THE BILLIONAIRE CRIPPLED WIFE

chapter 21&22

🌹THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRIPPLED 🌹

🥀WIFE🥀

{Love In Contract…}

Chapter 21💎22

🥀ACCIDENTAL POISON🥀

Richard just sat glaring at Ophelia as her words stung him deep in his heart.

Then he got up with his two hands behind him as he balled his fist while staring sternly at her.

“Remember as long as the contract stands, I regulate your entire existence. Unless you want to breach the contract, I own your whole life and If I want you to remain crippled, then you should remain crippled. Once the contract is over you can go seek god zeus help for all I care”. Richard uttered coldly as he turned to leave and Ophelia in anger picked up the plastic first aid kit and threw at him.

“You're despicable! You told me I could get divorce once my legs are healed, how can I seek divorce if you don't want me to walk?!! How?!!”. Ophelia shouted and Richard without turning his back to glance at her tilted his head to the side.

“Then don't seek divorce”. He muttered in a deep voice and left the room, leaving Ophelia whose eyes widened at his statement.

“I shouldn't seek divorce? He wants me to remain here and die of torture?!! Haven't I suffered enough?!!”. Ophelia uttered as she held her head in frustration.

The moment Richard walked out of the room, he met a maid with glass of milk at the door and she bowed at him and almost opened the door to go in.

“Wait”. Richard's voice came from behind her and she stopped on her track.

He then brought out a substance from his pocket, as he walked to the maid and added everything into the milk.

The maid stood rather shocked, but she tried hiding it.

“Tell her the milk is from the chairman and watch her drink the whole thing”. Richard muttered returning the substance back to his pocket and the maid nodded slowly as she walked into the room, while Richard stood staring at the door with a cold expression on his face.

‘That's enough to make you remain crippled for another two weeks’. He thought.

Then his phone rang and seeing the dialer his gaze darkened as he picked it up.

“You killed one of our men?! Weren't you the one who asked for her death in the first place?!”. A voice snapped from the other end and Richard held the phone to his ear as he walked away.

––––

“Since when do you maids care about my existence?”. Ophelia asked wiping the little tears in her face, as she watched the maid whose name is Vanessa drop the glass of milk on the table next to the bed.

“Oh! This is from the chairman first lady. He saw the third boss carry you in and I think he's rather worried something might have happened to you–

“Take it back, before I throw it away”. Ophelia sneered, as she laid on the bed with her back turned on Vanessa and Vanessa frowned at her.

‘This stubborn act of yours could cause me my Job’. Vanessa thought, then she moved closer to Ophelia.

“You might hate the chairman like everyone else in this mansion, but he's the only who really cares for you in here. Do you know he split Sir Richard's 30% wedding gift shares with you? Maybe he was worried once you get divorced you might have nothing left”. Vanessa muttered so calmly and Ophelia with puzzled gaze sat up on the bed to glance at her.

“He did that? When?”. She asked in puzzlement.

“He did it at the company’s 80th anniversary. You need to see how Lady Angela was so mad!!”. Vanessa chuckled as she picked up the glass of milk and handed it to Ophelia who still sat puzzled.

“But why would he do that for me? I have no good relation with him”. Ophelia mumbled staring into nothing in particular and Vanessa who was getting fed up sighed as she placed the glass milk in Ophelia's hand and Ophelia only stared at it.

“He lost his wife and only daughter two decade back to a strange disease. His daughter was still very young then and she was his favourite person, but death did its worst. Ever since the chairman became attached to struggling young girls whom he believes would be the same age as his daughter if she was still alive, he believes since he couldn't take care of his daughter, it's only best if he took care of other girls around to appease her soul”. Vanessa muttered and Ophelia only let out a sigh.

“Now you see that this is the least you could do for him. Just drink up, otherwise you might be tagged ungrateful”. Vanessa said taking Ophelia's hand with the glass milk to her lips and Ophelia nodded as she brought the milk closer to her mouth to drink while Vanessa smiled inwardly.

‘My job here is done—

Vanessa wasn't done speaking inwardly to herself when the glass milk mistakenly fell from Ophelia's hand to the floor, just right before she could drink even a sip, and as the milk also spilled, the glass shattered into pieces.

“What did you do?!!!”. Vanessa screamed loudly in anger as she glared at Ophelia who blinked questionably at her.

“You're not blind to see my hand slipped. Clean the room and get me another glass it's no big deal”. Ophelia uttered wondering why Vanessa was exaggerating and Vanessa scoffed.

“You just spilled the milk you worthless lady!! Do you know how much oroblem you just brought to ne?! Why do I have to cross your cursed path!! And clean this filthy room yourself! Too bad you have no legs to hasten your movement!!”. Vanessa snapped as she picked up her tray and stormed out of the room, leaving Ophelia in utter shock and anger.

