Chapter 11
I retreated down the stairs, my heart pounding violently against my ribs, struggling to process the devastating reality of what I had just witnessed. Victoria wasn't just being strict; she was actively trying to erase Elena’s memory to completely isolate my daughter. I walked into the kitchen, gripping the edge of the marble island until my knuckles turned white, fighting the overwhelming urge to storm back upstairs and throw the woman out of my house immediately. But a terrifying thought held me back. If Victoria was this brazen about destroying Lily's most treasured possessions, what else had she been doing behind my back? I needed to know the full extent of the psychological damage before I made my move. I needed absolute proof of her abuse, so she could never manipulate the narrative in a divorce court or try to claim any custody or visitation rights. I took a deep breath, composing my features into a mask of calm ignorance, and waited for Victoria to descend the stairs. When she finally walked into the kitchen thirty minutes later, her face was a picture of absolute, radiant serenity.
"Darling! You're home early," she smiled, walking over to kiss my cheek. Her perfume, once intoxicating, now smelled like pure poison. "I was just helping Lily organize her room. The poor girl is such a hoarder. We are clearing out some of the old junk to make space for the new furniture."
"That's very kind of you, Victoria," I forced myself to say, the lie burning like acid on my tongue. "How is she doing?"
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"Oh, you know teenagers," Victoria sighed theatrically, pouring herself a glass of sparkling water. "She is a bit moody today, completely ungrateful for the help. But I am trying my absolute best to connect with her. It just takes time and immense patience."
I nodded, feeling a cold, calculating rage settling deep in my bones. She was a master manipulator, but her performance was officially over.
