Victoria was surprised by what Lucas said and didn’t know how to respond. Seeing Victoria’s unsure face, Lucas smiled, “Not now, you can think about it, just let me know when you’re ready.”
Victoria nodded before taking the food and getting into the car to return to the villa. Lucas accompanied Victoria before going back to the company to find out more details about those who tried to harm Victoria.
“Lorenzo, what’s the latest news on Casella?” Lucas asked as he looked out the window of the chairman’s office.
“Boss, Casella’s company is plummeting, many shareholders and companies are distancing themselves from Casella, afraid to be involved in the scandal the company is facing,” Lorenzo respectfully replied.
Lucas nodded, “Let’s crash Casella’s stocks completely before others can withdraw their assets and blame Casella.”
“Yes sir!” Lorenzo answered before taking out his cellphone and giving some instructions.
Lucas took out his cellphone and called his friend, “Hey Ricardo, you still owe me for what you did last night,” Lucas said coolly when Ricardo answered the call.
Ricardo laughed from the other line, “Brother Lucas, you seem to be in a serious mood, what do you need? I know you wouldn’t call me just for a small matter.”
“I have a task for you,” Lucas said mysteriously.
“Tell me, Lucas,” Ricardo replied, intrigued.
“Find a person named Cecilia Costa,” he said coldly.
Ricardo raised an eyebrow, “Oh, looks like this person has a big debt to you.”
“Not to me, but to my wife,” Lucas clarified.
“You’re married now?” Ricardo exclaimed in surprise.
“Stop asking too many questions, just do what I ask, and it’s up to you what you’ll do to her. I want her to experience hell on earth, to the point where she’d rather die than live,” Lucas said chillingly.
“Cut off her nails and drag her behind horses,” he grinned, “this woman values her looks, make sure she becomes ugly for the rest of her life,” he continued.
Ricardo felt Lucas’s intense anger, “The blood of the most ruthless Mafia runs through your veins, it’s chilling. Don’t worry, I’ll follow your orders.”
Upon hearing this, Lucas ended the call with a cold expression. Meanwhile, Ricardo, on the other hand, immediately commanded to search for and capture Cecilia, smiling as he thought about who this woman could be, the wife of the Tyrant Boss who valued her so much and managed to prompt Lucas to this extent. ‘He’s angry, truly angry, the Tyrant Boss is enraged, who would dare provoke the son of the ruthless Mafia,’ he thought.
…
In the villa, Victoria can be seen with other servants having snacks. They had just finished cleaning, so they chatted while eating and resting. Victoria sighed deeply, lost in thought.
“Mistress, what’s the problem?” Number 3 asked.
“I’m pondering over the offer from Lucas,” she said weakly.
“What offer?” Number 3 asked again.
Victoria took a deep breath. “I mentioned to Lucas that I enjoy designing jewelry, and he knows that I didn’t go to college, so-”
“So what?” the servants asked eagerly, waiting.
Victoria looked at them, surprised to see their expectant faces. “He wants me to study abroad and become the company’s director when I return,” she said sadly, feeling anxious.
Number 3 smiled, “Mistress, that’s a great opportunity. Don’t you want to help and stand tall with the Master?”
Victoria shook her head, “I’m not ready yet. There’s still much I can’t do and face,” she said, her mood low, lacking confidence.
“Mistress, did the Master give you a deadline, or do you need to leave immediately?” Number 3 inquired.
“He said when I am ready,” Victoria replied.
Number 3 smiled before standing up, “If that’s the case, let’s start the training and remove your doubts. We are here to teach you to be strong and confident, to stand tall with the Master.”
Victoria looked at the smiling servants, then they nodded in unison. Touched by their support, she couldn’t help but shed a tear. This experience was new to her, having people like this in her life. She stood up from her seat, clenched her fist, “For Lucas,” she said firmly.
Little did she know, Patty quietly filmed what had happened and sent it to Lucas. Lucas smiled after watching the video Patty sent.
Victoria started to learn with the help of the servants, she was taught the right manners as an elegant young lady, walking, moving, and proper posture. She also started to learn how to cook, beginning to slice and getting used to holding a knife because it was her first time, back when she was still in the Casella villa. Aside from feeding the chickens and other domestic animals, sweeping was all she knew.
She started to cook and practice until she reached late into the night, visible were the cuts and burns on her hands but she did not give up. At this time, it was her third attempt at cooking, with the help of the servants and her talent, Number 3 sipped the broth that Victoria cooked to taste it, the other servants were watching without moving, swallowing and waiting for Number 3’s reaction. Victoria on the side was holding her hand, waiting to hear what Number 3 would say about the sinigang she cooked.
As Number 3 sipped the broth, he savored it well, she closed her eyes while savoring it, after tasting it, she opened her eyes, “this, this is delicious, not just delicious but extremely tasty!” Number 3 exclaimed.
The other servants cheered with joy and some even embraced, they congratulated Victoria for her talent, saying she was a genius because she learned so quickly.
Patty reminded, “The master is coming home.”
The servants lined up at the door to wait for Lucas, but at this moment, they were divided into six like a pathway, Victoria scooped some broth and waited for Lucas to enter, she stood at the end among the servants.
The villa door opened and Lucas entered, he saw a strange scene in front of him. Through the path made by the servants, he saw Victoria slowly walking towards him with a bowl of sinigang in hand, he noticed Victoria’s hand full of bandaids and small burns as she approached him.
Patty approached, “Master, this meal was prepared by the Mistress.”
Victoria smiled, “Please eat first, this is what I cooked as a thank you to you. Thank you for making me feel a sense of belonging that I’ve been missing since I was a child, including the love of a family I’ve never felt before. Only here did I experience being treated like a person,” she said with a smile.
Lucas looked into Victoria’s sincere eyes, he took the spoon from the bowl and scooped the sinigang that Victoria cooked before slowly sipping it, as soon as he tasted the sinigang, his expression changed, and he dropped the spoon, it fell to the floor before he ran upstairs to the second floor and entered his room.