The moment Vanessa got out of the room, her angry facial expression was replaced with fear as she cheered her fingers in panic.

‘I don't know what makes them feel I'm the perfect one for this job. Lady Angela first added something to the milk, now Sir Richard but the whole milk got spilled!! Why do I have to be so unfortunate!!’. Vanessa thought as she made her way to the kitchen, to drop the tray.

Irene was busy preparing apology snacks for Gerald as the chairman had earlier instructed.

She had packed the snacks mixed with sliced fruits into a glass plate, when Angela walked into the kitchen dressed in her bathrobe, her hair was wrapped in a white towel also.

Angela picked up the plate Irene filled with snacks, and began eating from it shocking Irene who stood staring puzzly at her and she threw Irene a glare.

“You can’t greet? Wow I guess the chairman has given you a lot of wings hasn't he?”. Angela asked with a scoff and Irene nodded slightly.

“Good evening ma'am”. She greeted but Angela ignored her as she walked to the trashcan and dumped the entire plate and fruit in it, which made Irene blinked puzzly.

“Mrs Diamond hates when food are wasted–

“Who wasted it, me or You?”. Angela asked with a raised eyebrow and Irene kept quiet as she walked to the trashcan and removed the plate from it.

She was about dropping the plate in the sink to wash, when Angela snatched it from her hand and threw it to the floor making it break into pieces.

“Why did you do that?!!”. Irene shouted in shock as she stared at the broken plate and Angela only rolled eyes as she looked through the cupboard for God knows what.

“I heard a broken plate!! Who’s the lowlife wasting my money!!!”. Mrs Diamond shouted as she ran down the stares and Irene instantly pointed at Angela.

But what followed shocked her completely, as Angela slapped her hard across the face, then pushed her towards the broken plate and her whole hand and legs became bruise.

“You broke the plate and feinged innocence?! How can a maid be so entitled?!”. Angela spat angrily and Mrs Diamond who had just rushed in frowned at the scene before her.

Angela glanced at her and then smirked secretly as she turned her gaze back to Irene who was still on the floor.

“But too bad mother can't discipline you. The chairman likes you even more than mother who is his own daughter-in-law. We'll just overlook your bad attitude again, after all ever since you came into this family you've made Gerald loose millions every day and now you want the whole household to waste money replacing broken utensils”. Angela said and Mrs Diamond only got more angry.

Richard who had just finished his call walked back into the house and his gaze caught the scene at the kitchen, but he couldn't care less as he climbed the stares.

“Who can't discipline this little wench!! I'm the lady of this wnole household! I'm the one who hired her and I'm the one who stamps her paycheque!!”. Mrs Diamond shouted angrily as she stormed towards Irene.

“But I did nothing! I'm always careful with your plates your ladyship!!”. Irene said as she got up as she shifted away from Mrs Diamond.

“Shut your mouth up! You opportuned brat! I don't care about what spell you casted on the chairman but when it comes to my rules, not even my husband dare breaks not to speak of you poor little rat!!”. Mrs Diamond sneered hard as she rushed towards Irene but Irene again ran away from her and Angela in anger rushed towards and Irene grabbed her hair tight.

“Ah!!”. Irene screamed out in pain as Angela gripped her hair tight.

“You need to know when to accept defeat you rat! Go get what you deserve!”. Angela shouted as she pushed Irene towards Mrs Diamond who immediately caught her and began slapping her real hard while pulling her hair at every minute also and soon Irene's screams and cries filled the place, which made Angela flip her hair in satisfaction as she watched.

‘If I can deal with that lucky crippled then who are you to annoy me, little maid’. Angela thought with a smirk.

“I'll pull your whole hair out! So that once you want to break another plate, your exposed scalp will remind you not too!!”. Mrs Diamond sneered as she pushed Irene to the floor.

Then she proceeded to search for scissors amongst the cutleries, Irene got up to run away but Angela pulled her back holding her hair tight.

“Where do you think you're going?!”. Angela snapped as Irene struggled with her.

Then she raised up her leg to kick Irene, when a strong hand grabbed her leg and pushed her away and she starggered back glaring at the figure who glared back at her.

“This is women's business Pascal, stay out of it!!!”. Angela shouted as she made to attack Irene again but Pascal came in front of her and she frowned stopping on her track.

Mrs Diamond had finally grabbed the scissors and stormes towards Irene but Pascal blocked her also.

“Leave this place now, a man isn't suposed to be in kitchen how many times do I have to educate you on that?!!”. Mrs Diamond shouted as she began pushing Pascal away but he was too strong to be moved.

