The Cruel Stepmother - 3

            “THE REVENGE”

“Come along with me kids and help me with the mansion tour” Our father smiled. 

“Sure.” I nodded in approval.

My dad started off by showing our huge front door. A front door that could accommodate a family of giraffes. 

“That’s huge” Caroline chuckled.

We moved to our living-dining-kitchen.

The living-dining-kitchen area was one spacious area with unbelievable long range mountain views from every spot. Vaulted wood ceilings, beautiful walnut floors, comfortable and quality furnishings, and plenty of amenities make for total relaxation. 

“I'm sure you’ll love each and every corner of this house because the entire interior was designed by my wife” Said my father but Caroline ignored him and frowned with anger.

We walked along with our father and Caroline throughout the mansion tour. The expression of greed on her face seemed pretty clear to all 3 of us.

“She’s speechless just like any other person who visits our mansion for the first time.” Zac said in a funny way but it seemed like Caroline didn’t enjoy the joke at all.

Caroline glared at Zac with hatred.

“Please don’t mind him” I said to end the awkwardness. 

She ignored me and moved forward towards the kitchen.

“Well. Here is the spot where I usually find my daughters spoiling the food most of the times” my father giggled to make the environment funny.

“Come on. Not all the times dad.” Anna laughed.

The kitchen was an open galley style with top quality appliances, storage galore, all the cooking utensils you would find at home, and fabulous views.

“I promise you will enjoy preparing your favorite meals.”

“Let me correct you, Preparing my favorite meals ONLY for us.” She spoke in a rude way which surprised my father. 

Next to it was our dining area. 

“This is where we unite after a long tiring day and talk about our problems and relax” Said my father.

We moved to the dining area which was surrounded by glass walls, bringing the outside in.

She kept quiet but noticed each and every single detail of the house.

We walked to the living room by passing through the hallway.

Caroline's eyes got wide open as she walked through the hallway with my dad. She didn't expect our mansion to be so huge and beautiful. 

She stood and took a good look at every corner of the house. She stood in front of the huge painting of my mother that hung in our hallway.

There was a strange look of jealousy on her face as she looked at the picture of my mother.

“Who’s this lady?” Caroline inquired

"My beautiful wife" Sighed my dad. 

"Aww. Don't be sad. You've got a wife that is much prettier. And don’t worry. I'll take good care of you. Alright?”

“What do you mean by saying “Much prettier” Fumed Anna.

“If you're saying that you'll replace our mom then let me tell you that it's never going to happen!” 

“No dear I didn’t----”

“Anna go to your room!” My father interrupted Caroline as she tried to clarify the matter.

Anna ran from the hallway with teary eyes. 

“I'm sorry my kids are sensitive when it comes to their mom. You need to be careful with the selection of your words. I know what you meant but Anna is quite little to understand.” Advised my father. 

“Whatever!” Caroline rolled her eyes.

“Can we please continue with the rest of the tour tomorrow honey. I feel exhausted. Let’s go to our bedroom. And, would you kids mind giving us some privacy please” Caroline said impolitely.

“Sure! Let’s go Zac”

“But... We didn’t show my favorite spot”

“Didn't I just say that I'll see the rest of the house tomorrow?” Replied Caroline with a rough tone.

I took Zac to his room and my father took Caroline to their master bedroom.

My father slammed the door as entered the bedroom with Caroline.

She could easily notice that he was angry and wanted to change his mood.

“Shall I go and change my clothes?”

“I don’t care. Do whatever you want” My father answered as he took of his coat.

“Why are you being so rude?”

“Do you think I'm a fool? Why did you talk to my children like that?” My father held her face in his hands with anger. “Look Caroline! Today is your first day in this house and if you continue to behave this way, I can easily make it your last” He warned her and threw her away.

Caroline didn’t sleep the next night because it was a huge insult for her. And now she planned for a REVENGE. She wanted to destroy my dad and his children but in a way that no one would ever know.The next morning, she woke up early and prepared breakfast for everyone which made my father really happy. 

“How’s the breakfast Anna and Zac?”

“It's really delicious.” Zac smiled

Days went by and Caroline started to make breakfasts almost every day. She made a very loving imagine in front of my father but whenever he would go to his work, Caroline misbehaved with us. I often got into arguments with her as I couldn’t tolerate her behavior. She hated us all. But most importantly, Zac. She knew our father loved Zac more than anyone and He fought with her because of Zac on the first day of their wedding. 

One day Caroline locked up Zac in the store room for half of the day just because he asked her to help him out with his homework. She opened him up before everyone was about to get home and scared Zac that if he told this to anyone then she would lock him again.

When I returned home, I looked for Zac all over the house but couldn't find him. 

“Have you seen Zac?” I asked Caroline

“No.” She answered and continued using her phone.

I went to my room and closed the door. I sat on my bed and heard something strange. Someone was weeping. I looked under my bed and I saw Zac hiding and weeping under my bed.

“What happened Zac?” I hugged him after he came out.

“She...She--” He couldn’t speak out of fear. I consoled him and gave him some water.

“She locked me up in the store room” 

“WHAT? IN THE STOOR ROOM? HOW DID YOU COME HERE! Tell me everything.” I questioned.

“I was locked inside since morning and when she opened me up, I ran and hid here. She warned me that she’ll lock me again if I told this to anyone.”

I stood up and as I went forward Zac held my leg and started to cry.

