In Labor, Yet Ordered to Wait

“Miss Brown… isn’t this going too far?”

The young man looked at me, guilt in his eyes.

“What’s wrong with it? She’s just a thief trying to sleep her way up. Shameless!”

“If we hadn’t caught her, you all would’ve had to answer to the master today.”

My mouth was full of blood, pain stealing my voice. My arms and legs hung limp.

These jewels—they had all been gifts from Dad and Ethan. But the newcomers had no idea who I really was.

“Mr. Smith has lived like a saint all these years, always kindhearted, letting struggling families like ours stay and work.”

“Exactly. She’s too much. The last ones were the same. Only Mrs. Brown and Miss Brown have shown kindness.”

Several men stared at me, eyes gleaming with lust.

The young one shook his head. “She’s just a girl. That’s enough. Why don’t we hand her over to the police and let them deal with it?”

“Kid, you’re too soft,” one of the older men smirked, his eyes sliding over my body.

This girl was a gift served on a platter. How could they not take advantage?

With skin so soft and delicate, she was obviously from privilege. They wanted to know what it was like to taste what only the rich enjoyed.

“Girls like her need to be taught a lesson. Tie her up here. The masters will be back soon. Once they’re done, we’ll deal with her.”

Martha nodded. “Enough talking. Get back to work. You’ll have your fun later.”

Reluctantly, the men chained me up inside a dog cage.

Barely conscious, I felt the young man’s unease. He had been educated, and he knew this was illegal. And Richard had helped his family before.

Quietly, he decided to tell Dad and Ethan what was happening. No one wanted a death on their hands.

Not long after, the sound of car horns echoed at the gate.

“Your godfather and your godbrother are back,” Martha said with delight, hurrying to her feet.

Richard and Ethan walked in, smiling, accompanied by several elderly men with white hair.

Martha gasped—these were men you only saw on television.

“Richard, I hear your wife will soon awaken.”

“At last, I can thank her before I die.”

Richard and Ethan’s faces lit up with joy.

“Yes, if it weren’t for Grace curing me of poison, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Even I would have recognized the speaker—he was a scientist who had once risked his life by testing his own medicine for the country.

“Grace wasn’t just my savior. She was a savior to the entire scientific community.”

“That’s right. Without her foresight and sacrifice, none of us old men would still be here.”

“We just hope to see her one last time. We brought rare herbs for her recovery—hundreds of years old. They might help when she awakens.”

Martha’s eyes widened. She knew their value. Even a single piece could buy a mansion in New York City. This was pure gold.

“Richard, why are you bringing us to the backyard?”

“Yes, Grace is waiting for the herbs inside.”

Richard frowned. “A boy just told Ethan there was a thief—someone sneaking in, stealing, even bringing a snake to bite people.”