The glow in Deirdre's eyes dimmed a little. She thinned her lips. "Mrs. Engel was just saying that so you wouldn't feel down if she said her goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Ophelia took a sharp breath. "What?"

"Mrs. Engel left. Her youngest son is moving abroad, and she's following him. She's been working for so long, so now that her son is willing to provide for her for retirement, she really doesn't have a reason to keep working as a domestic worker."

"I… see." Ophelia could not even hide the dejection in her tone. "Well, maybe it's a great thing! Living with her son like that, no longer needing to rise early!"

"Exactly."

Ophelia kept her mood up. "Well, I guess I'll take over Simone's work from today! I'm good at making food and doing chores, too. I know I'm not as efficient and fast as Simone, but I'm close enough if I do say so myself! That will save hiring costs, too."

Deirdre froze. "Wait, you don't have to—"

"Why not? You're pregnant! This will make it easier for me to take care of