The long afternoon stretched on as Victoria sat comfortably on the soft leather sofa.
She flipped through expensive fashion magazines while keeping a sharp eye on young Lily.
Lily was down on her knees, scrubbing the marble floor with a small wet cloth.
Her small hands were bright red and cold from the bucket of icy soapy water.
Baby Leo whimpered softly from his blanket on the floor right beside his sister.
Victoria: Keep quiet over there, or I will put you both in the basement.
Lily pulled Leo a little closer to her knee, trying to shield him from view.
Lily: Please, he is just hungry because he missed his afternoon bottle.
Victoria: He can wait until dinner time, and so can you.
Victoria picked up her expensive silver phone and dialed a quick phone number.
She changed her voice instantly, sounding sweet, loving, and entirely innocent as she spoke.
Victoria: Oh, Arthur, darling, everything is wonderful here at home today.
Lily listened in total shock as Victoria lied so easily to her loving father.
Victoria: The children are playing happily in the garden right now, eating fresh fruit.
Lily clenched her small fists tightly against the wet washcloth on the cold floor.
She wanted to scream out loud so her father could hear the terrible truth.
However, Victoria stared directly into Lily's eyes with a sharp and warning glare.
Lily knew that if she made a sound, Victoria would punish her even harder later.
She stayed completely quiet, letting her tears fall silently into the bucket of water.
Victoria finished her phone call with a sweet laugh and hung up the phone.
Her pleasant smile vanished instantly as soon as the call was officially over.
Victoria: See how easy that was, you silly little girl?
Victoria: Your father trusts me completely, and he will never believe your silly stories.
Lily looked down at the icy water, feeling completely hopeless and all alone.
She wondered how an adult could be so mean to two helpless little children.
The family estate was vast, surrounded by high walls that kept their suffering secret.
None of the neighbors knew what was truly happening behind the shiny front doors.
Victoria spent Arthur's money freely, buying fine clothes, bags, and expensive bright jewels.
She treated the beautiful mansion like her own personal palace, ignoring the children's needs.
She wanted Arthur all to herself, along with his entire massive family fortune.
In her cruel mind, the two young children were just annoying obstacles in her path.
She hoped to send them away to a strict boarding school far across the country.
Lily picked up the heavy bucket and dragged it slowly down the long corridor.
Her tiny arms shook from the strain, but she refused to complain or show weakness.
She whispered sweet encouraging words to little Leo to keep him from crying again.
Lily: It will be okay, Leo, Daddy will be home real soon.
She looked up at the large family portrait hanging grandly on the tall wall.
Her late mother's gentle face smiled back at her from the gilded picture frame.
Lily felt a sudden surge of strength inside her tiny heart as she remembered her mother.
She promised herself that she would never let Victoria break her strong spirit.