Ashley considered herself lucky because eting Liza had opened a door for her to build sothing for herself outside of Dominion. She t experienced entrepreneurs like Shyaan and Mr. Ramirez, who gave her a chance to grow — all because of so dirt.
With little knowledge of the people she could trust in Dominion, she chose those she knew she could rely on—people who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of her, Lucian, and Primo.
Betty died in her previous life, using her body to shield Ashley.
Red died making sure Lucian got out of that country alive.
And Nolan spent his entire life caring for Primo, and even in his final breath — after sacrificing himself for the young master — he never complained.
In this life, she planned to make sure these people, who never turned their backs on them even when they weren’t given importance, lived longer than they had before. But for that to happen, Lucian and Ashley needed to keep living, because these people’s lives were already tied to theirs.
"Madam," Betty called awkwardly, barely touching the food Nolan had prepared.
Ashley sat across from her while Nolan stood near the table. Both of them were staring at her, studying the conflicted look on Betty’s face.
A deep exhale escaped Betty as she looked around. "Am I really going to stay here?"
"Mhm," Ashley nodded with a smile. "Don’t you like it?"
"It’s not like that..." ca Betty’s conflicted voice, her eyes darting between Nolan and Ashley.
Nolan maintained a smile as he studied the two of them. Of course, he was glad to see Betty again. However, he also knew the young lady was always quite careful.
"Madam," Nolan remarked as he turned to Ashley. "I forgot there’s sothing the chefs want to give to you and Miss Betty. I will pick it up first."
Ashley just nodded, knowing that was only an excuse for Nolan to leave and give them so private ti.
Having said that, Ashley and Betty watched Nolan leave before Ashley faced her secretary again.
"Betty, what is it?" She cocked her head to the side. "This place isn’t so bad, right? Dominion originally wanted us to stay here because it’s one of the biggest houses in the neighborhood."
"That’s exactly the point, Madam," Betty sighed with a deep frown. "This house you’re asking to stay in is supposed to be yours, the master’s, and the young master’s. Yet you’re telling to stay here instead."
She fidgeted with her fingers, looking at Ashley. Even if Betty was getting used to Ashley’s unpredictability, she found this a little excessive. It made her uncomfortable.
"I can stay elsewhere," she said. "Even a shared room is fine."
Ashley smacked her lips as she crossed her arms, resting them on the table. "Betty, how important am I to you?"
"Huh?"
"Will you die for ?" she asked again, blinking almost innocently. "If we’re in a situation where only one of us can get out, what will you do?"
"Of course I will prioritize you!" Betty blurted out, only to bite her tongue. "I an, if there’s really no other option, I will help you and think of a way for to get out too... if possible."
After all, Betty’s loyalty didn’t only stem from the fact that Ashley signed her paycheck. She was grateful to Ashley for giving her a chance... even though that chance ca with what felt like a forced contract she had to sign.
In the end, Betty was grateful Ashley had forced her into it.
Only months had passed since then, but Betty had learned a lot. Not to ntion, the classes Ashley signed her up for had expanded her knowledge.
"Madam," Betty cleared her throat as she straightened, looking Ashley straight in the eye. "I’m really grateful for everything, and I promised that I would do my utmost best to be useful to you. Joining Dominion was purely out of luck."
Many mbers of Dominion, especially the utility staff in the mansion, had mostly been caught up in complicated situations. For instance, Betty had beco part of Dominion because she had been a hostage of gangs resisting Dominion.
People like her were given chances to join Dominion — to live and work for them.
In other words, the majority of Dominion mbers had already been dragged into the cruel world of the underground. So they knew that cleaning a mansion and washing a mountain of dishes were better than being stuck in a place where they could die at any mont.
"But this is too much for ," she admitted. "And I don’t want others to hate for it."
She had already heard Red and his crew’s complaints earlier.
"Is that important?" Ashley asked as she leaned back in her seat. "Betty, do you think I’m really that kind and blind?"
"What?"
"This house is supposed to be a place for , my husband, and my son," she said, nodding. "But aside from wanting to see my family and knowing they were just within reach, I want us to sleep peacefully at night."
Betty blinked and furrowed her brow.
"Say soone as powerful as Dominion decided they were truly crazy and just wanted blood," Ashley humd as she tapped her fingertip against the table. "And they got wind of us being in this neighborhood. Even though the neighborhood is big enough, if they sent at least a hundred people to ransack it, one way or another, so of them would manage to get into a few houses."
Ashley paused and smiled. "You’ve seen this neighborhood on our way here. If it were you, where do you think the most important person lives?"
Silence fell between them as they looked at each other. Ashley’s brows rose while Betty’s furrowed.
Betty thought about it for a second, and slowly, realization dawned on her. Ashley had pointed out the house she had been staying in, and Nolan’s was in the car, making Betty realize how small it looked and how identical it was to Nolan’s and the houses lined up along that row.
"It would be this house," she whispered, and Ashley nodded.
"If I were the enemy, I would check this place first too," Ashley shrugged. "Why? Because it stands out like a sore thumb in this neighborhood."
Then Ashley let out a light chuckle as she leaned forward again, resting her arms on the table.
"The chances of that happening are small because before anyone could reach this place, they would’ve already faced Dominion’s elite mbers. But just in case — one person could escape much more easily on their own rather than three people, especially with a child," she added with a slight nod and a smile.
"That’s why I’m asking you... how important am I to you?" She tilted her head. "Am I important enough for you to take that risk for ? Living in this house and enjoying the comfort of it is, I think, a fair trade for that risk."
In other words, to be the Madam’s decoy.
Betty opened and closed her mouth, her mind going blank for a mont. All she could do was stare at Ashley before biting her lip and nodding.
The corners of Betty’s lips curled into a smile. "Of course, Madam," she whispered, her smile stretching wider. "Worst-case scenario, I know you would co for ."
Ashley let out a chuckle, her eyes squinting.
"Of course, I will."
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