Chapter 3 - Nora Started Treating Lily Like An Obstacle
After that, Nora changed.
Not in ways Daniel could easily notice.
She never screamed when he was around.
She never struck Lily in front of him.
She simply began tightening her control.
She corrected the child constantly.
Too loud.
Too slow.
Too messy.
Too curious.
Too clingy.
If Lily wandered near the kitchen, Nora redirected her.
If Lily asked too many questions, Nora’s voice hardened.
If Daniel praised his daughter, Nora smiled—but later found a reason to make Lily cry.
One evening, while Daniel was taking a business call on the back terrace, Lily wandered into the kitchen and saw Nora sliding a plate into the refrigerator.
It was covered with clear wrap.
A neat row of cookies sat on it.
Lily stepped closer.
Nora turned so sharply that her chair scraped the floor.
“What are you doing?”
Lily jumped.
“I was just looking.”
“You do not touch things that aren’t yours.”
The child looked at the cookies.
“Are those for Dad?”
Nora’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“That’s none of your business.”
Lily backed away.
Nora stood and crossed the room, stopping right in front of her.
“Do you understand me?”
Lily nodded.
“Say it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Nora leaned closer.
“If you keep making scenes, your father will get tired of it.”
Lily’s throat tightened.
“He won’t.”
Nora gave her a long, unreadable stare.
Then smiled.
“We’ll see.”
That night Lily cried in bed without telling Daniel why.
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Because children often know the truth long before they know how to prove it.
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