Chapter 3

Lillian was trying way too hard to impress everyone. The next morning, she was up at the crack of dawn, playing maid—making breakfast, bustling around the kitchen, the whole nine yards.

I was just sitting down to eat when Lillian came out of the kitchen with a plate of pancakes.

My parents quickly called her over. "Lillian, come sit down and eat. You've been on your feet all morning, and you must be worn out."

"Seriously, Lillian," I said with my sweetest smile. "Anyone walking in would think you were the hired help."

Lillian's face went all red and pale. "N-no. That's not it. I just wanted to make a meal for Mom and Dad, to thank them."

My mom looked at her like she was a precious angel. "You're so sweet, Lillian. We appreciate the thought. We really do. But Charlotte has a point. Go on, wash up and eat. We have a cook for this. Her name's Betty."

A while later, Lillian sat down, acting all sweet.

But she couldn't stop herself from trying to play her little tricks.

She turned to us. "Oh, let me pour your coffee."

On purpose, I slid my empty cup a bit closer to my mom.

I watched Lillian come over with the coffee pot, a sweet smile on her face.

My eyes were glued to her hands.

In my previous life, she "accidentally" knocked my cup over. Scalding hot coffee went all over me. It burned like hell.

I'd completely lost it on her.

Lillian just cried and said she was sorry. And just like that, it was over.

Because my mother took her side. She said Lillian didn't mean to do it. She told me to be the bigger person and just let it go.

How generous. Be the bigger person. Right.

This time, the very second that the pot started to tilt, I threw myself sideways.

A scream ripped through the room. It was my mom. She jumped out of her chair.

Lillian just froze, looking freaked out. The steaming hot coffee had splashed all down the side of my mom.

"Mom, are you okay?" I gasped, sounding as worried as I possibly could.

Then I glared at Lillian and snapped, "Lillian, was that on purpose?"

Lillian's eyes instantly flooded with tears. My dad and Betty scrambled to get cold water for my mom and then rushed her upstairs to change.

Then, Lillian just huddled by the bottom of the stairs, trying to look as small and scared as possible.

A little while later, my dad was helping my mom down the stairs.

Lillian saw them and immediately turned on the waterworks. "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry. I swear, it was an accident. I didn't mean to."

Mom wasn't having it. She just hauled off and slapped her across the face.

It left a bright red mark right on her cheek.

"Look what you've done," my mom snapped. "If you're this much of a klutz, then just stay out of the way. I told you Betty would do that stuff. You just had to play house, and you couldn't even do that right."

"If this leaves a scar, you're going right back to that orphanage."

My dad looked just as pissed.

He turned to me, and his face softened a bit when he saw my worried expression. "Charlotte, honey, I'm taking your mom to the hospital. We'll have to take you to get enrolled in school tomorrow, okay?

He sounded so guilty.

I nodded. "Of course, Dad. Just go. You've got to get that treated before it scars."

I watched them leave.

Lillian, who was still piled on the floor, hissed at me, "Charlotte, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

I looked at her like she was something I'd scraped off my shoe. "What the hell are you talking about? You're the one who just dumped hot coffee on my mom."

Her eyes turned flat-out nasty. "That cup was supposed to be in front of you. You moved it."

I actually sneered.

I walked right over and slapped her hard.

"Oh, so you admit it?" I said. "You were trying to pour that on me?"

A second slap rang out, echoing in the hallway.

"My family was kind enough to take you in, and you clearly forgot your place. Maybe this will knock some sense into you," I spat, my tone ice-cold.

A second slap rang out, echoing in the hallway.

"Why are you trying to hurt me and my mom? What the hell is your problem?" I demanded.

I hit her twice more, back to back.

I was making a scene. All the servants heard it.

And not a single one of them moved to stop me.

Lillian just had to sit there and take it. She didn't even try to fight back.

Finally, my arm was tired. So, I just left her there and went up to my room.

Lillian just stayed in a heap on the floor right until my parents got back.

I heard them come in, and then all the crying and wailing started up again.

I wasn't worried. I knew Lillian would be downstairs feeding them some sob story, but it didn't matter. The servants all saw exactly what happened. They knew I was just giving her what she deserved for hurting my mom.