Daughter-in-law Strikes Harder

Hailey’s eyes trailed past everyone in the huge space at every corner, searching for Dalton’s presence in the large room. He had not uttered a word or made any gesture since she entered the room, which made her wonder if he was actually in there with them.

She saw an unlikely scene which was Dalton smirking at Aria with an unreadable emotion in his face, who was rolling her eyes contemptuously back at him with a sneer. If she didn’t have to check once more to be sure that it was Aria, she would have mistaken her for Emma or another lady.

‘What was going on that the hated wife of the house would look at Dalton in such a manner without getting a punishment? What in the world was going wrong?’

It really made Hailey uncomfortably wonder if the news that Ellen had told her was true, because what she could watch with her own eyes was far different from what she expected.

She knew well what went on in the mansion, that Aria’s self-esteem and self value had been reduced below floor level. To the point that she could never raise eyes to meet anyone’s gaze, or breathe in the same space as any of them did.

‘Or were they divorced already? That was why she could now show her true colours. She was supposed to be out of the mansion by now if her speculations were right,’ Hailey’s mind kept bothering.

Aria, who could see the warm manner that the family always welcomed Hailey, wished in her heart that she and Dalton would finally get a divorce, which would now give a chance to their anticipated beloved daughter-in-law to replace her as they liked.

It wasn’t even that hard anymore. They just had to succeed in getting their dear brother and son to divorce her peacefully without any problems afterwards.

‘Was she not Dalton’s childhood sweetheart that her family doted on? Then why waste time in divorcing her? Why would he even disrupt her plans to divorce him, when she would be the one to bear the brunt? Wasn’t it a win-win situation?’ Those were the many questions she would like to ask her stupid husband, whom she could not understand and never wished to.

Without further pondering in her head, Aria left the living room silently to her bedroom, in thoughts to start thinking of another way to take the family by storm. She had figured out that Dalton was still going to be so toxic to her, even with finally planning to end the marriage by herself.

Strategizing new plans that would put the Millers in a state of unrest and dilemma, was the utmost thing to do without any reason for further delay.

Before making her way to her own room by the hallway, she diverted her steps to the other hallway that led to the large eccentric and luxurious kitchen of the mansion. The kitchen further led to the underground wine cellar, which was located at the farthest part of that wing that she had never been to before.

Ever since the first day Aria stepped foot into the mansion as a wife, she had always stayed in the isolated room by the down hallway reserved just for her. It overtly portrayed how much the entire family hated, for her to be called a member of Miller household. That thought actually got her thinking of exactly why the room had to be there in the first place. It obviously wasn’t built as someone’s room.

‘What if she wasn’t a hated wife? Who would have taken the room?’

She didn’t care much anyways. It would have been perfectly designed to the taste of whosoever built the mansion. No architect could dare mistakenly ruin the beautiful architectural plans, and structures of the Millers at the detriment of his own career.

Aria picked a French bordeaux and a California chardonnay from the numerous options of wines that were arranged accordingly in rows and columns, at the large cellar that looked like a huge wine store. The wines were arranged in the order of their worth, collections and alcohol percentage level, so that it would be easy for anyone to figure out their taste.

She held both in her hand and strolled back to her room looking all feisty, like she was waiting for someone to suddenly challenge her about. None of the maids that had seen her walk pass could do or utter anything, as they were all bothered if poor Aria had finally developed mental issues due to stress. They also cogitated a split personality disorder too.

Dalton was coming from the direction of the living room, as he made his way past the stair towards the door, when he caught a glimpse of Aria who was far ahead into the hallway that led to her room. She slammed the disfigured door hard and locked it immediately, without forgetting to pass a side taut view at the person, whose presence she had sensed from behind.

Realizing where he was going subconsciously, he wondered what he had come to do in her hallway, as he found his way back to the stairs immediately. He had suddenly become inquisitive about what she was up to, and the wild actions that she was yet to unleash.

She had never been the type to go against the rules and past the boundaries around the house, but it could not be guaranteed anymore now that she was acting out of control.

Hailey had followed Mrs. Eleanor Miller back to her room in the house, while Ellen left to hers to prepare for a ‘Swimming session with Ellen Miller at the mansion’s luxurious pool.’ Both friends would have enough time to probably talk later about so many things, but the present situation warranted the talk between a mother-in-law and aspiring daughter-in-law.

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Dalton was sitting behind an elegant carving and intricate designed table that added elegance and rustic vintage charm to his study room, which was well built and structured with an illuminated, opaque glass. His both hands that were rubbed together and had interlocked fingers, were resting below his chin area with his elbows which were spread to the desk.

Having succeeded in overturning Aria’s decision to divorce him and had won, he could still feel some sort of anger within him. It was as though she had gotten the nerves before him, to end the marriage without caring what would happen next. It was something he had already wanted, but was enraged nevertheless.

He briskly picked up the telephone that was lying on the glass study desk, and made a call through to Alex who would be in his own room sorting out numerous office files. The breakfast feast that they had was no reason for them not to be at the company, but Aria’s matter had turned everyone’s daily routine upside down.

“Bring the surveillance footage of every hallway, from 6:00am this morning till this present moment,” he ordered.

Dalton looked at the tablet screen that Alex had presented to him closely, as he watched every happenings carefully like he was looking for something in particular. He fast-forwarded the video and watched the one from minutes ago, which stopped at where Aria had come out of the hallway that led to the kitchen, to the one that led to her room.

He rewinded the video to see her walk past the kitchen to her own hallway, which stopped just right at that point with nothing more to watch. Fisting his right hand into a hard ball was a restraint from his own side, which stopped the urge in him to smash the tablet screen that showed Aria, smiling maliciously at the camera like she was brewing something evil.

She even raised her middle finger in the air up to the camera for him, and murmured ‘F’ word like she knew he was going to watch the CCTV footage later. Not minding whom she was playing mind games and messing with, she was determined to make him aggravated to his breaking point.

“Why, is there no camera in the hallway of that room?” he asked Alex calmly, concealing the anger waves that were beginning to travel through his body.

“You had ordered us not to include anything of hers in the affairs of the……”

“And I see that the door to that room is not fixed at all. Why is that?” he asked again.

“We did not get the orders to….”

“As the head butler of this mansion and my assistant, Alex!” His voice thundered sharply, “What is your role?”

“I.. am so sorry sir, we… I would….” Alex quivered in confusion. He could really never get used to Dalton’s fury, since the past four years that he had been working together with Dalton. They were so whimsical.

“Get the maids to switch her rooms and shut the room in the hallway. Right. now!” he ordered angrily.