Chapter 2

Marta saw me first. "Ms. Cecily! You're back! Thank God you're safe."

She hurried over and took my hands. When she saw the wound on my hand, her eyes filled with tears.

The maid, Erin Cole, came over too.

"You actually came back? You really are hopeless. Today is Mr. Selwyn and Ms. Iliana's engagement. Behave yourself unless you want to be locked in the basement again. Ms. Iliana was merciful last time. She knew you were afraid of snakes, so she only had me release a harmless one to scare you. Cross her again, and next time it'll be venomous."

Snakes...

The word brought back an old memory.

Cecily was only ten, playing in the woods with Selwyn.

When she turned around, a venomous snake was coiled around his neck.

Cecily rushed forward without thinking, desperate to save him.

My little girl fought the snake with nothing but a stick.

She saved Selwyn, but it bit her arm.

If my people had not found them and rushed her to the hospital, Cecily might have died that day.

After that, she was terrified of snakes.

Selwyn knew that. Yet he still let that vicious woman use snakes to torment my daughter!

"What are you standing around for? If you're back, get to work!"

Erin held out a cleaning rag.

I ignored it and slapped her hard across the face.

Before she could react, I drew a dagger and pressed it to her throat. "If you want to live, get on your knees and beg for forgiveness."

She didn't think I would hurt her until the blade sliced a thin line across her neck. Then she panicked.

Her legs gave way, and she dropped to her knees.

"I was wrong, Cecily... No, Ms. Cecily. Please forgive me!"

Her forehead struck the cobblestones as she bowed. I ignored her and walked straight inside without another glance.

Beyond the crowd of guests, I spotted Iliana.

A vivid pigeon-blood ruby hung around her neck. It was the necklace I had given Cecily.

I ignored everyone around her and walked straight over.

I yanked the necklace off her. Iliana cried out as the chain snapped off her neck.

She stared at me, hatred burning in her eyes.

"You're alive. I told them to tie a knot you couldn't undo, yet somehow you're still alive."

She leaned close and hissed in my ear.

No wonder. No wonder Cecily's wrists had been covered in bruises.

This monster had planned to kill her all along!

I threw the necklace to the ground and crushed it under my heel.

"You don't deserve to wear it."

Before I could say anything else, Selwyn's mother, Helena Griffiths, strode over.

"Cecily, how dare you embarrass us in front of all these distinguished guests? You stole Iliana's necklace. Apologize to her at once!"

I studied Helena's face and remembered the woman who had once begged at my feet. Her husband had been murdered. Her family was falling apart, and violent creditors were after her.

Back then, she had begged me to protect her.

I helped her family get back on their feet. In return, she swore she would treat Cecily as her own daughter.

Now she stood before me, her face full of contempt, ordering me to apologize.

I gave a cold laugh. "And if I refuse? Will you starve me and make me fight a dog for scraps? Or strip me, lock me in a cage, and let homeless men grope my naked body?"

I had learned the truth from the servants only moments ago.

I had never known that every letter telling me Cecily was safe had been forged.

They had betrayed my trust and treated my daughter worse than an animal behind my back!

I slapped Helena with all my strength. She staggered and fell backward.

Her head struck the stone rim of the fountain.

The guests gasped as Helena screamed in pain.

"You bitch! You're insane!"

Furious that I'd attacked her future mother-in-law, Iliana lunged at me.

I drew my dagger and drove it into her chest, right where I wanted it.