Scalding tea splashed across the back of my hand.
"Ah!" I screamed.
Fire shot through my nerves. My skin turned red, swelling before my eyes. Seconds later, huge translucent blisters rose across my hand, terrifying to look at. My vision went black.
The cup nearly slipped, but I caught it and set it on the table.
This wasn't an accident. No way.
"Anthea, are you okay?" Vanessa's voice was urgent, but she sat perfectly still.
The maid rushed over, panicked. "Miss Carter, your hand!"
"I'm fine." I pulled my hand back, tears burning my eyes, but I forced them down. "Just a splash."
I was trembling, cold sweat breaking out. But instinct told me notto fight with Vanessa. I looked up at her. She was saying all the right things, but her eyes were laughing. She was enjoying this.
"Really okay?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Looks pretty bad."
Pain drilled into my bones. I shook my head stiffly.
She waved dismissively at the maid. "All right, if she's fine, leave us. Anthea and I need to talk."
The maid glanced between Vanessa and me, uncertain.
"Go," I said quietly.
I knew if she stayed, it would only get worse for her. She left reluctantly, looking back. Now it was just me and Vanessa.
Vanessa dropped the act. She stood, ignoring the tea, eyes on the swaying flowers.
"I hate these white dahlias. They don't belong with the roses." Her voice was disgusted. "Don't you think?"
"What are you getting at?" I watched her profile warily.
"Relax, sweetheart." She turned to me, voice soft. "I'm just concerned. I heard you're due in a month. Have you thought about where you'll go after?"
"What?" I blinked, hand instinctively covering my belly.
"I mean, once you give birth, you'll leave the manor. Where will you go?" Vanessa looked at me innocently.
My heart clenched. I'd always forced myself not to think about this.
"Anthea, you don't actually think you'll still be in the Thorne heir's life after the baby comes, do you?" She stepped closer.
I backed up until I hit the railing around the lake. Nowhere left to go.
I didn't doubt Vanessa would push me in, even with a Thorne baby in my belly.
"Let me tell you the truth." Vanessa lowered her voice. "The only reason Silas treats you decently is because he needs you happy. Happy mother, healthy baby."
Her words plunged me into ice. Yes, Silas was gentle most of the time. So I'd let myself imagine more. What I feared most was that his tenderness was a lie.
"Once that baby leaves your body, you're done. I'll take over everything. As his future mother, his only mother, I'll teach him to talk, to walk. Every night, I'll be the one holding him. And you, it'll be like you never existed."
Rage erupted in my chest. She wanted to erase me from Olei's life completely.
I pushed her back without thinking, wanting distance from this dangerous woman. But Vanessa grabbed my hand. Her grip was shockingly strong.
