Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke up with eyes swollen like cherries.

Julian had already left for work.

Victoria was sitting at the dining table, elegantly sipping her almond milk.

Seeing me, she set her cup down and offered me a sweet, warm smile.

"Chloe, you're awake? Come have some breakfast."

I didn't dare go over. I stood frozen in place, watching her timidly.

She smiled and waved me over. "Come here, sweetie. I'm not mad anymore."

I hesitated, but slowly shuffled over.

She pulled me into a chair and pushed a warm glass of milk toward me.

"Yesterday was my fault. I shouldn't have teased you like that." She stroked my hair, her touch as gentle as Julian's. "You forgive me, right?"

I looked at her, not knowing what to say.

She continued, "Your brother was still very angry before he left for work. He said if you don't start behaving, he really will send you somewhere far away, and you'll never see him again."

My heart squeezed. I grabbed her sleeve.

"No... please..."

"Then you have to be good," she said softly, guiding me in. "From now on, whatever I say, you do. That’s the only way to keep Julian happy so he won't abandon you. Understand?"

I nodded vigorously.

"I understand."

As long as I wasn't sent away, I would do anything.

After breakfast, Victoria said she was taking me out.

She dressed me in a beautiful white tulle dress with sparkling beads that looked like stars. Julian had just bought it for me a few days ago.

I loved it so much.

Victoria took me to a high-end shopping mall.

She had a great time shopping, buying clothes and designer bags, making me carry them behind her.

The shopping bags were heavy, cutting red lines into my palms, but I didn't dare complain.

Julian once told me that gentlemen help ladies carry things. Even though I was a girl, I wanted to help Victoria.

By late afternoon, Victoria took a phone call, and her face suddenly darkened.

Hanging up, she snapped irritably, "Let's go. We're leaving."

On the way back, she didn't say a word, driving dangerously fast.

Once home, she threw her purchases onto the sofa and sat there, boiling with rage.

I didn't know what was wrong, so I just stood quietly in the corner.

After a while, she seemed to finally notice me.

She looked me up and down, her gaze landing on my beautiful white dress. Her expression turned twisted.

"You really like this dress, don't you?" she asked.

I nodded.

She smirked and waved me over. "Come here."

I walked up to her.

She picked up a freshly brewed cup of black coffee from the table—steaming hot, dark liquid.

Then, before I could react, she splashed the entire cup right onto my dress.

"Ah!"

I screamed from the heat. The scalding liquid soaked through the thin tulle, burning my skin. It hurt terribly.

The pristine white dress was instantly ruined by a massive, ugly brown stain.

"Oh my, I am so sorry," Victoria gasped, covering her mouth with fake surprise. "My hand slipped."

Looking at my miserable state, the malice in her eyes was completely undisguised.

"Such a pretty dress, ruined." She sighed dramatically. "Julian is going to be so angry when he sees this."

Tears streamed down my face from the pain. Seeing my favorite dress ruined made me both heartbroken and terrified.

"Julian... will be mad..."

"Oh, absolutely." Victoria knelt down, leaning close to my ear, whispering in a snake-like hiss, "He’ll think you were careless and messy. He’ll think you're a bad kid who doesn't appreciate nice things."

She patted my cheek gently.

"So, you better not tell him I did this. Otherwise..."

She dragged out her words. "...I’ll tell him you tried to stab me with that knife again."

I froze. Terror wrapped around me like a suffocating net.

I couldn't let Julian know.

If Julian found out, he would hate me even more. He would really send me away.