LilaI stood at the entrance of the house I once called home, the air around me heavy, as if the walls themselves whispered warnings of the storm brewing inside. The chill that crept into my bones wasn’t from the weather—it was the icy foreboding of what was to come.The guards announced my arrival, their voices echoing through the hall. Moments later, my father appeared, and his dear wife trailed behind.Bella’s sharp brown eyes swept over me, assessing, calculating, before her lips curved into that familiar, syrupy smile. The one that always made my skin crawl.“Lila, sweetie! You’re finally home,” she cooed, pulling me into a hug. Her hands ran through my hair, soft and affectionate—until they weren’t. I could almost feel the claws hidden beneath her painted nails, ready to dig in right after she was done with me, but I knew that she wouldn’t do that, at least, until she got what she wanted from me.“I’m glad you kept your promise,” my father said, his smile tight, pride dripping fr
Last Updated : 2025-03-30 Read more