“I don’t care! Don’t stop until that floor is shining! And you maids—if any of you try to help her, I’ll fire you!”
My whole body went cold.
My mother… the woman I believed truly loved my wife… was turning her into a servant in my own house whenever I wasn’t around?
“MA!” I shouted.
They all jumped in shock. Doña Miranda turned pale when she saw me.
“M-Marco?” my mother stammered. “Son! You’re early! I thought you’d be home tonight!”
I rushed to Elena and helped her stand. She was trembling from exhaustion. Her knees were red from kneeling for so long.
“What are you doing to my wife?!” I shouted at my mother.
“Son, you’re mistaken!” my mother quickly changed her tone, suddenly gentle. “Elena insisted! She said she wanted to exercise! She said she wanted to help! Right, Elena?”
My mother looked at Elena with a threatening glare.
Elena lowered her head. “Y-Yes, Marco… I just wanted to clean…”
But I wasn’t stupid.
I turned to the maids.
“Manang Fe,” I called the oldest helper. “Tell me the truth. How many times has this happened?”
Manang Fe burst into tears. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.