Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl



Esther felt like she was chasing after him too eagerly. She dashed out without even saying goodbye to Agnes.

The commotion upstairs didn't go unnoticed by those downstairs. Agnes was concerned but couldn't convince Esther to stay. As for Luther, he couldn't help but smirk seeing Esther hurry off.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

"Luther, isn't Esther your friend? Shouldn't you go check on her?" Agnes knew her son well. She was sure Esther was upset after hearing James's remarks, and she feared Esther might do something rash.

Luther relaxed on the couch, appearing unfazed. "It's okay, ma'am. She'll get over it."

Agnes nodded, though still worried, then remembered something. "Now that Esther has left, do you have any other reason to be here?"

Luther anticipated this question. "Yes, ma'am. I didn't just come here because of Esther." Agnes was intrigued. "What else do you need here?"

"Do you remember a woman named Rosie Perez from twenty-five years ago?"

The name brought back a flood of memories, and Agnes turned pale. "You know Rosie?"

"I more than know her. She's my mother!"

"What?"

"I said, she's my mother."

Agnes was speechless, barely managing to ask, "How is your mother?"

Luther's smile turned sinister. "She's in heaven now. Quite well."

Agnes already knew, yet the confirmation left her shocked. "I can explain."

"No need to explain. Your reaction tells it all."

This was a haunting memory Agnes had avoided for the last twenty-five years. She had seen Rosie bleeding on the floor but hadn't called for help. Instead, she fled.

Initially, she ran, fearing for her own safety. But her actions caused Rosie to die there.

*

The year Rosie died.

"Rosie, I've told you time and again to stay away from my husband." Raised to be proper, Agnes maintained her composure, never raising her voice even when upset.

They faced each other in a deserted warehouse, eyes cold and unyielding.