The White Rose Estate

Chapter 1

"Viola, I'm craving your cooking." Darlene kicked off her heels as she entered the house, took off her sparkling diamond earrings, and flopped onto the couch, too tired to move.

The sleek black halter dress accentuated her breasts, and she possessed natural beauty, grace, intelligence, and had been spoiled to the point of being adorable.

Her snow-white skin seemed even more alluring against the black dress.

Viola Whyet shut her laptop and walked over to adjust her skirt, which was hiked up. "Please don't do that, even if no one is around."

Darlene Hope raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Viola, you're so old-fashioned, it's no wonder your man left you."The air momentarily turned icy as she finished speaking. Darlene was aware that she had made a mistake, but she was accustomed to it and didn't feel the need to apologize.

In contrast, Viola chuckled to herself, saying, "You're right, I am indeed quite old-fashioned and conservative."

Without taking offense, Viola proceeded to walk into the kitchen, put on her apron, retrieve ingredients from the fridge, and silently begin cooking.

Darlene licked her crimson lips and sat up straight. Glancing at the red apples on the table, she casually picked one up and took a bite.

She walked barefoot into the kitchen, observing Viola's bustling figure, and inquired, "How's the job search going?"

Viola paused, shaking her head in response.Things were clearly not going well; she was thirty years old, and in today's society where youthfulness is highly valued, it wasn't ideal to be job hunting at her age. Instead, she should have been starting her own business.

However, the question arose: how could she possibly gather enough capital to start a business?

Her boyfriend of a decade, who had taken her money to start a business, repeatedly failed and eventually convinced her to withdraw the remaining funds before running off. As he departed, he hurled accusations at Viola, claiming that she was a dull and unlucky woman, and that her presence was the reason for his inability to become wealthy.

Viola, filled with tears, found herself unable to afford rent and was subsequently evicted by her landlord. She walked the streets, dragging her suitcase, feeling utterly lost, when she unexpectedly encountered Darlene.

Darlene approached her and offered her a place to stay.

Viola knew that she had married into wealth, but she had no idea just how fortunate her marriage had been. As they drove towards their destination, she caught sight of an extravagant estate and, from a distance, a breathtaking European-style castle.The manor boasts well-maintained pine and cypress trees, along with lush greenery, lining both sides of the driveway. A grand fountain sits in front of the castle, while white roses adorn the sides of the winding road.

This English-style manor exudes elegance and sophistication.

Viola can't help but feel inadequate, despite being college classmates. Some people are simply born with more privilege than her. She initially planned to leave after tea, but Darlene insisted on keeping her around, claiming she had nowhere else to go. Darlene assured Viola that she could find a job and leave later.

With no other options available to her, Viola mustered the courage to stay.

In order to maintain her remaining pride, she took on the responsibility of babysitting. Viola helped with household chores, such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry.It's quite odd, considering the size of the estate, that there were only a handful of servants. Throughout the entire castle, the only ones she had come across were the butler driver and a couple of gardeners.

Darlene mentioned that her husband wasn't fond of having too many people around, so they only had a housekeeper who would come regularly to take care of the household chores. But apart from that, there weren't many individuals present in the house.

Viola found this peculiar, especially due to the unsettling way the housekeeper would gaze at her, which always sent a chilling sensation down her spine.

Chapter II

He was a stern, elderly gentleman with a long face and striking triangular eyes, which were an unusual shade of gray-blue. His gaze had a way of making even the most composed individuals feel uneasy, as though they might inadvertently commit an error and face his severe reprimand.

However, Viola had never witnessed the butler display anger; he remained unfailingly polite, considerate, and resolute in all his actions. When she heard that Darlene intended to leave her behind, Viola refrained from asking too many questions. She quietly set about arranging her accommodations.

Darlene advised her, "Just think of him as a robot. If you need anything, he'll handle it efficiently." Viola, being a guest, didn't dare to impose upon someone else's butler.

After a few anxiety-ridden days of living there, Viola began to notice that the people around her treated her no differently.

The manor was remarkably vast, boasting hundreds of rooms. Viola couldn't help but wonder how such a massive private estate could exist within the capital city.

