Chapter 2 — A Daughter's Silent Courage
# The Stepmother's Lie
## Chapter 2 — A Daughter's Silent Courage
Victoria stared at Lily in disbelief.
She had expected the little girl to cry.
To apologize.
To run away.
Instead, Lily stood perfectly still.
One hand rested against her burning cheek.
Her eyes never left Victoria's face.
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Victoria laughed.
A slow...
Mocking laugh.
"Your mother?"
She stepped closer until only inches separated them.
"Your mother has been dead for years."
"This room belongs to me now."
Lily tightened her grip around the crushed bouquet.
"No."
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"What did you say?"
"My mom never stopped loving this house."
"She told me that."
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"Children remember fairy tales."
"They don't remember reality."
Lily quietly walked toward the bedside table.
She carefully picked up the flowers that had scattered across the floor.
Even though several stems had broken...
She placed them inside the crystal vase anyway.
Victoria watched with growing anger.
"I told you to get out."
Lily ignored her.
Instead, she looked toward the large family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
It showed Sarah holding Lily when she was only three years old.
Daniel stood beside them, smiling proudly.
Lily whispered,
"I'll always come back."
Victoria followed her gaze.
Without hesitation...
She reached toward the wall.
She lifted the family portrait off its hook.
Lily gasped.
"What are you doing?"
Victoria carried the portrait toward the closet.
"This picture doesn't belong here anymore."
Lily ran forward.
"Don't!"
Victoria shoved her backward.
"You'll look at it when I say you can."
She slammed the closet door.
Lily stood frozen.
Not because she was afraid.
Because something inside her finally broke.
At that exact moment...
Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
Neither of them noticed.
