Haizel's plan

**Haizel**

The tension in the mansion was increasing by the day. I could feel Dimitri drifting away, his attention increasingly divided between protecting our family and his unsettling closeness to Angel. She was always around, always at the forefront of his decisions, and it infuriated me. I needed to find a way to drive her away once and for all.

That’s when a plan started to take shape in my mind. It couldn’t be something simple; it had to be something that would shake Dimitri’s trust in Angel, something that would make him question her loyalty. I knew that tampering with documents wouldn’t be enough. It needed to be something more personal, more humiliating, something that would hit Angel directly in the heart.

I spent days observing the routines of the mansion until a perfect opportunity presented itself. I noticed that one of the maids, Mariana, was new and still learning her responsibilities. She was a bit careless but eager to please and stand out. I decided that she would be the key to my plan.

One afternoon, when Dimitri left to attend to some business, I called Mariana for a private conversation. "Mariana, you’ve been doing very well with your tasks," I began, with an encouraging smile. "But there’s something more I need you to do, something that will prove your loyalty and dedication to the family."

Mariana seemed eager to please. "Whatever you need, Mrs. Haizel. I’m here to help."

"I need you to do a small favor for me. Something simple, but very important," I continued, keeping my tone soft and friendly. "I need you to spread a few rumors around the house. Nothing major, just comments about how Angel has been careless with her responsibilities. And if anyone asks, you can say that you’ve seen her making some serious mistakes."

Mariana’s eyes widened in surprise. "But, Mrs. Haizel, I... I don’t know if I can do that. What if Angel finds out?"

"Don’t worry," I said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I’ll take full responsibility. No one will ever know you had anything to do with it. Besides, I’m asking this for the good of the family. We need to ensure that everyone is aware of the mistakes being made before something more serious happens."

Mariana still looked hesitant but eventually agreed. "If you say it’s best for everyone, then I’ll do as you ask."

"Good girl," I said, smiling. "I trust you to handle this discreetly."

With Mariana in place, all that was left to do was wait. I knew that, in time, the rumors would spread and reach Dimitri’s ears. And when they did, he would start to doubt Angel.

A few days later, the plan began to bear fruit. I was in the main hall when I overheard two staff members whispering to each other about the mistakes Angel had supposedly made. I pretended not to hear, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Dimitri found out.

And it didn’t take long. That very afternoon, while everyone was gathered in the dining room, Dimitri suddenly raised his voice, attracting everyone’s attention. "Angel," he began, his voice laced with restrained anger. "I’ve been hearing some disturbing things about how you’ve been handling your responsibilities. Things I never expected from you."

Angel, clearly surprised, looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about, Dimitri?"

"Rumors around the house say you’ve been careless and irresponsible with some important tasks, including neglecting the children’s safety," he continued, his tone intensifying. "Is this true?"

Angel looked stunned by the accusation. "This is absurd, Dimitri! I would never do something like that."

"Then how do you explain what I’m hearing from several different people?" Dimitri retorted, now visibly furious. "Do you want me to believe that everyone is lying?"

Before she could respond, I stepped into the conversation, feigning concern. "Dimitri, maybe there’s some misunderstanding. Angel has always been dedicated, but if there’s been a mistake, we need to address it appropriately."

"Misunderstanding or not, this is unacceptable," Dimitri growled, his gaze fixed on Angel. "I can’t have someone in this house who isn’t absolutely trustworthy. This needs to end now."

Angel tried to defend herself, but Dimitri was already blinded by the anger and doubt planted by the rumors. He humiliated her in front of everyone, demanding that she step back from her most important responsibilities until the situation was resolved.

I watched the scene with silent satisfaction, unable to suppress a smile. Angel, always so confident and strong, was now being questioned and disrespected by Dimitri, the man who once trusted her so much. I knew this blow had hit hard.

When the meeting ended, Angel left the room visibly shaken. Dimitri, still angry, retreated to his office, leaving a trail of tension in the air. Mariana passed by me, giving me a nervous look, to which I responded with a slight nod, assuring her that everything was going according to plan.

That night, as everyone in the mansion tried to process the day’s events, I allowed myself a smile of satisfaction. The first step had been taken, and now, all that remained was to continue feeding the distrust between Dimitri and Angel. The more he doubted her, the easier it would be to push her away for good.

I was determined to get what I wanted. And if that meant destroying any trust Dimitri had in Angel, then it was a price I was more than willing to pay.