Chapter 6
Nina arrived before sunset.
She walked into my library with a cane and anger.
Not fear.
That told me why Victor disliked her.
She hugged Ellie first.
My daughter clung to her like she had been waiting weeks.
I noticed.
Nina noticed me noticing.
“You didn’t know.”
It was not a question.
“No.”
She looked tired.
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Four times.”
I frowned.
“I never got anything.”
“I know.”
My eyes moved toward Marcus.
He looked down.
Nina followed my gaze.
“Victor had your staff filter my calls.”
I stared.
Marcus spoke.
“He told us Nina was unstable.”
Nina laughed.
“Classic Victor.”
My father, under guard across the room, rolled his eyes.
“You are unstable.”
Nina ignored him.
Then she looked at me.
“The first time I saw Ellie crawling, Lucas wasn’t on her back.”
I went still.
“What was happening?”
Nina’s jaw tightened.
“Victor had her carrying a wicker basket filled with lawn-game pieces.”
Ellie buried her face against Nina’s side.
“How heavy?”
“Too heavy for her.”
My hands curled.
“Why?”
Nina looked at Victor.
“He said she needed to learn usefulness.”
Of course.
Not play.
Training.
Punishment disguised as family instruction.
Nina continued.
“The second time, he made her kneel beside Lucas while Lucas opened gifts.”
My face changed.
“What gifts?”
“Things Victor bought for both children.”
“And?”
“He gave Ellie’s to Lucas because she cried the day before.”
I looked at my father.
“In this family, rewards follow behavior.”
Ellie whispered against Nina’s dress.
“He said girls who complain lose things.”
My vision narrowed.
Nina touched my arm.
“Valentina.”
I looked at her.
“Your father isn’t only doing this because he favors Lucas.”
“What then?”
“He wants Ellie to become afraid of wanting anything.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Because it was exactly how Victor raised me.
If wanting created punishment, eventually the child stops asking.
Stops protesting.
Stops imagining another life.
May you like
Victor had not been improvising.
He was rebuilding my childhood inside my daughter.
