Chapter 3: Here Comes The Stepmother

As I made my way to the kitchen, I tried to push aside the lingering sense of hurt and betrayal that lingered in the back of my mind. With weak hands, I set about preparing the table for breakfast.

Susan approached me with a concerned expression etched on her face. "Miss, you should really rest. You've looked not okay.”

I offered her a weak smile as I focused on the breakfast table, "I am fine, Susan.”

When I heard Regan's footsteps descending the stairs, I plastered on a cheerful smile. "Good morning. I've made breakfast. Won't you join me?"

But he merely stared at the spread before him, his expression unreadable as he brushed past me without a word.

"Not hungry," he muttered, his tone dismissive as he made his way towards the door.

Desperate to reach him, I seized the coffee pot and held it out to him. "Please, just take a sip,"

But before I could react, his hand collided with the coffee pot, sending scalding liquid splashing towards me. I cried out in pain as the hot liquid seared my skin, the hiss of pain escaping my lips. “Ow”

But my eyes landed on Regan whose clothes are now stained. "Regan, I-"

“What the hell, Anastasia!” he spat as he looked down at his ruined clothes. "You're always so clumsy!"

"I'm sorry, Regan. It was an accident,"

He shook his head in disgust. "I don't have time for this,"

With a heavy heart, I watched as he stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

As Susan rushed to my side, her eyes wide with panic at the sight of my reddened skin, I forced a smile, trying to reassure her despite the stinging pain.

"It's fine, Susan."

We made our way to the kitchen table, where Susan wasted no time in ordering the maid to fetch the first aid kit. She carefully tended to my burns.

"You shouldn't have to put up with this, Miss Anastasia. You deserve so much better than this."

I sighed, knowing all too well the truth of her words. "I know, Susan. But I can't just leave him."

"I just want what's best for you, Miss."

I offered her a weak smile, "I know, Susan. I know. But everything will work out in the end. You'll see."

She just looked at me with a mixture of sympathy and concern, remaining silent. we had this conversation a hundred times already and I always say the same thing that everything will work out between me and Regan.

Just when I thought the day couldn't get any worse, the door burst open, and there she stood - my stepmother, a vision of arrogance and entitlement. Despite her age creeping into her 50s, she clung fiercely to her youth, evident in the tightness of her skin, stretched taut by the touch of countless Botox injections. Her face is unnaturally smooth, devoid of wrinkles, yet lacking the warmth and humanity that age should have bestowed upon her.

Her hair dyed a shade too vibrant for her years, was meticulously styled into a bob that framed her perfectly made-up face. Every detail of her appearance was flawlessly curated – from the designer ensemble that clung to her slender frame to the expensive accessories that adorned her manicured hands.

"Get out of my way, you incompetent fools!" she barked at the maids as she brushed past them without a second glance.

"Let her through," I instructed the maids, my voice firm as I stepped forward. "I won't tolerate any disrespect towards my staff."

"Oh, dear, I wasn't aware that your maids had feelings.”

“Do it again and I will make sure to ban you from entering the compound."

"Really? Can you do that?" she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she sauntered further into my home. "You can't ban me from this compound, dear," Her gaze went on my reddened skin, a cruel smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Your husband clearly doesn't care about you enough to do anything about it."

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let her see how deeply her words wounded me. Instead, I maintained a stoic facade, ignoring her jabs as if they were nothing more than the buzzing of an annoying fly.

“That’s for me to decide, Marina. Now, don’t waste my time with your unwelcome presence, and tell me what you are doing in my house?”

"Whatever” She crossed her arms, “Did you sign the inheritance papers? Your father and brothers are worried that you signed it because you're so ungrateful that you don't reply to them, so I decided to take matters into my own hands."

"I don't see any reason to reply to them when they only contact me about the inheritance. But to answer you, I didn't sign it."

Marina nodded, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Good. Don't sign it until we find a solution to transfer it to your father or brothers. You don't deserve such a big inheritance from your mother."

I felt a surge of anger bubbles up inside me, my patience wearing thin. “You have no right to say a word about my inheritance. It is from my mother and you’re just a sidepiece of my father. You have nothing in your name.”

“What did you just say to me?” she gritted.

"I know you heard me clearly," I pointed to the door. “Now, leave before I get you dragged.”

“This will reach your father!”

“Do it. I won’t stop you.”

With one final disdainful glance, she turned and left, the sound of her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

I took a deep breath to calm myself turning to Susan. “Can you get me a glass of water? I think I need some.”

“Yes, Miss” Susan quickly said and left.