Chapter 17
Morning finally arrived.
The news that a venomous snake had entered Vanderbilt Manor overnight spread quickly.
Lucy and several maids came to the scene, each gasping in shock at the sight of the enormous dead snake.
“My God! Where did this snake come from?”
“If someone had been bitten, they’d be dead for sure!”
“Thank goodness Caitlin was brave enough to kill it. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable!”
Amid the buzzing discussion, Caitlin kept a close eye on everyone’s expressions. Then, she spoke decisively.
“I’m hanging this snake outside the Vanderbilt Manor hallway. When Beatrice arrives, she’ll see it, and I’m sure she’ll demand an investigation. It won’t take long to find out who’s behind this.”
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Hearing Caitlin’s plan, the staff nodded in agreement. She promptly hung the snake in the outer corridor, instructing everyone not to touch it to avoid exposure to its venom.
After finishing her arrangements, Caitlin went to prepare breakfast. Once the meal was ready, she fed both Sebastian and Howard.
Not long after breakfast, members of the Vanderbilt family began arriving to check on Sebastian.
The first to arrive were his stepmother Grace and her daughter Hazel.
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“What’s going on? I heard Sebastian was bitten by a snake! Is he alright?” Grace asked, feigning concern as she spoke to Lucy.
“Fortunately, Mr. Vanderbilt is fine, thanks to Caitlin killing the snake,” Lucy explained.
“Where is the snake?” Hazel asked.
“Right over there!” Lucy pointed to where the snake was hanging.
Hazel followed the direction of her finger and gasped in horror. “Ah! That’s terrifying! Why hang it out there?”
Grace was also unnerved, her composure faltering. “Such a disgusting, frightening thing. Why hasn’t anyone disposed of it yet? What’s the point of leaving it there?”
“Caitlin wants Beatrice to see it later. Beatrice will surely arrange for an investigation to find out who brought the snake here.”
Grace and Hazel exchanged a brief glance before heading upstairs to visit Sebastian.
Upstairs, Caitlin was feeding Sebastian breakfast when Grace and Hazel entered the room.
“Sebastian, are you alright?”
Hearing Grace’s voice, Caitlin turned to glance at the two women. She quickly recognized the younger woman as Hazel, Sebastian’s half–sister.
“Mr. Vanderbilt is fine. Grace, what brings you here?”
“I heard about the venomous snake entering Vanderbilt Manor last night, so I came to check on Sebastian. I’m relieved to see he’s alright.”
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10.47 Mon, 14 Apr
Chapter 17
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Caitlin didn’t respond to Grace’s theatrics but silently admired the woman’s skill at playing the part of a caring stepmother.
Grace had been humiliated by Caitlin the day before, yet here she was, wearing an air of benevolence and magnanimity as though nothing had happened.
This level of endurance and cunning made Caitlin certain Grace was no ordinary adversary–she was a master manipulator.
Meanwhile, Hazel eyed Caitlin with thinly veiled jealousy. Caitlin’s beauty was undeniable, and Hazel couldn’t help but think her half–brother was ridiculously lucky to have such a stunning woman as his temporary wife.
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