The midnight visitor

I stared at Victoria for a moment, her words echoing in my mind: “You should really consider watching your back.” I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to suppress the surge of anger bubbling up inside me. But I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I snapped, my voice trembling with rage. “You have no right to tell me what I can or cannot do. This isn’t some game where you get to make the rules.”

Victoria turned back to face me, her lips curling into a wicked smile. “Oh, darling,” she said, her tone dripping with condescension, “I’m not telling you what to do. I’m giving you a warning. A little heads-up, if you will. I know how this family operates, and trust me, they don’t take kindly to women like you who think they can weasel their way into their good graces.”

Her words felt like a slap across the face, but I refused to let her see how much they hurt. Instead, I lifted my chin defiantly. “That’s where you’re wrong,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m not going anywhere. I belong here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine.”

Victoria laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. “Protect what’s yours?” she repeated mockingly. “You think you have something to protect? Honey, you’re playing a dangerous game, and you don’t even know the rules.”

My temper flared, and before I could stop myself, I took a step toward her. “And you think you’re better than me?” I hissed. “Just because you waltz in here with Daniel on your arm, you think you can push me around? You don’t scare me, Victoria.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer as well, so close that we were practically nose to nose. “You should be scared,” she whispered, her voice low and threatening. “Because I won’t stop until you’re out of this family for good.”

I opened my mouth to fire back another retort when suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the house. Both of us froze, the tension between us momentarily forgotten as we whipped our heads toward the door.

“What was that?” I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

Victoria’s eyes widened in alarm. “It came from downstairs,” she said, her voice uncharacteristically shaky.

Without another word, we both bolted for the door, running down the hallway and toward the grand staircase. My heart was racing as I took the steps two at a time, Victoria right behind me. All thoughts of our argument were pushed aside as the sound of scared voices reached our ears.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, my blood ran cold. There, in the middle of the living room, Madam Hildegard was lying on the floor, unconscious. Daniel and Matthew were already kneeling beside her, their faces pale with shock.

“Mother!” Matthew shouted, his voice filled with panic as he shook her gently, trying to rouse her. “Mother, wake up! Please!”

Daniel was kneeling on the other side of her, his hands hovering over her as if he didn’t know what to do. “What the hell happened?” he demanded, his voice strained with worry.

I rushed over to them, dropping to my knees beside Matthew. “Is she breathing?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“I—I don’t know,” Matthew stammered, his hands trembling as he pressed his fingers to Madam Hildegard’s neck, searching for a pulse. “She just collapsed.”

Victoria stood frozen near the doorway, her face pale as she watched the scene unfold. For a moment, the fierce, intimidating woman I had been arguing with upstairs was gone, replaced by someone who looked just as scared and helpless as the rest of us.

“Call an ambulance!” I shouted, looking around the room frantically. “Someone needs to call an ambulance!”

 “It’s too late to call an ambulance,” Daniel said urgently. “I’m taking her myself. I’ll get her to the hospital.”

Before anyone could protest, Daniel carefully lifted Madam Hildegard off the floor. His muscles tensed as he carried her with a determined look on his face. It was both impressive and alarming to see him move with such urgency.

“Daniel, I’ll come with you,” I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. I needed to be there for her, and honestly, I needed to be near Daniel right now.

Everyone turned to look at me with surprise. I could feel the weight of their gazes, each one full of unspoken questions. It was clear that no one understood why I’d want to follow someone I’d only met a few weeks ago.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Matthew asked, his voice tinged with concern. “You don’t need to be there. You should stay here.”

I wanted to argue, but I could see the logic in his words. My presence might raise more questions and suspicions. But I couldn’t just sit here while Madam Hildegard was in danger.

Victoria, stepping forward with an air of calculated calm, said, “I’ll go with you, Daniel. Jane, you should stay here. It’s better for everyone.”

Daniel glanced at Victoria, then at me. “If you’re sure,” he said, his voice laced with tension. “But I need to go now.”

Without waiting for more objections, Daniel and Victoria headed toward the door, leaving me standing in the living room feeling helpless. Matthew gave me a worried look before turning back to his mother. “Jane, it’s better if you stay here. It’s too risky.”

I nodded reluctantly, my mind racing with thoughts of what could happen next. I didn’t want Victoria to have any advantage, and I felt a nagging sense of guilt for not being there for Madam Hildegard.

With a heavy heart, I walked back upstairs. My thoughts were a jumble of worry and frustration. I needed to get a grip on myself and clear my mind, so I headed straight for the bathroom.

I turned on the shower and let the hot water run, hoping it would wash away my anxiety. I stood under the stream, letting the warmth envelope me, trying to forget the chaos of the night. But it was impossible.

The image of Madam Hildegard lying unconscious on the floor haunted me. And even more, the thought of Victoria potentially becoming the favorite in-law while I was left on the sidelines gnawed at me.

I finished my shower quickly, my mind still racing. I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed, feeling utterly exhausted. I pulled the covers up to my chin and stared at the ceiling, trying to push aside the worry and tension that had become my constant companions.

Hours later, as I was just starting to drift off to sleep, I heard a knock on my door. My heart skipped a beat. Who could it be at this hour? I sat up quickly, my curiosity and anxiety mixing into a chaotic storm.

I opened the door, and to my greatest surprise, there stood Daniel. He looked as though he had been running, his hair disheveled and his face lined with stress.

“Hey there,” he said, his voice softer than I expected, almost gentle.

I blinked at him in confusion. “Daniel? What are you doing here?”