Chapter 4 – The Interrogation

Adela was tired. She sighed and decided to take a relaxing hot bath. She emerged into the steaming water and sat in the tub, thinking what had just happened. Was it Margaret and Thea? Could it be? She washed her face and thought hard. At last, after ten minutes, she gave up. She stood up and wrapped herself in a towel. Slowly, she dressed up in a long black mermaid dress.

As she walked out of her closet, Ethan already stood beside her desk, on his I-pad, as usual.

As Adela walked to the table, he looked up.

"The ones on the right are for signing. The ones on the left are-"

"Look at them yourself. I'll sign these," Adela mumbled, looking at the pile of papers.

Ethan nodded and looked at her.

"What?" Adela asked.

"You have thirty minutes," he said, "Until First Master has asked for everyone to meet in the hall."

"I know," Adela uttered, leaning on her hand.

Ethan nodded and continued looking at his screen. Adela sometimes wondered what was so interesting in it.

"Done," Adela said after ten minutes of continuously signing papers.

Ethan merely nodded and picked them up.

"Don't forget-"

"Yes, I know, Ethan. You do not need to remind me the meeting for a fourth time."

"Fifth," he said, leaving the room.

"Jerk," Adela shouted.

Adela closed her eyes. She will have to listen to Magnus's anger and yapping in five minutes.

She slowly got up and walked down the circular staircase and then another long straight one. She turned around a corner and saw Edmund standing alone, deep in thought. Adela was shocked to see him without food for the first time. She walked to him and nudged him in the stomach.

"Ow," he said, clutching his stomach. "What was that for?"

"Your thinking was annoying me," Adela replied, shrugging.

Edmund sighed.

"What's wrong?" Adela asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Magnus is very ang-"

"I know. There's nothing much we can do. Also, I'll need some...assistance, if things go sightly not as planned..." Adela continued.

"No," Edmund said sternly. "I'm not taking the blame for you again."

"You have to," Adela said, laughing.

"Just because you are my elder sister, I can't take the blame for you each-"

"Twenty thousand," Adela said nonchalantly, "Along with three sugared dark chocolates."

"I need more chocolates," Edmund frowned.

"Don't step outside the boundaries, Edd. Magnus already banned chocolates for us all because of you. I need to sneak in some."

"Fine," Edmund said, folding his arms.

Adela looked around and then took out four bars of dark chocolate.

"How did you-"

"Shut up," Adela hissed, handing him the chocolates.

As soon as Edmund held out his hand, Adela pulled them back.

"I promised three."

"I don't need the money," Edmund said, raising his eyebrows.

"Alright," Adela said, chugging the chocolates in Edmund's arms. "You better hurry up if you don't want to get big brother's wrath!"

"Coming!" Edmund shouted.

Adela chuckled and then her expression hardened, thinking what she is walking to.

As Adela walked into the main hall, which was as luxurious and expensive as always, she made her way to her favorite place beside the fireplace. Magnus was already there, standing with his back to Adela. Adela knew that whenever he stood like this, they had to prepare themselves for the worst.

"Where's Edmund," he asked, his voice fearful.

"I don't know," Adela replied simply.

"I ASKED YOU WHERE IS HE?" Magnus yelled, which made Adela flinch.

"H-He's coming," Adela whispered, sinking into the couch, all her muscles alert.

Edmund walked into the hall and took his position beside Adela, which was previously Andrew's. That was understandable, because no one would want to sit beside Magnus at this point.

Sebastian stood a few feet away, looking ahead and cold.

Magnus turned around, pinching his nose and eyes closed. He placed his hand on a nearby décor piece and Adela knew it was the last few moments of the item.

"You," he hissed, pointing at Sebastian, "I assume you have something to tell me?"

Sebastian nodded and moved forward.

"A maid. She was the only one that entered Miss's room today. That's all I could tell from the security system. My team has her held-"

"I'd like to see this person. I'd like to see how she dare mess with my family."

Sebastian nodded and held out his hand. Two men came forward, dragging a woman. They pushed her forward and Adela's eyes widened.

It was Sam.

"Sam?" Adela said in disbelief.

Magnus looked at Adela then the girl and then back.

"You know her?" Magnus inquired.

Adela ignored him and walked to Sam. She was sobbing. Adela crouched down beside her and looked at her.

"Why did you do that? Why did you put the Mannequin in my room?"

Sam turned her face away.

"Sam," Adela continued, turning her manipulative voice on.

Sam looked up at Adela, tears streaming down her face.

"D-Dad wanted m-money," Sam whispered, "For h-his medical."

Magnus turned around in disgust. He picked up the item he had his hand on and threw it across the room with so much force that it shattered to several hundred pieces.

"HOW DARE YOU," he shouted.

Sam winced and wiped her face with her sleeves.

"Magnus-" Adela started.

"What Ad? This woman dared do that to you! Don't tell me you're taking her side now," he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm not taking her side, Magnus. I just want to ask her myself."

Magnus sighed in frustration and held Sebastian by his shirt's front and punched him hard across the face.

"YOU ARE HER HEAD OF SECRURITY. HOW DARE SOMETHING AS SUCH HAPPEN IN THIS HOUSE!"

Sebastian's nose started bleeding but he remained silent.

"My bad," he said.

Magnus picked up another pot, worth atleast four hundred million, and easily threw it at the fireplace, missing Edmund's head by a few inches.

"Magnus," Adela whispered, "Calm down."

Magnus did not reply, he held onto a table for support.

"Sam," Adela said, shifting her eyes on her.

Sam was sobbing harder now.

"Tell me, what happened?" Adela said, forcing a smile.

"T-There was a g-guy," Sam wept. "H-he said he'd give me a couple thousands for it."

"What did he look like? You know his name?" Adela interrogated.

"N-no. He was covered from head to toe and he didn't tell me his name either."

Adela sighed.

"But-" Sam started.

"But what?" Adela said, looking at Sam intently.

"I could see his eyes. He did not have one eye. T-The other was really r-red."

"Oh?" Adela said, looking up at Magnus.

A muscle on Magnus's face twitched.

"Get this woman out of here," Magnus whispered to Sebastian.

"No," Adela said, looking at Magnus.

"Sis, don't," Edmund said, looking at Adela pleadingly.

"She's not going anywhere," Adela continued sternly.

"Don't test me," Magnus warned.

Edmund attempted to move Adela by her arm but she stood firm.

"It's not her fault-"

Magnus's icy-blue eyes shifted to Edmund, who shivered from head to toe.

"Let's leave," Edmund whispered to Adela.

"Where did you get the chocolates?" Magnus said softly.

"W-What chocolates?" Edmund stuttered.

"I can smell them from you," Magnus continued, smiling.

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"WHERE DID YOU GET THEM?"

Edmund took out all the bars Adela gave him and handed them over. Magnus threw them all in the fireplace.

"I don't want you eating those again," Magnus said, cleaning his hands with a handkerchief, "If you don't want a diabetic ass."

Edmund did not say anything, but looked at the ground, ashamed.

"Magnus," Adela said again. "It wasn't Sam's fault."

"Y-yes. I won't do it again," Sam begged. "Please, forgive me for my poor father."

"I don't give a damn of who your father is," Magnus said rudely.

"Magnus," Adela frowned. "It's old Brown."

Magnus paused. His eyes slightly widened.

"Old Brown?" he asked in disbelief.

Sam nodded.

"This once. For the sake of your father.

Magnus chillll. And SAMANTHA?! How could you!

VOTE!

(Chapter 5 --->)