Chapter 3

The dining room felt like a battlefield before the first shot was even fired. Cassy sat stiffly, arms crossed, her glare fixed on Bryan, who couldn’t care less. He sat across from her, head down, scrolling his phone like he was too important to even breathe the same air as the rest of them.

“This is… a lot, Hugo,” Betty said, trying to break the ice. She gestured to the table overloaded with perfectly plated dishes. “I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much food outside of Thanksgiving.”

Hugo chuckled, giving his wife a warm smile. “Mary, the chef, got excited. She wanted tonight to be perfect. Do you like it?”

Betty’s cheeks turned pink as she nodded. “I love it. It’s amazing.”

“Well, good,” Hugo said, his voice full of pride. “She worked hard to make it special.”

Betty picked up her fork and knife, carefully cutting into her chicken. “So, Bryan,” she said, glancing up with a friendly smile, “when did you get back? Your dad said we wouldn’t see you for another week.”

Bryan didn’t even bother to lift his head. “Why do you care?” he said coldly, his fingers still tapping away on his phone. “Last I checked, I don’t need your permission to come home.”

Cassy’s jaw dropped, and even Betty froze mid-cut, her knife poised above her plate. “I—I didn’t mean it like that,” Betty stuttered.

“That’s enough,” Hugo said sharply, his voice firm with authority as he glared at his son. “Apologize. Right now.”

Bryan sighed dramatically, finally glancing up with a fake smile that practically dripped with mockery. “Sorry,” he said, dragging out the word like it physically pained him to say it. “Happy now?”

“Apology accepted,” Betty said softly, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her discomfort. “But, Bryan, I think it’d be great if you could take Cassy to school tomorrow. It’s her first day, and—”

“Mom, no!” Cassy exploded, her voice rising. “I don’t need him to take me anywhere.”

Betty ignored her, her attention still on Bryan. “I just think it would be nice if—”

Bryan laughed, cutting her off. “You want me to babysit?” he said, his voice full of mockery as he leaned back in his chair. “Sorry, but I don’t do charity work.”

Cassy shot up from her chair, her fists clenched. “Who the hell do you think you are?” she snapped, her hazel eyes blazing with fury. “Charity work? You’re acting like you’re some kind of king, but guess what, Bryan? You’re just a spoiled brat who can’t survive without daddy’s money.”

Bryan raised an eyebrow, finally giving her his full attention. “Oh, look, the charity case has claws,” he said, smirking. “Don’t forget, you’re sitting at my table, eating my food, in my house. If it weren’t for my dad, you and your mom would still be living in whatever dump you crawled out of.”

Cassy felt her blood boil. “Screw you, Bryan!” she yelled, her voice shaking with anger. “You’re nothing but a miserable, stuck-up rich boy who thinks his money makes him better than everyone else. Newsflash: it doesn’t. It just makes you pathetic.”

Bryan stood, towering over her, his smirk replaced by a cold glare. “Watch your mouth,” he said quietly, his voice dangerously low.

“Or what?” Cassy challenged, refusing to back down. “You gonna cry? Run to daddy? Go ahead. I’m not scared of you.”

“Enough!” Hugo’s voice roared through the room, silencing both of them. He looked between his son and stepdaughter, his face hard. “Bryan, sit down. Cassy, apologize.”

Cassy crossed her arms. “No way. I’m not apologizing to him.”

Bryan scoffed. “Typical.”

“I said enough,” Hugo snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Bryan threw his napkin onto his plate. “You know what? Forget it. I’m done.” He stormed out of the dining room, His footsteps echoing in the silence.

“Bryan!” Betty called after him, her voice tinged with concern. She glanced at his untouched plate and frowned. “I don’t think he ate anything.”

Hugo shrugged, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “He’ll be fine,” he said. “He probably ate something at his friend’s place already.”