“I can't believe you mom. You're bullying someone old enough to be your daughter!!”. Pascal uttered and Angela stepped forward and slapped him hard shocking both Irene and Mrs Diamond.

“Shut up!! Mom would never give birth to a poor ugly rat like this girl!!!”. Angela shouted and Pascal's blue gaze darkened as he moved closer to Angela.

“Did you just slap me?”. He asked in a cool deep voice and Angela nodded.

“Yes I did!! I slapped you! What are you going to do about it?! Huh?! How dare you disrespect your mother because of a maid!! Now I dare you to slap me back if you're so angry!! But have it in mind that it's only animals that hit ladies! So slap me back I dare you__!!”. Angela wasn't done talking when an hot slap landed on her face from the side and her scream filled everywhere as she fell to the ground only to see Gerald, he was the one who slapped her and Gaston with a glare on his face stood beside him.

“My brother might be a gentle man, but I'm nothing like that”. Gerald uttered darkly as he moved closer to her and Angela in fright shifted back.

“Ge--rald. I didn't offend you, why not stay out of this, I was just putting him in his place for disrespecting her”. Angela muttered as she stood and rushed to hide behind Mrs Diamond who still stood shocked by how fast things went.

“What the hell is she even still doing here?! She ain't dating any of us and she certainly isn't any body's wife! She's not even an half-wife! So why does she get to live with us and cause so much issues?!”. Gaston shouted at Mrs Diamond who flinched as she turned to Angela.

“You shouldn't have slapped him, it was very rash of you”. Mrs Diamond muttered calmly and Angela shook her head.

“No I should have. Your sons keep disrespecting you everyday. This never happened before, But ever since Richard brought home his wife and the chairman hired this little maid everyone casted you aside like a rejected stone. You deserve more mother!!”. Angela uttered and guys couldn't believe their ears while Gerald only chuckled as he rubbed the top of his nose.

It was obvious he felt like inhaling his substance, but someone already used them to wash the toilet.

“I’m going to find something to consume before I starve”. Gerald muttered to everyone’s hearing inhaling the air like it was drugs as tapped on Gaston's shoulders and walked out of the place.

Irene who still sat on the floor stared after him.

“You think it's because of Richard's new wife? I've been thinking the same thing too”. Mrs Diamond said to Angela and Gaston in anger stormed towards Angela and grabbed her hand.

“You snake. It's no wonder mom has been acting real nasty lately, you just pick anyone to blame and torture. Now leave this house, leave and never come back home wrecker!!”. Gaston shouted as he dragged her out of the kitchen towards the main exit.

By this time servants had already watched enough shows as they even followed Gaston towards the main exit for more drama to watch.

“Gaston! Gaston let go of me!! Mom you see what I've been saying to you?!! They have no regard for you! They know we share a bond but they are literally still kicking me out against your word!!”. Angela shouted as Gaston threw her out of the door.

He was about slamming the huge door to her face, when….

“Angela. My study”. Richard said in his usual deep voice from the stairs where he had stood watching, then he walked away towards his study and Angela smiled as she forced her way in while pushing Gaston away.

“You're forgetting I'm someone's public wife!!”. Angela spat hissing at Gaston before running up the stairs to go meet Richard and both Gaston and Pascal glared after her.

“When I thought I raised good boys, but look at how you all turned out. Embarrassing your mother and your brother's guest in front of the whole household! Angela is really the daughter I never had!!”. Mrs Diamond spat glaring at Irene one last time before rushing up the stairs also.

“I really hate that b*tch. She's washing mom's head!”. Pascal shouted and Gaston sighed deeply.

“Mom's not the one giving her liver, Richard is…that asshole would literally partner with medusa just to torment his wife”. Gaston sneered and Pascal balled his fist angrily.

Irene got up slowly as she limped away because of the numerous cuts and pain in her body and Pascal's gaze followed her.

“Don't you need help?”. He asked.

“No I can manage”. Irene replied as she made her way to the maid's annex and Gaston signaled at some maids who were still around to clean the kitchen up, before leaving with Pascal.

“Thank goodness Lady Angela was so engrossed in the drama that she forgot to ask me about the outcome of the milk”. Vanessa mumbled as she made poured another milk into the glass cup.

She had been in the kitchen from the unset of the drama, but kept a low profile because she wasn't ready to tell Angela she failed in her errand.

‘I'll just make another milk and apply poison inside, then I'll tell them the lady has been taken care of’. Vanessa thought.

As she looked sideways if anyone was watching, then brought out a white substance from inside her shirt, poured the whole content into the milk before hiding the substance sachet back into her shirt, then she started staring the milk with a spoon as she smiled.

