Chapter 1: The Wedding Day

I woke up to the sound of my father's voice, his words laced with excitement and nervousness. "Emilia, wake up! Today's the big day!"

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. My father was getting married today, and I was still trying to wrap my head around it.

My mother had passed away when I was just a little girl, and my father had raised me on his own. We had always been close, just the two of us against the world. But now, everything is changing.

My father's fiancée, Victoria, was a woman I had never met until a few months ago. She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. But there was something about her that didn't sit right with me.

As I got out of bed and began to get dressed, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't even imagine. My father knocked on my door, a big smile on his face. "Hey kiddo, you ready to go?" I nodded, trying to force a smile onto my face. "Yeah, I'm ready."

We made our way downstairs, where Victoria was waiting for us. She was dressed in a beautiful white wedding dress, her hair styled perfectly and her makeup flawless.

"Good morning, sweetie," she said, air-kissing my cheek. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to be polite. "Good morning." The ceremony was a blur. I stood at the back of the room, trying to make sense of what was happening. My father and Victoria exchanged vows, promising to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives. As they sealed their union with a kiss, I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. My father was married now, and I couldn't help but feel like I was losing him.

The reception was a lavish affair, with food, drink, and music aplenty. I stood at the edge of the room, feeling like an outsider. My father and Victoria were the center of attention, and I couldn't help but feel like I was just a spectator in my own life.

As the night wore on, I began to feel more and more uncomfortable. Victoria's smile seemed to grow wider and more sinister as the night wore on, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something. I tried to push the feeling aside and focus on celebrating my father's special day.

But as I looked around the room, I couldn't help but feel like I was the only one who saw the truth. Victoria was not what she seemed, and I had a feeling that our lives were about to change in ways we never could have imagined.

As the night drew to a close, I made my way over to my father and Victoria. They were standing by the door, saying their goodbyes to the guests.

"Congratulations, Dad," I said, trying to sound sincere.

My father smiled and hugged me tightly. "Thanks, kiddo," he said. "I'm really happy." Victoria smiled and hugged me too, her arms feeling like ice around me. "Welcome to the family, Emilia," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to be polite. "Thanks."

As we pulled back, I caught sight of two girls standing behind Victoria. They were both tall and thin, with long blonde hair and cold, calculating eyes.

"Who are they?" I asked my father, nodding towards the girls. My father smiled. "Those are your new stepsisters, Sophia and Olivia." I felt a surge of unease at the sight of them, but I tried to push it aside.

Maybe they would be nice, maybe we would get along. But as I looked into their eyes, I knew that I was wrong. They were cold, calculating, and cruel. And I had a feeling that they were going to make my life a living hell.

As the guests departed and the house grew quiet, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. Something was off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me and my new family. Would we be happy together, or would we tear each other apart?

I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I never could have imagined. And I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be happy again.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Victoria's voice, shrill and piercing as she yelled at my father in the kitchen. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, wondering what was wrong. I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, I could feel the tension in the air. Victoria was standing by the counter, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. My father was standing opposite her, his eyes cast downward in a submissive gesture.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound calm.

Victoria turned to me, her eyes flashing with anger. "Your father and I were just discussing the new rules of the house," she said, her voice dripping with venom.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I looked at my father. He was a weak man, always trying to avoid conflict. I knew that he would do whatever it took to keep the peace, even if it meant sacrificing my well-being. "What rules?" I asked, trying to sound brave.

Victoria smiled, a cold and calculating smile. "From now on, you'll be doing all the household chores," she said. "You'll cook, clean, and do the laundry. And you'll do it all without complaint." As Victoria finished outlining the new rules of the house, I felt a surge of anger and resentment. Who was she to come into our home and start ordering me around?

"I don't think that's fair," I said, trying to sound calm. "I'm not a servant." Victoria's smile grew wider as she took a step closer to me. "You'll do as you're told, Emilia," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You'll do the chores, and you'll do them without complaint."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I looked at my father. He was standing there, his eyes cast downward, saying nothing. He wasn't going to stand up for me, wasn't going to defend me against Victoria's cruelty.

"I won't do it," I said, trying to sound brave. "I won't be treated like a servant in my own home."

Victoria's face turned red with rage as she took another step closer to me. "You'll do as you're told, Emilia," she repeated. "And if you don't, there will be consequences."

I felt a surge of fear as I looked at my father. He was still saying nothing, still doing nothing to defend me.

And then, Victoria dropped the bombshell. "And as for your room," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You'll be moving out of it, effective immediately."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. My room was my sanctuary, my safe space. Where was I supposed to go?

"Where will I sleep?" I asked, trying to sound calm.

Victoria smiled again, her eyes glinting with cruelty. "You'll be sleeping in the attic," she said. "It's not much, but it's better than nothing."

Victoria turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling helpless and alone. As I looked around the room, I felt a sense of despair wash over me. I was trapped in this nightmare, with no way out.

And then, I heard my father's voice, weak and apologetic. "Emilia, I'm sorry," he said. "I know this is hard for you, but please try to understand."

I turned to him, my eyes blazing with anger. "Understand?" I repeated. "You want me to understand? You're just going to stand there and let her walk all over me?" My father looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness and regret. "Emilia, please," he said. "Just try to get along." I felt a surge of disgust and anger as I looked at him. He was weak, spineless. He wasn't going to stand up for me, wasn't going to defend me against Victoria's cruelty.

I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, feeling helpless and alone. As I made my way up to the attic, I felt a sense of despair wash over me. I was trapped in this nightmare, with no way out. I lay down on the narrow bed in the attic, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me. Would I ever escape this living hell? Or would I be trapped here forever, subject to Victoria's cruelty and my father's weakness?