Cassy scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear. “Or maybe he’s just a stuck-up jerk,” she muttered under her breath, glaring at her mom, who still refused to meet her eyes.

“You know what? I’m not hungry either,” Cassy snapped, pushing her chair back with more force than necessary.

Hugo frowned, his concern immediately kicking in. “Are you sure, sweetheart? If you don’t like the food, I can have the cook whip up something else for you. Anything you want.”

Cassy hesitated for a moment, trying to play it cool, but right on cue, her stomach growled—loudly. She clutched her stomach, cheeks burning as if her own body had betrayed her.

Betty snorted, trying to stifle a laugh. “I think her stomach’s got a mind of its own,” she quipped, her laughter spilling out despite herself.

“Stop it,” Hugo whispered, leaning closer to his wife. “You’re embarrassing her.”

“Mom, I want to talk to you,” Cassy said suddenly, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

“Me?” Betty blinked, surprised. “Honey, I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. Plus, I want to spend some time with my husband tonight.” She gave Hugo a soft smile, her hand brushing his arm. “Don’t worry, though. We’ll talk tomorrow after school, okay?”

Cassy’s glare intensified, her lips pressed into a thin line. Without another word, she stormed out of the dining room, her footsteps pounding like angry drumbeats.

Hugo sighed, glancing at Betty. “Maybe you should go talk to her.”

Betty gave him a horrified look, as if he’d just suggested walking into a lion’s den. “What? And have her rip me a new one? Absolutely not.” She shivered dramatically. “You don’t know her like I do. Sometimes, I think I’m afraid of my own daughter.”

Hugo chuckled, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it. “She’ll be fine,” he reassured her. “But let’s make sure she doesn’t go to bed hungry.” He raised his voice slightly. “Mary! Mary!”

Betty frowned. “Who are you calling?”

“Just wait.” Hugo waved her off as a middle-aged, plus-sized woman in a servant’s uniform appeared in the doorway.

“Yes, sir?”

“Mary,” Hugo said warmly, “please put together a tray of food and take it to Cassy’s room. Make sure it’s something she’ll love. And hurry—I don’t want her going to bed on an empty stomach.”

Mary nodded, her expression as serious as if she were preparing for a military mission. “Right away, sir.”

As she disappeared into the kitchen, Betty’s face lit up. “You’re the best husband,” she said, leaning in to kiss him. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

Upstairs, Cassy was pacing her room like a caged animal, muttering to herself. “I’m so embarrassed. I swear, that woman is going to hear it tomorrow.” She stopped mid-step, glancing at her door, her thoughts shifting. Across the hall was Bryan’s room. Just the thought of his smug face—his smirk when her mom suggested he take her to school—made her blood boil.

“And he didn’t even eat because of us,” she hissed, her fists clenching. “Stupid, arrogant—”

A knock interrupted her rant. Her head whipped toward the door. “Who is it?” she snapped.

“It’s me, Mary,” came the familiar voice from the other side. “The master sent me.”

Cassy hesitated, then opened the door. Mary stood there with a tray of food, smiling warmly.

“Come in,” Cassy said, trying not to sound too eager. Her stomach was practically doing cartwheels at the sight of the tray. “Thank God,” she thought to herself.

“Where should I put this?” Mary asked, stepping inside.

“On the bed,” Cassy replied, pointing.

Mary placed the tray down carefully, her smile never fading. “There you go, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Mary. You’re the best,” Cassy said, practically drooling at the sight of the food.

“You’re welcome.” Mary gave her a nod and headed for the door.

Cassy followed her, intending to lock the door behind her, but as she reached for the handle, something felt… off. The door wouldn’t close.

“What the hell?” she muttered, looking down—and that’s when she saw it. A foot. Someone had wedged their foot in the doorframe.

Her heart skipped a beat as the door suddenly flew open, and a hand shoved her backward. Cassy stumbled, nearly tripping over herself as the intruder stepped inside and locked the door behind them.

Her eyes widened.