Chapter 1 - The Unmasking
Vanessa’s lips parted, but no sound came out.
Her gaze darted frantically from the dark wig in my hand to the silver hair beneath it, then to my face, dripping with filthy water.
The color drained from her cheeks so fast she looked as if she might faint against the grand banister.
"M-Mrs. Whitmore?" she choked out, her voice pitching up an octave.
"I... I didn't—you were..."
Daniel descended the rest of the stairs in a blur.
His hands trembled as he reached me, pulling a silk handkerchief from his jacket pocket to wipe the grey sludge from my cheek.
"Mom," he breathed, his eyes wide with horror and utter confusion.
"What is happening?"
"Why are you dressed like this?"
"What did she just do to you?"
"Ask your fiancée, Daniel," I said calmly, taking the handkerchief from his fingers.
"She was just explaining my place in this house."
Vanessa stepped forward, her hands raised in desperate supplication.
The arrogance that had coated her features seconds ago vanished, replaced by tears that seemed to materialize on command.
"Daniel, darling, please listen to me!" she sobbed, reaching for his arm.
He flinched away from her touch as if burned.
"It was a misunderstanding!"
"This woman—I mean, your mother—she came in through the back!"
"She was disrespectful, she threatened me, and she hid my diamond bracelet in her pocket!"
"I lost my temper... I’m under so much stress with the wedding planning, I just snapped!"
She turned to me, dropping gracefully to her knees on the wet marble floor.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I am so, so sorry!"
"I didn't know it was you!"
"If I had known—"
"If you had known it was me," I interrupted softly, "you would have smiled, poured me tea, and asked about my foundation."
"Just like you do every Sunday."
I looked down at her kneeling before me, her designer dress soaking up the dirty water she had poured over my head.
May you like
"You only reserve your humanity for people you think you can use, Vanessa."
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