“Please don’t go. I don’t want to get locked please.”

I couldn't believe the amount of fear Zac had of that woman. I wonder what all she did to him behind my back and he didn’t tell it to me out of fear. I sat back with him because I couldn't see him cry.

I tried to speak to my father about this matter but whenever we sat alone, she would come and interrupt us. 

“Honey should we go out for shopping” She came and sat on my father's lap.

“Why not. Just give me a second. I'll take out you after I listen to Lana” My father answered to her sweetly.

“Oh, come on! We don’t have enough time.” She kept her hands on my father's chest and kissed him.”

“Alright. Let's go.” My father picked her up in her arms and kissed her back.

“I'll talk to you later sweety” Dad spoke to me and they both left.

She would take him out on dinner dates and shopping for hours and hours and this way our father slowly and gradually started to get apart from us. 

She would dress up in the sexiest way possible to attract my father. Caroline fulfilled my father's desires which made him habitual of ignoring us most of the times. 

The scenario had totally changed and now she successfully made our father distant from us.

Our father used to take us out only once in a week which bothered Caroline a lot.

**************

My father stood in front of the mirror and wore his coat.

“Where are you going handsome?” Inquired Caroline in a flirtatious way.

“I'm taking kids for out for shopping.”

Caroline slowly stepped towards my father and hugged him. 

The bedroom door opened all of a sudden and Zac rushed into my father's room. Nobody was allowed inside his room but Zac unintentionally rushed into his room sometimes which my father didn’t

mind at all.

Caroline got scared and held my father's hand.

“Hahaha! Oh, my dear son” My father laughed and slowly pushed Caroline away and picked up Zac.

“What are you doing here my little munchkin”

“I was playing hide and seek with Anna. I want to hide in your room daddy.”

“Let’s hide together” My father exclaimed.

They both hid and Anna came inside the room as well. All 3 of them played and giggled while Caroline stood at the corner looking at Zac with extreme hatred. She couldn't bear him anymore and wanted him to out of her life.

“I'll not leave him today” She murmured.

*************

The next day Caroline insisted my father to get her oversized photo portrait so that she could get it installed in the hallway. This was one of her wishes. She knew this would take a lot of time and my father won't return anytime soon. My father agreed and went with the driver to get the portrait.

Caroline didn’t miss a single second and called one of the

maids of our house.

“Stella! Stella!” She yelled.

“Yes Ma’am.” Stella came and answered.

“Are you deaf? Ive called your name twice!”

“I'm sorry I was cleaning the windows” Stella answered in a low voice.

“Whatever! Go and make 2 glasses of lemonade in 5 minutes and send Zac in my bedroom. Go! Hurry up!” Caroline commanded.

Stella went and made 2 glasses of lemonade and went into the master bedroom along with Zac.

I noticed Stella taking Zac with her to the master bedroom which didn’t happen often. I quickly ran and took my father along with me and stood outside the bedroom and peeped through the side of the door.

“Come and sit here with me. Let's have some fresh lemonade together.” Said Caroline sweetly.

“Lemonade! That’s my favorite” Zac exclamied.

My father was confused but I asked him to stay quiet and notice everything

“I'll go and get it for you.” Caroline moved towards the table and looked back towards the door.

I hid back all of a sudden.

She noticed that nobody was standing and then looked at Zac once and smiled. Then she turned around and took out a small bottle out of her pocket which had a colorless liquid inside it. She poured it in one of the glasses and mixed it quickly.

My father couldn’t

believe his eyes and was shocked. 

 She went towards Zac and kept the glasses on the table. 

“I'll be here in a minute.” Caroline said.

She came near the window and made sure that my father left. While she was checking this, I went inside the room and switched the drinks and sat beside Zac.

She got scared as she turned around.

“Oh Lana. Gosh you scared me. You should've knocked the door at least.” She spoke to me in a loud voice

“I don’t need anyone's permission to come inside my father's room”

“Oh please. You have no manners!” She shouted.

“Anyways. Let's have our lemonade Zac.” She smiled at Zac in an evil way.

Zac picked up the glass and drank half of the lemonade.

She had a wicked smile on her face. She picked up her glass and took a sip from her drink and kept on looking at him.

She drank the whole glass of lemonade and a few minutes her smile started to fade gradually. She started to cough.

My father entered 

 the room and had an angry look on his face. 

“Baby, you didn’t leave yet?” She laughed while she was couching.

“I won't go today Caroline.” My father sighed.

She fell down from the bed as she coughed and blood started to flow out of her mouth. She held her neck and screamed loudly. 

“You motherf*****! You switched the drinks!” She pointed towards me

“What did you mix inside the drinks!” My father shouted and sat near her. His eyes were full of anger and he held her hair in his hands.

“POISION! TO KILL YOUR SON!” She muttered and closed her eyes. 

And she died.

I took Zac out of the room. We both couldn’t stop crying. I never thought anyone could go to such an extent to fulfil his/her revenge. 

My father sat beside her and kept on looking at her in disbelief.

************

It took a little time for my dad to believe that she was actually gone and she wanted to kill his son. He regretted his decision of marrying her. He regretted the way he couldn't listen to me every time I tried to talk about her. But he was grateful that his children were with him. 

After a few months...

We started to spend time together again and laughed all day long with our father. He promised that he will never leave us alone.

AND WE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.