1: Sisters

In the grand mansion of the Frankfords, Bae silently crept out of her small room in the back of the estate.

She had overheard the maids gossiping about a wedding party in the main house a week ago, and curiosity gnawed at her.

With a carefully crafted plan, she made her way through the vast corridors, her heartbeat pounding in her chest as she neared the main hall.

When she entered the estate's massive, luxurious kitchen, her breath hitched. A golden chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, glowing light over the room.

The counters gleamed with polished marble, and the air was rich with the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and sweet confections. Bae's stomach growled, a dull ache of hunger twisting inside her.

She hadn't eaten anything like this in so long—not since they had moved her to the back room, away from the heart of the estate.

As she edged her way through the kitchen, carefully avoiding the servants and maids rushing around, her eyes fell upon an extravagant display of food.

Platters of glazed meats shimmered in the light, and fresh fruits gleamed like jewels. Her mouth watered, and she couldn't resist any longer.

The last maid exited, leaving the food momentarily unguarded. Bae rushed toward the table, her fingers trembling as she reached for a warm, golden pastry.

Just as she lifted the food to her mouth, her heart sank. A voice, sharp and familiar, pierced the air.

"Bae?"

She froze, the pastry dropping from her hand. That voice—it was one she hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity. Slowly, she turned, and there stood Penny, a bright, gleaming smile stretching across her face.

Her long, silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her dark eyes glared at Bae with an unsettling intensity. Maids flanked Penny, standing behind her like an ominous wall.

"You're quite bold," Penny sneered, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. She took a step closer, her gaze never leaving Bae. "Coming here without me or Mother's permission."

Bae felt a cold sweat break out on her skin as Penny leaned in, her breath hot against Bae's ear, her words a sinister whisper.

"After all you did, you still find it bold enough to step your filthy foot in this house?"

The venom in Penny's voice struck Bae like a physical blow. Her heart plummeted into her stomach as her wide eyes locked onto Penny's smiling face.

She couldn't understand what Penny was talking about, but the malice in her words was undeniable. The food forgotten, Bae stood paralyzed, her pulse roaring in her ears.

Then, The air shifted suddenly, heavy with tension, but Penny moved forward and hugged Bae tightly. The embrace felt suffocating, a cruel irony that contrasted with the hatred burning behind Penny's eyes.

Bae stiffened, unsure of how to react, her senses screaming at her to pull away.

"Anyways, that's aside," Penny said with a forced sweetness, pulling back just enough to look into Bae's eyes, a gentle smile masking the bitterness she couldn't hide. "Why are you here?"

Bae's throat tightened as she stammered, searching for the right words. "Um—umm..."

Penny's gaze drilled into her, unrelenting. Bae took a deep breath, her heart racing. "To see... the colorful thing happening today," she blurted out, offering a hopeful smile.

Behind Penny, the maids exchanged brief, knowing glances, their lips curling into faint smirks. Penny's smile wavered, her jaw tightening ever so slightly.

She tried to keep her expression calm, but the hint of mockery in her eyes was unmistakable.

"Really? The colorful thing?" Penny's voice dripped with condescension, though she smiled sweetly, fully aware that Bae was talking about the wedding preparations.

Bae nodded eagerly, oblivious to the undertone. "Yes."

Penny's smile widened, but there was nothing warm about it. She swiftly grabbed Bae's wrist, her fingers cold and firm against Bae's skin.

"Well, you've missed the whole colorful thing," Penny said, her voice a mockery of Bae's innocent words.

Her smile never faltered, even as she twisted the knife, mimicking Bae's unsophisticated tone.

Bae's heart sank at the news. Disappointment welled up inside her as she had hoped to witness the grand wedding she'd heard the maids gossiping about.

Her vision of a bright, joyous day crumbled before her, leaving a dull ache in its place.

"You should head back now before you're spotted," Penny added, her voice dripping with fake concern, though her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Bae's shoulders slumped, the weight of defeat pressing down on her. She nodded weakly as the maids closed in, taking her by the arms and steering her back toward her room.

As she turned to leave, Bae cast one last glance at Penny. Something about her seemed off, her kindness too brittle, too rehearsed. Something was lurking beneath her smile, something dark.

"Penny has changed," Bae thought, her mind swirling with memories of their childhood, of simpler times.

She remembered chasing after Penny on the playground, laughing, her small legs struggling to keep up.

"Wait for me, Penny!" Bae had shouted, her voice full of joy.

But those days felt like a distant dream. Snapping back to the present, Bae swallowed the lump in her throat and turned away, walking alongside the maids, her heart heavy with a mix of confusion and sorrow.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Penny's rage boiled over, her usually composed expression twisted with fury.

Without warning, she lashed out, her hand flying across the face of the nearest maid, a sharp crack echoing through the air.

One by one, she slapped the others, her hand coming down with brutal precision, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Are you all telling me that keeping an eye on her is now suddenly a difficult task?" Her voice, sharp and venomous, sent chills through the room.

The maids stood trembling before her, heads bowed in shame, clutching their burning cheeks as they murmured apologies.

Penny's gaze locked on Lily, the maid closest to Bae. Without hesitation, she grabbed her roughly by the arm, her nails digging into Lily's skin.

"You!" Penny growled, her voice a low, dangerous hiss. In one swift motion, she shoved Lily aside, sending her stumbling. "If she escapes her room one more time, consider yourselves fired!"

The icy tone in her voice cut through the air, freezing the room. Penny's posture stiffened, her fury barely contained as she stormed toward the door, her heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. The maids stayed silent, too terrified to move.

"Disgusting creatures," Penny muttered under her breath, her face contorted in disgust.

She yanked a handkerchief from Claudine, her loyal maid, wiping her hands as though the very touch of the others had sullied her.

"My lady," Claudine began, her voice smooth and dutiful. "If you want her out and replaced with another, that's an easy fix."

Penny's eyes narrowed, the suggestion only feeding her simmering rage.

"No," she snapped coldly, her mind already spinning with a far more sinister plan.

"Just make sure she doesn't show up at his wedding," Penny commanded, her voice firm.

Claudine bowed slightly, understanding the gravity of her orders. Penny's gaze hardened as she turned away, her thoughts dark and vengeful.

"He couldn't see Bae—none of the Frankford children could. Especially him." Penny's chest tightened with fierce possessiveness, unwilling to let anyone intervene or offer Bae any kind of hope.

"I want her trapped, break her, and crush her!" she thought, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous resolve.

"She will pay for everything." Penny's smile returned, but it was a cold, cruel thing as she walked away, her grand plan slowly unfolding.