Darlene explained that the Lamberts had traveled to Europe during the Second World War, forming alliances with British aristocrats. Over the generations, the family had expanded significantly. This estate was considered small, and her husband even held a ducal title.

Darlene didn't say this with pride. She had always been beautiful, and during her school days, she often skipped classes for romantic rendezvous. Compared to the rather plain-looking Viola, Darlene's life had been undoubtedly colorful. People at school used to gossip about her behind her back, but Viola never joined in the criticism, which is why Darlene had wanted to be friends with her. In Darlene's words, Viola had a pure heart and was a friend worth having.

Reflecting on this, Viola felt a pang of guilt. Upon first seeing the grandeur of the manor, she had briefly felt a twinge of envy. She had briefly, almost irrationally, believed that this woman enjoyed such a lavish life simply because of her looks. However, she quickly regained her senses and chuckled at her own absurdity.

After residing there for some time, Viola was eager to find employment so she could move out sooner. Darlene had previously offered to help her secure a position through her husband's connections, but Viola had declined. She had just enough self-esteem left to avoid being ridiculed.

Darlene respected Viola's decision and continued her life of luxury. Her husband was often away on business, and in nearly a month, Viola had not caught a glimpse of him, nor was there a picture of him in the house. Darlene appeared unconcerned, indulging in shopping sprees and attending various social gatherings. She frequently returned home inebriated and would ask Viola to prepare food for her.

However, today was different. Darlene came back early and was sober. Munching on an apple, she said, "Viola, if you're having trouble finding a job, you can always join my husband's company. He's back today, and I'll talk to him about it. It's a simple matter."

Viola removed the lid from the pot and, after pondering for a moment, tugged at the corner of her lips and replied, "Alright, I'll accept your offer, even if I have to put on a thick skin."

She couldn't stay here any longer; she needed a job to move out as soon as possible. Darlene was elated and embraced her delicately, saying, "You've finally agreed. Don't worry; I'll make sure my husband finds you a well-paying job with minimal workload."

The fridge was stocked with ingredients. Viola brought the grilled fish to the table and prepared two more dishes along with soup. As she returned to the dining area, she noticed a man in a white shirt already seated at the table.

His features were chiseled and handsome, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his chest buttons undone twice, revealing a glimpse of his well-defined collarbone. He held a tablet, his fingers gliding across it. Upon hearing the doorbell, he raised his eyes, revealing deep, unfathomable blue eyes that immediately locked onto Viola.

Seeing Viola, his expression turned cold, and his icy demeanor sent a shiver down her spine. Holding the soup, she stood frozen in place, too afraid to move.

Descending the stairs, Darlene greeted the man with a smile and circled around him from behind. "Honey, why didn't you give me a call when you got back?"

Chapter III

Darlene had changed into a pink nightgown, similar to the ones worn by the Vimy supermodels on TV. The color was lighter and on her, it appeared both playful and sophisticated.

Winfred seemed slightly softer in his demeanor towards Darlene's closeness, but to Viola, he still seemed like someone who rejected others. If he didn't have such a handsome face, Viola wouldn't have dared to look at him for more than a few moments.

Viola brought the soup to the table, Winfred glanced at her, then turned his attention to Darlene. Darlene was busy smiling and introduced, "Honey, this is my college friend who is currently looking for a house. I thought since the house is big enough, she could temporarily stay here and keep me company. You won't mind, will you?"

Clearly an act of indulgence, Viola couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She looked at Winfred, who met her gaze, causing her heart to race and her panic to grow. She wasn't sure if it was because of his good looks or the intense stare.

Winfred responded with a nonchalant "I'm glad you're happy."

He appeared indifferent, showing no concern for Viola as he continued scrolling through his tablet.Darlene attempted to persuade Viola to join her for a meal, but Viola wanted to decline. However, she couldn't resist Darlene's pouting expression.

At the sound of his voice, Winfred put down his tablet and glanced at the bowl of soup before him. He only took a small sip with a spoon before stopping.

Darlene once again cut the grilled fish for him in a caring manner.

The fish had a golden color from being fried in grease, but Winfred still found it tasteless. After just two bites, he lost interest and stood up, patting Darlene's head. "I'm going to take a shower, you guys can continue eating."

