And these servants, who indulged in eating, drinking, and having fun, were certainly not easy to deal with.
Just as she had suspected, they were trouble.
Living in such an environment, Chase would be nothing more than a living dead, even if he had the chance to wake up.
As she settled in the room they gave her...
"Second Mistress, take this. I'll show you to the bath," said Li Er, handing a robe to Lydia.
She gave it a cold stare, not bothering to reply.
"What? Just stepped into the villa and already acting like the Second Young Mistress? Want me to personally bathe and dress you?"
"Haha..."
Li Er's words drew laughter from the crowd outside.
"Which room is Chase's?" Lydia asked, looking toward the upstairs.
"Look at you, in such a hurry. You probably don't know that our Second Young Master is as good as dead, do you? Even if you see him now, he won't be able to fulfill your needs. Hehe..."
Lydia turned and walked toward the stairs, ignoring the shameless group.
"You think you can go upstairs without my permission?" Li Er barked angrily, signaling the male servants to block her path.
Four male servants stepped forward to stop her.
"Good dogs don't block the way," she said coldly.
"Wow, you little wench, not even married to the Second Young Master yet, and already putting on airs. I'll teach you... " The servant raised his hand to hit Lydia, but she swiftly grabbed his arm, twisted it forcefully, and threw him to the ground.
The three other male servants charged at Lydia, but she was ready for them.
Using their strength against them, she skillfully maneuvered, causing them to collapse into a heap like a stack of pancakes.
"You little witch, you look so skinny, but who knew you could fight?" sneered Li Er, rolling up his sleeves as he approached menacingly.
She ran out and they all chased after screaming deadly threats.
Lydia spotted a broken stick on the ground, left behind by one of the servants. She kicked it up with precision, sending it flying into Li Er's forehead.
"Ah..." Li Er cried out as blood streamed down his face. "Quick... go get my aunt!" he shouted to the maids nearby.
Lydia made her way up the stairs again, leaving footprints in the thick dust on the floor.
She stopped at a door handle that was noticeably free of dust.
She pushed the door open, and a strong smell of disinfectant mixed with a foul odor hit her nose, making her instinctively cover her mouth and nose.
Inside, she pulled back the curtains, revealing a large bed with a person lying on it.
Medical equipment monitoring life signs was placed on a nearby cabinet.
Lydia's eyes focused on him.
Her first impression was of his long, disheveled hair and the dark stubble around his mouth.
He looked like a middle-aged man, lacking any trace of handsomeness.
His skin was pale, likely from being in a sunless room for so long.
Could he be Chase?
Was he the same Chase who, five years ago, had a relationship with her, resulting in her pregnancy with triplets, and who had offered her a million dollars to save her mother's life?
Was he the unforgettable, stunningly handsome Chase she had seen only once?
What had happened to him? How did he end up like this?
"Chase, do you remember me? I was Abby Brooks five years ago, and now my name is Lydia. Lydia Miles. I've come back to repay you."
"Can you hear me?" Lydia whispered softly, holding the frail hand of the man lying on the bed.
With an aching heart she set to work on grooming him using the things she could find in his bathroom.
She worked slowly and carefully. Mopping his face with a warm clean towel, shaving his over grown facial hair.
Downstairs, the noise was growing louder and more chaotic.
"Who dares to cause trouble in the Grand Palace? Who would dare to intrude into Chase's bedroom? I'll make sure to teach her a lesson today..."
"Miss, that woman is upstairs. She hit me on the head, and you must stand up for us," Li Er complained, following closely behind Zi (Nickname of Charlotte).
Zi had heard from the servants that someone had torn down the marriage notice posted in front of the Grand Palace for Chase.
Curious about who the woman was, she came to investigate.
However, upon hearing Li Er's words, she was so furious that she stormed upstairs and kicked open the bedroom door.
The unpleasant smell inside made her quickly step back.
"What is that stench? It's awful."
The servants behind her waved their hands in front of their noses, looking into the room with disgust.
Inside, Lydia sat at the bedside, her back to them.
Zi marched into the room, fuming. "Who are you? How dare you hurt a servant of the family? Do you have a death wish?"
Lydia continued to carefully shave Chase, ignoring the shouting woman behind her.
"Miss, this woman is tough. Be careful," Li Er warned.
"I'm the most esteemed lady of the Gordon family's main house. How could just anyone dare to bully me?"
Zi had been spoiled and pampered by everyone in the Gordon family, which had nurtured her fearless and wild nature.
Seeing that Lydia was ignoring her, Charlotte (Actual name of Zi) raised her hand in anger, ready to teach her a lesson.
"You witch, I'm talking to you... ah..."
Lydia's razor swiftly sliced a cut into Charlotte's pale arm.
The speed was so fast that Charlotte had no chance to react, and she didn't even see how Lydia managed to hurt her.
By the time Charlotte realized what had happened, Lydia was still facing away from her, calmly shaving Chase's chin.
"You're making me bleed! How dare you hurt me..."
"Shut up, you're too loud," Lydia commanded coldly.
Her voice was as chilling as a grim reaper's whisper, causing Charlotte to clamp her mouth shut in fear.
"If you say another word, it won't be your arm that gets cut, but your neck."
Lydia's words were delivered with a calm indifference, yet they carried a potent threat.
"What are you all standing around for? Are you dead? Beat this witch to death!" Charlotte, refusing to believe Lydia's threat, ordered the servants to attack her.
Fearful of Charlotte's authority, the servants picked up brooms and anything they could find and advanced toward Lydia.
Sensing the danger behind her, Lydia didn't wait for those objects hit her back. She stood up and used the razor to swiftly incapacitate several of the servants.
The last servant's clothes were shredded by the razor, and with a powerful kick, Lydia sent him flying out of Chase's bedroom.
Charlotte stood there, stunned by the scene.
Worried that Lydia might turn on Charlotte, and fearing the consequences from the mistress, John quickly pulled Zi out of the bedroom.
Lydia glared darkly at the person standing at the door. The past five years in Los Angeles hadn't been a walk in the park for her.
She endured hardships greater than most could imagine, all to return to the empire to avenge her mother and reunite with her two children.
"You... you'll regret this," Zi spat out, trying to save face as she threw a parting shot at Lydia.