"You want to know about Madam?" Nancy asked, looking at Joanna and sighing. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I don't really know her either, and I've never met her properly."
"Really?"
"Yes," Nancy replied as she took a trip down memory lane and answered honestly. "I grew up and was homeschooled in my family. My family has always served the Carter family, so when Madam found me and told me to apply to become a nanny. to care for your pregnant mother and eventually you, I listened to them unconditionally."
"She was very mysterious. She never appeared publicly and always wore a veil when she met me. That's why I said I probably never met her properly…"
Even after decades, Nancy could still vividly remember the day she had met Madam Pierce.
The woman had been unique. There was no word to describe her, and 'beautiful' was not enough. Even the veil she wore could not cover up her exceptional charm.
"When I came to the Pierce family, she had already left. As to where she might've gone… Master, Sir, and even Ma'am were silent, and no one ever mentioned it."
Joanna hung her head and said, "Yeah. Grandpa and my parents never told me about Grandma. There are also no pictures of her at home, but I know they miss her a lot. I always wanted to know what happened to Grandma that made her leave her family."
Joanna had hoped that Nancy would have some useful information, but it seemed like her nanny was also about the same level when it came to this!
From various sources, she had pieced together a picture. She knew that the Carter family, from the side of her grandmother, Lilliana, was one of the oldest and most mysterious families in the distant North City. The once glorious family had disappeared into the wind for some reason, and no one dared mention them.
"If you really want to understand anything about Madam, I'm afraid you'll have to personally make a trip to North City."
Nancy suddenly thought of something and asked Joanna, "Did you find the quilt, Miss Ren? I vaguely recall Mrs. Pierce saying that Madam specially sewed this for you before she left. She also personally embroidered the pattern, so perhaps you. might find some clues."
"I found it, but… there's been a situation," Joanna said with a deep frown.
While mentioning the blanket. Joanna got so angry she wanted to slap Alice in the face.
She slowly pulled the blanket from her bag and handed it to Nancy, who took it eagerly.
"I didn't think I would see it again! I knew you'd find it, Miss Joan!"
Nancy was overjoyed and immediately spread the blanket open, but when she saw the curses written all over it, she almost screamed and tossed it.
"W–was this written in blood? Who did this? How could they?!"
"It doesn't matter. I don't believe in those things anyway."
Joanna wasn't afraid. She only felt disgusted at the disaster on her blanket.
The most important thing now was to restore the blanket to its original state.
It took some effort, but Nancy quickly cleaned the words off the blanket, and the pattern embroidered on it became clear.
There were two things on it, the same combination of a Queen and flowers. Some stripes connected together to form a map. as though guiding Joanna to someplace.
"Judging from the shape of the map, it looks to be North City. Perhaps Madam purposely left this behind so you could look for her?" Nancy guessed, which was also in line with Joanna's thoughts.
However, Joanna didn't think too deeply about it as she kept the blanket and jade pendant away.
"We'll talk about it later!"
Nancy looked at Joanna's belly and nodded in understanding.
"You're right. The most important thing right now is to nurture your baby and have a safe birth."
The older woman didn't ask who the father of Joanna's baby was, and the latter didn't say a word about it either. The two women had an unspoken understanding of the situation.
Joanna was completely assured that Nancy would keep her mouth shut. As long as Joanna didn't permit it, her nanny would
take this secret to her grave.
Joanna put off all activities in the next few days and stayed in bed, nursing her baby under Nancy's meticulous care. It was clear that Nancy had come from a great line of doctors, as Joanna's previous minor illnesses were cured with just a few
doses of medicine.
She no longer felt fatigued, and her appetite improved. She could now stomach several meals a day without feeling nauseous.
Today. Nancy went out early to do some grocery shopping, and Joanna slept in bed. The sun bathed her skin with warm light, and she felt at peace and comfortable.
Joanna secretly planned to take her child and Nancy to live abroad once her business was settled. By then, she wouldn't need to worry about money and could laze around all day.
Her relaxed state didn't last very long, as she heard noises from downstairs.
"What are you scared of? Just smash all of it! I don't believe that the dead can bully the living! If you guys don't smash this
place to bits, I'll make all of you eat shit!"
Joanna's brows furrowed slightly, and she opened her eyes with an unhappy look.
The noses got louder as the minutes ticked by, accompanied by the obvious crashing of things getting broken which told her it wasn't a hallucination but an actual intrusion.
She silently got up and casually dressed, wearing her slippers, before going out to see what was happening.
Joanna came down to see a man in a white suit directing four to five gangsters holding steel pipes and smashing the furniture and appliances in the hall.
"They say this villa is haunted, and the surrounding people have left out of fear! Our boss doesn't believe in those things. We're trashing this place as much as we want today, boys! We're eliminating evil for the sake of the public!"
The man in the suit didn't notice Joanna standing on the stairs as he spoke to the gangsters arrogantly.
These rascals had accepted payment for a job, so they naturally didn't hold back, smashing everything they could. Soon, the
entire villa looked like it had just survived a hurricane.
"Who are you people, and what are you doing?!" Nancy shouted.
She had returned with a basket full of groceries and was appalled to see the scene before her. Her shock soon fueled her with anger, and she screamed. "The Pierce residence isn't somewhere you rascals can do as you please! Get out of here, or face my wrath!"
When the man in the white suit saw Nancy, he froze and turned pale with fright before spluttering incredulously, "l–it's you! T -that fierce old lady…! Didn't I… bury you alive?! How are you still alive? A– are… Are you a g–ghost?!"
"Oh? So it's you! A lackey of the Sunders', hmm? Seems our paths inevitably cross again!"
Hatred filled Nancy's face as she stared at the man who had almost driven her to her death. She lunged at him like she was completely deranged.
"That's right! I'm a ghost, and I'm here for your life!"
"N–no! D–don't come near me! Get away!"
The man in the white suit screamed in fear and backed away on trembling legs.
"T–the person who wanted you dead was Jeremy! I was only following his orders! If you want to claim a life, go after it! Not me!"
The white suit man covered his head with both hands as he stammered and begged for mercy.
"I won't let any of you off! Not you, Jeremy, or anyone else who harmed the Pierce family!" Nancy hissed as she tightened
her grip around the man's neck.
"S–spare… me! Please…!"
The man's pants had a damp patch at his crotch, indicating he had wet himself in fear. But soon, he realized that something
was wrong.
Nancy's hands were warm around his neck, but… ghosts didn't have physical bodies or body heat, did they?
"Y–you're not a ghost…? You're not dead!"
At the realization, the man became enraged and yelled at the gangsters. "What the hell are you doing? You didn't finish her off back then, so you better get rid of her today!"
"Let's see who dares touch her. hmm?" Joanna spoke from where she was on top of the stairs. She casually flexed her fingers ready to unleash a killing spree.