Chapter 11 - Selene Finally Explained Why Piper Had Become Her Enemy
Selene denied the medication allegation at first.
Denied forging the resignation.
Denied planning to send Piper away for selfish reasons.
But once Anna’s imprisonment was undeniable, her other explanations began collapsing.
During questioning, Selene finally said:
“You don’t understand what it was like living in that house.”
The investigator asked:
“What do you mean?”
“Everything was Piper.”
Tristan.
The household schedule.
Vacations.
Meals.
School.
Birthdays.
Photos of Piper’s biological mother remained in the upstairs hallway.
Piper sometimes slept in Tristan’s room after nightmares.
Tristan canceled trips when Piper was sick.
To most parents, normal.
To Selene, evidence she would always be second.
She said:
“I married a man who already had a family. I thought eventually we would become the family.”
The investigator answered:
“You were already part of it.”
Selene shook her head.
“No. I was joining theirs.”
That sentence became the emotional center of everything.
Selene never wanted Piper dead.
She wanted Piper peripheral.
Less present.
Less believed.
Less central to Tristan.
The residential program would create months of physical distance.
If Piper’s supposed problems continued, maybe boarding school afterward.
Then Selene could build what she called:
“A normal marriage.”
Her resentment had slowly converted a three-year-old child when she entered Piper’s life into competition.
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And once Piper became competition, every boundary felt justified.
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