"Let's go."

Howard and the maid snapped back to reality when they heard these words.

Unlike the maid, Howard was stunned because the girl in front of him looked so much like someone he knew.

She was the spitting image of the first wife of the current head of the Atkinson family, Janiyah.

No wonder Mr. Atkinson recognized her in a heartbeat.

They were like two peas in a pod.

Actually, it could be said that the girl in front of him was even more stunning.

Howard had a thought.

He knew the old man better than anyone as he had grown up with him.

He knew how crazy the old man was about that mysterious woman. He was even ready to give up the Atkinson family for her.

If she hadn't run away while pregnant, today's Mrs. Atkinson wouldn't be in her position.

Given this girl's beauty, how would Mr. Atkinson react to her?

It was hard to tell what the future held, but he knew one thing for sure - he couldn't afford to get on this girl's bad side.

Howard dropped his snobbish attitude, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.

"Miss, you are the heir to the Atkinson family. The first lady and the old man had a falling-out, and she left home in a huff. Mr. Atkinson only recently tracked you down. I'm here to take you home."

Howard finished his piece and lowered his head under Lauren's gaze.

The girl seemed cold and aloof, but her aura was more powerful than any high-society lady he'd ever met.

For some reason, he felt a bit nervous.

After a while.

He could feel sweat trickling down his back.

Any girl would probably jump for joy if they heard this news. From a country girl to the young lady of the Troutbeck elite.

It was like a dream come true. But this girl was too composed. That was just... weird.

The young maid came to her senses.

She must have been out of her mind to think this girl was some kind of fairy. She was just a country bumpkin trying to steal Olivia's spot.

Seeing Howard step forward and become all respectful, she followed reluctantly.

But her face was full of disdain.

Lauren took in their reactions, her indifference becoming even more pronounced.

She picked up her black backpack without a word and walked out.

Howard wasn't sure what the girl was thinking. He had said so much, and she hadn't said a word.

Did she know someone would come for her?

That was impossible. Only a few people in the Atkinson family knew about this, let alone the news reaching this remote place.

But her demeanor suggested she knew something.

Howard didn't dare say anything more, deciding to play it safe.

To the young maid, Lauren's behavior was just showy.

She couldn't help but say, "Miss, you must be over the moon hearing this news. You can't wait to get out of here, can you? This place is a dump."

Howard was about to interrupt the maid, but he held back.

Someone was willing to take the heat, which was good considering how foolish the people Olivia had sent were.

Lauren looked at the silent butler, then turned her icy gaze to the hostile maid.

Who did she think she was, disrespecting her like that?

"Stop yapping. Shut up."

Lauren didn't even bother looking at them again, as if they didn't exist.

The maid's face turned red with anger. She was about to say something when the butler sternly told her to shut up.

She felt wronged.

Everyone in the Atkinson household knew that Olivia favored her. They usually cut her some slack.

It had been a long time since anyone had embarrassed her like this. She didn't dare to complain about the butler, so she directed all her resentment towards Lauren.

The hour-long walk downhill was a breeze for Lauren, but it was a struggle for the city-bred butler and maid.

Plus, Lauren deliberately chose the most difficult path down the mountain as a form of punishment.

She treated it as a workout.

By the time they got to the bottom, the three of them were a stark contrast.

Lauren looked comfortable and relaxed, while the other two were a mess. Their clothes were covered in grass and scratches, far from their initial tidy appearance.

Howard realized that the young lady was unhappy and was using this opportunity to punish them.

Despite his frustration, he straightened himself up and said, "Miss, the car's just up ahead."

Seeing that Lauren still showed no emotion and didn't want to interact with him, he hesitantly continued, "Lily was out of line. According to our family rules, she should be punished. But she's Olivia's personal maid, and Olivia is very fond of her. I can't make the call to punish her. Maybe when we get back to the main house, I can report it to Mr. Atkinson for a decision."

Lauren found the butler interesting. He was indeed her father's man.

He had managed to say both the good and the bad, making her look petty if she took offense.

For a newly found heiress, it wouldn't look good if word got out that she was relentless over a servant.

If she let it go, everyone in the Atkinson family and the entire Troutbeck could step on her. Thinking about it, he really did leave her with a tricky problem... interesting!

Lauren looked at him with a half-smile, making Howard's heart skip a beat.