With a polite and distant demeanor, he looked at the food with cold eyes. He didn't even taste some of the other dishes.

Worried, Viola asked Darlene, "Is your husband not happy to see me?"

Darlene chuckled, "How could he be? My husband is always like this, you'll get used to it."

Feeling uneasy, Viola went back to her room to continue working on her resume.As she saw numerous resumes sinking into the sea, she realized it was time for her to go on a field trip tomorrow.

The following day, she left the house early, hoping to avoid encountering her male host. The sun was just starting to rise, and the housekeeper was already busy arranging breakfast. When she noticed Viola coming down the stairs, she gave a slight nod and greeted her with a "Good morning, Miss Whyet."

Viola politely replied and made her way towards the front door, only to reach it as Winfred barged in. It seemed like he had just finished a morning run as he was drenched in sweat, his t-shirt clinging to him. Viola couldn't help but notice the attractive bulge in his throat and the strong muscles in his arms.

Winfred approached, emitting a powerful scent of testosterone that overwhelmed Viola's senses. Her heart raced, and she instinctively took a couple of steps back to create some distance between them and the wall."Good morning, Mr. Lambert," she greeted, unsure of his first name.

Winfred stood in the doorway, blocking her way, as he sat down to change his shoes. Viola was unable to leave until he finished. His actions were leisurely, taking his time to wipe away sweat with a towel before finally asking, "Where are you off to so early?"

Viola paused for a moment before responding, "I'm looking for a job."

"Looking for a job?" Winfred's deep voice resonated, leaving Viola feeling slightly embarrassed. She let out a soft sound of agreement, not wanting to elaborate further. It seemed like a normal thing to say, yet she couldn't shake her self-consciousness.Then she concluded that it was probably due to her lack of self-confidence.

Without asking any further questions, Winfred changed his shoes and walked through the door, finally feeling the strange sense of oppression vanish. Viola, on the other hand, was left in a state of panic.

It was incredibly early in the morning, and since they were in an estate house, there were no buses or taxis nearby.

Viola had no choice but to walk along the highway, hoping for some luck in finding a taxi.

This was the reason why Viola wanted to leave early - not having a car was quite inconvenient. Darlene always had her driver give her a ride, but Viola didn't want to impose on others like that.

Little did she know that even after a long walk, there was still no sign of a car.

Chapter IV

The sun had already risen, and a loud horn blared from behind her. Viola quickly stepped out of the way, only for the car to come to a stop right in front of her.

The tinted window slowly rolled down, revealing Winfred's face. He had changed into a formal English suit that Viola couldn't place, but he wore it with an air of elegance.

His hair was no longer as relaxed as it had been at home; it was neatly brushed back, exposing his broad forehead. He appeared even more unapproachable than yesterday.

"Get in," he said without hesitation, and before Viola could finish her polite refusal, the driver had already stepped out and opened the car door for her.

Viola felt a bit uneasy. "Mr. Lambert, this is too much trouble."

Winfred didn't wait for her response. He immediately looked down at the reports on his tablet, while the driver patiently waited by the door. If she didn't get in the car, she wouldn't be going anywhere.

In the end, Viola reluctantly climbed into the car, maintaining a stiff posture. She sat off to the side in a very formal manner, and throughout the journey, Winfred remained silent, simply observing her data.

Viola was so formal that she didn't even dare to touch her cell phone. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. The car glided smoothly and swiftly, soon reaching the city. Viola searched for an opportunity to speak up and ask to be dropped off in her neighborhood.

However, the driver drove straight to the office.

"Let's go," Winfred said casually, handing Viola the briefcase he had been holding.Confused, Viola stepped out of the car and attempted to return the bag to him, but he had already entered the office building.

The driver drove away, leaving her with no choice but to follow Winfred. As soon as Winfred arrived, the security guards immediately lined up and greeted him.

The hurried office workers quickly moved aside to make way for the elevator.

Uncertain, Viola hesitated on whether to enter or not.

Winfred remained by the elevator, looking at her. "Aren't you coming in?"

All eyes turned to Viola, who decided to just go in and followed him.

Once inside, only the two of them were left in the elevator before Viola gathered the courage to ask, "Mr. Lambert, what are we doing here?"

