leave it at that."

He glanced at Natalie, his gaze aloof but polite. "Sorry for the trouble today. I'll take Rachel home now."

Seeing him about to leave, Alice anxiously grabbed his arm. "Adrian, stay for lunch."

Adrian looked at her hand, and Alice felt a strange pressure, making her let go instinctively. Adrian said in a calm voice, "I'll have someone discuss the engagement details with you."

His words eased Alice's anxiety.

Knowing she shouldn't push it, she smiled warmly. "Take care. Rachel, I'm really sorry this happened on your first visit to my family."

Rachel turned and walked away without sparing her a glance. Alice was too fake.

Once in the car, Rachel couldn't help but speak, "Adrian, you're not really going to marry Alice, are you?"

Adrian said flatly, "She's your future sister-in-law. Show some respect."

How could Adrian like such a fake woman?

Rachel wanted to convince Adrian that Alice wasn't right for him, but then she noticed his gaze was on Daniel outside the car, who was looking at the young maid with a tender expression.

Could Daniel actually like that maid?

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