Chapter 68: 68. Warnings After a moment of silence, Mrs. Spencer turned to the nurse standing quietly by the door.
"I believe Maria will be fine by this time tomorrow," she said with authority. "Please ensure she is safely returned to her place without attracting unnecessary attention."
"Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure everything is carried out neatly," the nurse replied with a calm nod.
Then Mrs. Spencer turned back to Maria and smiled gently.
"Maria, it’s so nice to see you here with us. We hope next time we see you, it’s not under such circumstances. Remember everything I’ve told you. And do not under any condition, let anyone know about our existence or anything we talked about here."
With those final words, her eyes fixed firmly on Maria, Mrs. Spencer stood up and walked away, leaving Maria with the nurse.
Once she was gone, the nurse turned her attention to Maria, speaking softly.
"My dear, I want you to understand something, life isn’t always how it looks from the outside. You begin to understand it better when you feel it, when it teaches you lessons. That’s how you find out where you’re strong and where you’re weak. So go back into your world and be strong."
Her voice was soothing and warm, accompanied by a gentle smile. Maria nodded silently, appreciating the calm energy the nurse offered. She leaned back slowly on the bed, trying to relax.
Sensing Maria wanted to rest, the nurse gave her a light pat on the back and quietly stepped out of the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Maria stared at the ceiling, her mind spinning.
"So I’ll be out of here by tomorrow," she thought. "And I have to pretend like I didn’t meet or talk to anyone. That’s what I’ll say if Beta Gilbert or anyone asks."*** Cassandra lay on her bed, a contented smile tugging at her lips. She looked pleased, as though her mind was dancing over a satisfying thought.
"I’m sure now—Bernard has fallen for me completely," she mused, her smile widening. "Getting information out of him will be easy now. I just need to be patient. I can’t let our plans slip too soon." She laughed softly to herself.
"Bernard... from now on, you’re mine—and mine alone. My source for every important detail," she mumbled, sounding fully convinced of her grip over him.
With a confident sway in her step, Cassandra walked over to the tall mirror and admired her reflection. She turned slowly, letting her eyes roam over her own figure.