Chapter 3 - The Wicked Stepmother
The heavy mahogany doors of the dining room swung open, shattering the quiet resolution.
Stepping into the warm light was Cassandra. She was Victor’s new fiancée, a thirty-something socialite draped in a ridiculously expensive crimson silk dress. Her perfectly contoured face was twisted into a tight, artificial smile, but her eyes locked onto Maya with pure, unadulterated venom.
"Victor, darling," Cassandra purred, walking over to wrap her manicured hands around his muscular, tattooed arm. "Are you sure about this? We already agreed that Lily needs a strict disciplinary academy in Switzerland. This girl looks completely underqualified to handle her severe behavioral issues."
Victor ran a heavy hand over his jaw, his cinematic expression showing deep, agonizing exhaustion. Since his first wife passed away two years ago, his daughter had turned into an uncontrollable terror.
"She's staying, Cassandra," Victor stated, his tone leaving absolutely no room for debate. "She is the first person Lily actually listened to."
Cassandra’s jaw locked. "Of course, darling. Whatever you think is best."
Later that evening, Maya was settling into her quarters when the maid from earlier softly knocked on her door. The maid looked nervously down the hallway before stepping inside.
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"You need to be careful," the maid whispered, her voice trembling. "The tantrums didn't start until Cassandra moved in. The little girl is terrified. But if Cassandra catches you interfering, she will destroy you."
👉 Maya’s background in child psychology was screaming that something was wrong, and a midnight walk would soon reveal the horrifying truth.
