0.1 | No Exit from Deception ?

0.21 | A Shocking Secret With Some Homespun Lemon Flavored Pancakes

Mrs Warner couldn't establish her command on him over these years. She had allowed him the freedom to live his life according to his wish and this risky autonomy shaped him into what we now call us- Mark, the ill-tempered boy.

Joseph who stood near her bedpost slightly rose his hand to stop Mark from leaving, but his action was gone in vain. Mark left.

"He seriously needs some counseling. Joseph, please contact some top counselors in Seattle." She dragged herself up and yanked her back against the soft pillow. She mumbled, pushing back her tears, "I can see him like that."

"Leave it to the later time, Mrs Warner. Tell me how did you get hurt?" Joseph asked with concern laced in his words. Taking her bandaged hand in his hand, softly caressing it.

"It's not that serious. Last night, like always I was preparing my tea, Mark was sitting here too, and then suddenly we got into a tiff. Well, tiff would be an understatement." She chuckled. "The teapot slipped from my hands and when I picked up its pieces and . . ."

"Mrs Warner, you could've asked Mary to get it cleaned. It's her job, not yours."

"Joseph, calm down. I just couldn't ask her to help me out. She does a lot of work- supervising the activities of every servant in this mansion is not an easy task." She smiled, keeping one hand on top of his in assurance. "Don't worry. I'm made of steel."

"Not happening. When I can actually see a bandage in the dustbin. At least you should have thrown it properly," Joseph said as he happened to catch a glance of the blood-stained gauge peeking out of steel perforated dustbin's mouth.

"Oops! I should have been more careful." Mrs Warner lifted her shoulders comically as she realized her mistake.

***

"No, wait! You are losing too much blood. I'll go and get a first aid box. Please don't move until I come back-" Ruby navigated from the room directly to Joseph's. She opened his large wardrobe and rummaged through his clothes. Pulling the small drawers roughly. But was unsuccessful in her attempts.

She felt like she was running out of time, instantly dashed to the woman's room, and tore her linen shirt to stop her from bleeding.

The blood was plentiful and deep red.

Ruby perched near her, taking her blood-tainted palm in her clammy hand. She was about to wipe the excess blood off her hand, she found a tiny piece plunged into the white of her skin. Gulping hard, she took it off and earned a scream from the older.

"It's okay, it's okay. We have done it," Ruby clapped to root for the infirmed elder's courage. "You are quite brave!"

She found the lady assessing her face, while she assessed hers. Who is she--Joseph's mother? And why is it that she hasn't come out of her room ever since I started living here? Why is Joseph hiding her? A slew of questions washed over her mind like a tsunami's tide-- wavelength was far longer.

"Y-You look so familiar. These brown eyes, your face, and your red hair, I've seen them some long ago. What is your name?" the pale-looking lady asked; her voice was exceptionally lower and slower.

"M-My name . . ." Ruby stuttered. "It's El--"

"Are you Katherine Warner's daughter, Elizabeth Warner? You are alive! No, there must be an nth number of Elizabeth Warner in the world. You couldn't possibly be the one I'm talking about." She shook her head, as she penetrated the wound.

Ruby was still in shock. How come she also knows about Elizabeth Warner? She thought.

"Are you Joseph's mother?" Ruby asked carefully, enunciating each word with extra delicacy.