d of turning on the main light, she used her phon

nd broke the silence-like

source. It was coming from her bed,

med the beam at the mattress. To her horror, a cobra

een eyes tracking her every move. If the noise hadn't woken he

s lightning-fast reflexes kicked in. She sidestepped the strike, snatched the cobra by its

on. But right before she delivered the fatal blow, she paused. It was a cobra-a species native to the So

e pieces together. Now she understood why someone had lingered on

or at least, he firmly believed she was his ticket to Nightshires' attention.

sed. It was highly unlikely she would pull a stunt like this on the v

, her gaze turning icy

herself. If she wanted to kill her,

k silence. Almost everyone was fast asleep. Everyone except Shandie.

Finally losing her patience, Shandie dialed Jan

d, "Did you not follow my orders? Because if you didn't,

all! I did exactly what you asked. I bought the most venomous sn

it bit her, she would have woken up screaming in pain. M

have n

tupid thing

red me it was extremely aggressive. He even starved i

deepened. "The

ithout immediate treatment, the victim will surely die from it. Maybe it already

die finished, a malicious

o go check on her, Miss So

uld only draw suspicion. Besides, if she's taken to the hospital and they manage to revive her... It's b

safer to wait until morning. By then she'll be gone for good.

as excitement bubbled in her chest. She unc

ward. If you need anything in

ighting up. The lingering fear from handling the sna

ationalized to herself. The snak

y get a peaceful night's sleep," Shandi

g. She pictured herself discovering her sister's body, sobb

her performance was convincing enough, people would believe she had deep empathy, she thoug

ider her smile grew. It was shaping

cked off the light and slipped into bed. Exhausted b

ent, publicly announced his intention to marry her. From there, her social climb began, and she lived happily ever after. Baskin

dling scream shattered the silence, shaking the entire villa. Outsid

s goin

happ

st heard someone sc

it's coming from

nd rushed down the hall. Fortunately, the door wa

r her bed, convulsing violently as foam gathered at her mouth. Her face had already

gle question echoing in their mi

r daze. She lunged forward to help, but another servant shri

ha

uders. It was nothing like the harmless garden snakes the staff were used to seeing; its head was raised,

screamed, scrambling bac

and Cindy hurried

nt through the open doorway, Henrick immediat

she demanded, her voice trembling. "Why is there a

one moved a muscle. Taking on a venomous cobra wa

rowd, stood frozen with fear. Wasn't that the snake

near it now. She knew exactly how lethal that venom was. If Shandie didn't get the antivenom within

ndy grabbed Henrick's arm and ple

e head of the household weighed heavily on him. If word got out that h

, too! If it weren't for them, he

stepped forward, a broom in hand. Suddenly

.. what are you

her half-closed eyes and dressed in her pajama

ter fainted after being bitten. I have

ying wide open in alarm. "Dad, it's

panic and rage, she swung

ly dodged the slap. But at the last split

s palm left a stark red print on Arielle's

see your sister die, huh? Get out of my

e situation; obeying risked provoking

eks. Before Henrick had time to answer, she cried out, "Dad, I only want you to be safe! After all, you are t

erything depended on him! If something happened to him, they wouldn't make it. Besides, i

dark glare. "Why did you hit her

shes Shandie harm..

g with righteous indignation. "If you think of me like that, I'll

Henrick's hands and stepped toward the sn

d, "Be careful, Ms. Southal

In his eyes, Arielle mattered far more tha

closer!" he begged, t

off and continued to a

wless show of struggling to dodge the attack, then suddenly spun

ra further; its hissing grew

elplessly from a distance as Arielle faced the danger all alon

ly managed to subdue the snake, panting heavily to sell

issors or a knif

re intrepid maids, rushing forward just e

's head and closed her eyes. Putting on a perfect disp

the cobra sto

?" Henrick asked frantica

still in shock. The moment her father reached her, sh

ine, sweetheart," he sooth

ed. Then she pulled back, her expression resolute. "Bu

only was his daughter incredibly brave, but

elle's cheek again, a fresh wave of anger rose

her life to protect Shandie, and you a

dy stammered, s

re not fit to manage the household affairs," Henrick bark

tely drained fro

I just wanted to

ar another word. Stay in your room to reflect, and do

the maids ran into th

the ambulance