Without saying a word, Winfred exited the elevator and walked towards a suited man. The man seemed surprised to see Viola. "Mr. Lambert, this is..."

"Take her to the planning department."

With a simple statement, the man understood and took the briefcase from Viola's hand, passing it to the female secretary nearby. He then said to Viola, "Ms. Viola, please come with me."Viola has a slight headache and finds comfort in no longer seeing Winfred. She addresses the man and asks, "Did Mr. Lambert misinterpret something, because I..."

"There is no misunderstanding, Ms. Viola," the man replies with a warm and polite smile, accentuated by his gold-rimmed glasses. "This morning, Mr. Lambert informed me that he would bring an employee along and assign you to the planning department."

Ming Ming didn't mention anything about this when he left in the morning. How did he manage to arrange a job for her?

Chapter V

Upon returning home, Viola searched for Darlene, who appeared at dinner time looking as if she had stayed up late. Spotting Viola's return, Darlene joyfully embraced her and inquired about her job search, "You're back? How's it going, how's the job hunt?"

Viola was slightly taken aback, "You didn't know?"

"Know what?" Darlene rubbed her eyes and adjusted her position, causing her pajama top to slip off slightly, revealing her fair shoulders.

She reclined on the couch, resembling a contented and relaxed cat.

"I messaged you and didn't receive a response. Your husband took me to his company today and offered me a position. I thought you had arranged it for me, and I was thinking of ways to thank you, but it seems you were unaware," Viola assumed that Darlene had made the arrangement. However, Darlene seemed oblivious to it.

Darlene paused, "I casually mentioned it last night, and I didn't expect him to arrange it so quickly. Now you don't have to worry about finding work, just do your best, okay?"

Viola sensed that something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

However, Darlene grasped her hand and asked, "Where did he arrange for you to work? Is it an unpaid job with low pay? Let me know, otherwise I'll immediately ask him to change it for you.""No," Viola replied with a smile. "Working in the planning department aligns well with my major."

Darlene smiled back, her expression carrying a hint of significance. "Well then, that's great. I'll make sure he pays you more."

Viola didn't respond, her only intention being to earn a few months' worth of salary and find a room to rent. In return for their kindness, she believed it was important to work diligently.

The housekeeper informed them that Mister wouldn't be joining them for dinner. Viola and Darlene had a simple meal together before Viola went upstairs to rest.

However, Darlene was all dressed up and ready to go out.

Being aware of her inclination for partying, Darlene had been involved in numerous parties, both big and small, in town.Viola was taken aback when she noticed that her husband had returned from his business trip, yet she still continued to come home late. This surprised her because she had expected her behavior to change once he was back.

A feeling of envy started to grow within Viola as she compared her own boyfriend, who was cruel and low-class, to Darlene's husband, who seemed perfect. Not only was he good-looking and charming, but he also showered Darlene with affection. He didn't demand her to fulfill wifely duties and allowed her to live as she pleased.

While brushing her teeth, Viola absentmindedly tapped on her cell phone and turned on the television. The news was reporting that the local police had discovered a woman's body in the back alley of a bar. Viola walked out of the washroom and stared at the screen, only to hear the reporter mention that this was the third female body found that month. The police suspected a psychopathic killer was responsible and advised women to be cautious when going out at night.

Concerned for Darlene, who frequently went out at night, Viola wondered if she was safe. She tried calling, but Darlene never answered.

She questioned whether she was overthinking the situation. After all, Darlene always frequented high-end places, so nothing bad could have happened to her, right?

The next day, Viola realized that Darlene hadn't returned home all night. Anxious, she thought, "How is this possible? Doesn't she usually come back even if she stays out late?" Viola frantically called again, but Darlene's phone was switched off.Feeling concerned, she felt the need to inquire from the housekeeper, "Excuse me, Mr. Lynn, do you know where Mr. Lambert is?"

Mr. Lynn responded, "Mr. Lambert has returned from his morning jog and is currently bathing."

Viola's worry for Darlene intensifies, compelling her to go upstairs in search of answers. As she approaches the door, she hears a peculiar noise. Viola taps on the door twice, but there is no reply, so she musters up courage and enters.

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