Reckless Marriage Unyielding Love

While the housekeeper went to fetch Libby, Mikayla glanced at Carlos, who was arching an eyebrow, evidently

pleased with her.

Turning away, Mikayla addressed the room, "I believe everyone is aware of this morning's incident. The painting

Natasha gaveyesterday was found torn in half and thrown into the pond outside. And | becthe

scapegoat. Even if | were the jealous, crazed sister-in- law, | wouldn't be so foolish as to destroy the painting

Natasha gaveright here in the Ludwig mansion and toss it into the pond. Isn't that blatantly announcing that

I'm guilty? What would | gain from this? Would Carlos lovemore because of such an act? Or would it just

make everyone seeas malicious? There's no benefit forin this!"

The others listened to Mikayla's reasoning, beginning to see the logic in her words.

"Besides, if | wanted to deal with the painting, | could have easily done so at hthe next day. And if I truly

wanted to destroy it, | could have done it without leaving any traces, ensuring none of you would find out,"

Mikayla added.

As Mikayla finished speaking, the housekeeper returned with Libby, who stood nearby Mikayla with her head

lowered.

Everyone exchanged glances, finding merit in Mikayla's argument.

"Libby, do you want to explain, or should 1?" Mikayla asked.

Libby looked up, her gaze flitting from Garrett and Selena to Mikayla, before briefly landing on Natasha and

quickly moving away. In a trembling voice, she confessed, "It was me! Last night, while Ms. Ludwig was having

an episode, | stole the painting from Mrs. Ludwig's room and threw it into the pond. | was afraid Mrs. Ludwig

would scoldfor accidentally bumping into her yesterday, so | wanted to take revenge."

Internally, Mikayla sneered. It seemed the Ludwig family treated their housekeepers exceptionally well if Libby

was willing to take the fall for Natasha.

Selena looked shocked. "Libby..."

She couldn't believe that the housekeeper she had personally chosen, whom she found hardworking and simple,

and who shared her surname, could harbor such intentions. She had even tried to persuade Libby to stay when

the latter wanted to resign that very morning. Whispers began to spread among the guests.

"How could someone as honest as Libby seek revenge?" a person asked.

"Didn't Mrs. Ludwig visit Libby's room this afternoon? Could it be..." someone else speculated.

The guests had speculations.

Through it all, Mikayla maintained a smile and stepped closer to Libby. "After you bumped intoyesterday, we

had no further interaction. | had no intention of reprimanding you. Did you imagine this scenario, or did someone

put this idea in your head?" "No! No one did. It was me. | was just afraid!" Libby retreated a couple of steps out

of fear.

Libby, naturally timid and inexperienced in such deceitful acts, was genuinely scared. Under Mikayla's relentless

questioning, her mental defenses crumbled.

"Really? You seem timid and cfrom a rural background. How could you be cunning enough to know to leave

through the secondary door in the room to avoid the house's cameras?" Mikayla's lips curved slightly. She turned

to the housekeeper from earlier. "Please, check Libby's room again. There should be a large amount of cash or a

valuable bank card."

"No, there's nothing! Mrs. Ludwig, you promised..." Libby's voice quivered with desperation.

"Promised what? Did | promise to let the mastermind go free if you took the blame?" Mikayla's voice was icy.

The situation grew increasingly intriguing, with everyone eagerly awaiting the housekeeper's findings from

Libby's room.

Moments later, the housekeeper returned, holding a Gold Card that was clearly out of place in Libby's

possession.

Mikayla took the card and handed it to Selena. "Selena, look at this. Do you recognize this card?"

At this time, Natasha sat in her wheelchair, her face turning deathly pale. Never had she expected Mikayla to

confront her head-on. She considered herself untouchable, believing that any damage to her would also harm

Mikayla. "Letsee..." Selena examined the card closely. She couldn't forget the last four digits of this card.

It was one she had personally given to Natasha, with the ending number 1616, chosen specifically for their

auspicious meaning after a discussion with the bank manager.

"Natasha?" Selena looked at Natasha in disbelief.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Natasha had Myla push her wheelchair closer, stopping not far from Selena. "Is that card

mine? | lost my card a few days ago and haven't had tto ask you to helpreplace it." Mikayla was

speechless and thought, 'Go on. Feign innocence all you want."

"Myla, do you know her bank card pin?" Mikayla asked Myla with a smile.

Myla was caught off guard. "How could I, as a housekeeper, possibly know the pin to Ms. Salvatore's bank card?"

Mikayla turned her serious gaze to Natasha. "If even Myla, your personal housekeeper, doesn't know your card's

pin, what use would Libby have for it? She'd be better off stealing cash."

One sentence hit the nail on the head.

"Mikayla, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting | gave my card to Libby and instructed her to do this?"

Natasha's eyes filled with tears, spilling over almost instantly.

Mikayla thought, ‘She is wasting her talent by not pursuing acting. Her tears flow faster than sof the young

actors these days."

She smiled gently. "I didn't say that. You did."

"Impossible. Natasha is such a good girl, Mikayla. How could she do such things?" Selena comforted Natasha,

wiping her tears and calming her down.

She couldn't believe Natasha was capable of such acts.

"Mrs. Ludwig, it was all my doing. | was afraid you'd reprimand me, and | was jealous of your beauty. That's why |

did it. I found that bank card on the ground..." Libby's attempts to exonerate Natasha sounded

increasingly feeble and

noun

unconvincing.

"Libby, I admire your loyalty. But the person you're trying to protect isn't saving you. Instead, she's letting you

take the blfor theft. If we pursue this, you might end up in the police station. And if that happens, what will

becof your younger brother still in school?" Mikayla said.

"Mikayla, you just wantto admit | did it. Fine, | admit it!" Natasha cried harder, her trembling hands clutching

her chest as her breathing grew erratic.

Upon seeing this, Selena

immediately knelt in front of

Natasha to soothe her. She turned

to Mikayla and said with a

reproachful tone, "Mikayla, you are Carlos wife, so | don't blyou. But please, stop this. Look at Natasha. Do

you want her to be admitted to the hospital again?"