Now For Act Two

Seeing no resolving the issue Martin sat back and contemplated before replying to his wife and stepdaughter.

"Alright. Things are very clear now Lucy you've misunderstood your sister. Your sister is right you will both have to enter the workplace soon and she can't help you then. I'm sure she was just busy today with her own matters."

"Thank you father, if you will all excuse me I will go and start dinner." April skipped off to the kitchen, escaping from the two vicious women glares.

Rachel turned to Martin, this was the first time he had not done as she wished and she was stunned. She would have to sweet talk him over dinner. For now, she had to show she would compromise.

"Well, I was just worried about her and I don't want to pressure her too much either."

After showing her willingness to compromise she held Martins's arm and was about to continue to talk him round when he stopped her.

"Good, besides, did you not hear what April just said? She is right. It will be good for Lucy to use her own ability and talents; it'll give her a sense of pride and accomplishment. Now both of you excuse me I have some work to do in the study."

Martin then walked upstairs to his study and thought no more about the situation that had just happened. He closed his study door and went to his mahogany desk, he sat on his leather chair and flicked a button on his laptop to turn it on.

While waiting, he opened up his suit breast pocket and took out his wallet. Inside the luxurious leather wallet was a picture of a couple with a baby in their arms. They both looked lovingly at each other. After a while, Martin sighed and then put the picture away before starting to work.

Meanwhile, the two women in the living room were seething with nowhere to vent their anger and frustration.

"Mum that bitch suddenly won't paint for me any more, what will I do? How will I pass my final exam?"

Lucy leaned on her mother and started to sob pitifully.

Rachel glanced in the direction of the kitchen and hugged her daughter. She didn't know what had happened to her gullible stepdaughter. Usually, she would do everything they asked without questioning. She seemed fine this morning, she thought that she will have to sweet talk to both Martin and April. She was disgusted with the thought, she didn't want to degrade herself, but for her daughter, she would.

"They both need a bit of coaxing is all. Now over dinner don't speak and let mummy do all the talking. Even though it's beneath the both of us, we need time to still take everything that belongs to April first then her stupid father."

Rachel knew Martin didn't love her. He liked her and had wanted a step mum around to help with April so she had to play her role. But after her plan was complete she wouldn't need either of them.

"Mommy if I don't get a painting from April can I just take one of her mothers to pass off as my own work, Aprils and her mother's art is so similar no one would know."

"You kid just can't hold back. Wait a few days, April will give in and her mother's artwork is too valuable with the market value of tens of millions which do you think is more worthwhile?"

Lucy didn't care. She wanted to pass at the top of her class no matter what. If she showed her own paintings to her university, she would be a laughing stock. She had to get a painting. She didn't care how.

Rachel patted her daughter's hand and reassured her.

"Her paintings can't run, I will definitely get it for you. When April leaves the house again we can check her room. Did you phone James? Maybe he can persuade her. If not, it'll show how uncaring she is and it'll turn him against her, maybe then your chance will come."

Lucy nodded and agreed with her mother. If after tonight her mother couldn't persuade April, maybe James could. If James failed, it would show him what a bitch April could be and anyway, she still had time to steal one of April's mother's paintings. She had so many options she felt content to see how this would all play out.

In the kitchen Tom was helping April finish off dinner she had made one vegetable soup, chilli and garlic crawfish, Sichuan pork and a vegetable side dish. They carried everything to the table and she thanked Tom. Tom then left to go ask Martin to come down to eat.

She had made herself and Tom each their own portion of food and had left it in the gazebo outside. She no longer would starve herself while the rest of the family ate.

She was about to leave the kitchen when Rachel and Lucy entered.

Rachel entered the kitchen in a light purple dress. She had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, and her hair was curled. She showed her gentleness as she approached April with a small smile.

Rachel stepped forward and took Aprils hand. April smiled but inwardly sneered. Now for act two, she thought.

"April, after I entered this house, I treated you as my own daughter. I have never beaten you or scolded you. Every day I help you live to your best potential by teaching you things. They may be harsh teachings like when you cook and clean but as I said before, a man like James will appreciate a wife who can run a home."

April scoffed in her heart. Not beating or scolding her, coaxing her, making her cook and clean like a maid. How is that her treating her like a daughter? More like a slave?

April calmly took her hand out of Rachel's hand as she listened to her nonsense. She spoke as if she did everything for April's benefit and like as she was acting like a mother would. In her past life, these were the lies and words she fell for in her past life. She felt so unbelievably stupid.