Chapter 3

I stepped aside as guests began to arrive, each one lavishing praise on Alice.

When their eyes turned to me, they merely nodded politely before hurrying away, as if I carried some curse that might haunt them.

Seeing this, Alice made a show of her pregnancy, subtly moving closer to me and speaking with feigned pity.

She said, "Eleanor, back at Belmont Manor, you were always above me. Did you ever think that one day, someone like me would steal the title of lady of the house right out from under you?"

I knew all too well what Alice was…