“I'm so smart. I get to keep my Job”. Vanessa mumbled as she looked around again to see if anyone was watching, then she continued with her smile, while stirring the milk, but suddenly her smile faded.

‘What if it wasn't poison the Sir Richard and Lady Angela gave me to give to the first lady?’. She suddenly thought, but then she scoffed shooking off the thought.

‘Of course they both want her dead. After all they're lovers, but they can't profess their love openly because Sir Richard is married to that crippled lady, if she dies its a huge win for them. Gosh! I'm very smart!’. Vanessa thought happily.

‘But the crippled lady would definitely not want a drink from me again, even though I pretend to be nice and I don't want to be the one to give her the poison myself to avoid complications. I need to find someone to do the job’. Vanessa thought.

And instantly two maids walked into the kitchen gossiping.

“I think Lady Angela has an issue with anyone that's close with the first lady. Irene is the only one the first lady let's to serve her, and suddenly Lady Angela hates her?! I don't know why but I feel the first lady is right, she's obviously getting bullied by Sir Richard and Angela”. One of the maid said.

“It's obvious, we servants now know Angela was the problem not the first lady. I mean Irene can be playful and annoying but she follows rules strictly, why would she break plate especially when she knows how Mrs Diamond had been waiting for her to make a single mistake”. The second maid said.

“Now I'm a little sad for being rude to the first lady. Let's give her our support so she doesn't get replaced by Angela. If Angela replaces her, who knows who'll be the next Irene. She could just torture us for simply looking at her, I don't want to serve someone I'll always be on eggshells with”. The first maid said.

“You're right! Angela must leave this mansion before the first lady, if not! Our job in this mansion will turn into a living nightmare!”. The second maid added and they both nodded.

Vanessa on the other hand smirked at their gossips.

‘She let's only Irene serve her huh? That'll be killing two birds at the same time, taking out both Lady Angela's enemies, one to the afterlife and the other to prison. I'll surely get a raise if this is successful’. Vanessa thought as she covered the milk and took it with her to the Maid's annex in search of Irene.

Angela walked into Richard's study with a rather serious gaze, as she met him facing the window with his hands tucked in his pockets.

She walked to him and bowed slowly.

“Good evening boss, you sent for me”. She mumbled in an humbled low voice.

“I told you, to do something about her legs that were recovering. But you went ahead to ask him for help? Aren't you such a schemer Angela?”. Richard's stern voice came as he turned to her with a dark glare and Angela instantly went on her knees.

“I was just worried I might fumble, that's why I reached out to him because he-he never misses his target—

“Shut your mouth up!!”. Richard shouted stomping his both hands on his desk and Angela flinched puzzly.

“You should how much I hate lies. You reached out to him because you knew fully well he would interpret your request into the only language he understands which is ’Kill’!!”. Richard shouted and Angela placed her palms together in pleas.

“Just one last chance boss—

“Whatever life you have now, you should know who gave it to you, your fame and money!! I didn't groom you to bite me later on! Your hate towards Helia drove you to meet him for help! You knew he would kill her instead of making her remain crippled! I gave you the assignment because of your field! Don't you have drugs to delay her recovery?! Why the f**k did you have to go too far?!”. Richard shouted hard and tears streamed down Angela's eyes as she pleaded.

“I'll change please don't abandon me! When I found out what happened I got a maid to fix everything! I spiked her milk with a drug that will surely delay her legs recovery, this time it's harmless, nothing will happen to her, I promise! Just don't abandone me”. Angela cried loudly and Richard blinked questionably.

“What maid?”. He asked as he moved closer to her and Angela gulped down before speaking.

“It's a maid she isn't acquainted with, I told the maid to tell her the milk was from the chairman. That way she would accept it. She's supposed to have drank it by now!”. Angela said hurriedly and Richard frowned trying to get what she was saying, suddenly he remembered when he had spiked Ophelia's milk earlier and his eyes widened.

‘The substance I added will turn into a toxic poison if it's mixed with another substance’. Richard thought as his eyes widened more and he instantly dashed out of the study, while Angela stared puzzly after him.

–––––

Richard got to the door of the room, he was about twisting the door knob to go in, when Irene limped out with an empty glass of milk and his eyes widened as she stared at the glass cup and then at Irene.

‘She isn't the maid from earlier’. He thought.

“I just thought of bringing the lady milk, since she might be bored”. Irene mumbled calmly not getting while Richard was staring strangely at her.

Suddenly loud coughs began coming from inside, and Richard recognized it as Ophelia's voice as he pushed the door open and ran in, Irene followed also and both she and Richard's eyes widened at the same time.

Ophelia's whole face had turned as she coughed out heavy on the white bedsheets, her fingers and ears were turning alarming red also.

“First lady!”. Irene gasped…