A sly smile played on Sophia's lips as she witnessed Isadora being dragged away, a satisfying conclusion to her carefully laid plans. The memory of that fateful night at the party, where Isadora had uncovered her secret, still simmered in Sophia's mind.
She had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike back, and now, seeing Isadora receive a taste of her own medicine, Sophia felt a sense of vindication. She had viewed Isadora as a threat, a rival in the household, and was pleased to see her taken down a notch.
"Sophia, I'm devastated by what Isadora did to you. She'll face the consequences, I promise," her mother said, turning to her with a mix of anger and concern.
Sophia winced, pretending to be pain. "Mum, I'll be okay, really," she reassured, trying to downplay the incident.
Her mother's eyes widened in distress. "Your beautiful face! What did she do to you?"
Sophia shrugged, avoiding the truth. "It's not important, Mum. I'm just grateful it wasn't worse."
Her mother's expression turned stern. "We need to get you medical attention. Now."
Sophia hesitated, fabricating a weak excuse. "Mum, I'd rather not go to the hospital. Please?"
Her mother's brow furrowed, unconvinced. "But, Sophia, you're clearly in pain. You need proper care."
"Mum, please, no hospital. Just have one of the maids tend to me, I'll be okay," Sophia pleaded, trying to sound convincing.
Her mother hesitated, then nodded. "Very well, I'll summon the doctor to visit you here instead."
Sophia quickly intervened, not wanting her mother to linger. "No need to trouble yourself, Mum. I'll ask one of the maids to handle it. You have somewhere to be, don't you?" she asked, gesturing to her mother's elegant outfit.
Her mother's expression turned distracted. "Goodness, I nearly forgot! I have a meeting to attend. I'll phone the doctor anyway."
Sophia called out as her mother turned to leave. "Mum!"
Her mother turned back, smiling. "Love you, dear. Off to your room you go. I'll send a maid to help with the swelling before the doctor arrives."
Sophia nodded, trying to appear meek. "Okay, Mum."
Her mother beamed with pride. "That's my girl." With that, they both exited the room, Sophia's secret temporarily safe.
As soon as Sophia entered her room, she locked the door and a sly smile spread across her face. She made her way to her dressing table, sat down, and gazed into the mirror.
Her reflection showed a face that was truly battered and bruised, but it was all a clever charade. The truth was hidden behind a mask of makeup and deceit.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number, her fingers moving swiftly. The phone rang, and the person picked up instantly.
"Girl, your plan worked!" Sophia exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It worked, that's good. I can't believe your mum fell for it," the other person said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yeah, I can say she's a little dumb," Sophia said, her words dripping with sarcasm, as they both burst out laughing.
"Yeah, so what did your mum do to your so-called nanny?" the other caller asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"She muttered something to the guard about a cold room or something, I can't really tell, but I'm sure she's plotting her revenge," Sophia said, a hint of mischief in her voice.
"That's perfect! But what about your mom's reaction to your, ahem, 'condition'? If you go to the hospital, she'll definitely uncover the truth," her friend pointed out.
"Yeah, I convinced her to send the maid instead, and I've got a plan to handle them," Sophia replied, her tone dripping with confidence.
"Wow, your mom just let it slide like that?" her friend asked, incredulous.
"Of course! But she's still insisting on calling the doctor to check on me," Sophia said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"That could be a problem," her friend noted.
"I know, but don't worry, either my mom will forget or I have a plan B," Sophia said, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.
"Be careful with everything, okay?" her friend advised.
Sophia chuckled. "I will be okay and I can't believe those makeup skills you taught me are coming in so handy! The bruises, cuts, and marks look incredibly real. Either my mom was completely oblivious or my work is simply professional-level."
Her friend laughed. "You're welcome! And trust me, it wasn't that your mom was blind. The image you sent me looked so convincing that even I thought it was real - if only we hadn't planned this whole thing!"
Sophia giggled. "Anyway, I'm going to wash all this off now. It's starting to feel uncomfortable."
Her friend questioned, "Don't you think you should keep it on for a bit longer?"
Sophia replied, "Nah, I can manage without it. I'll just redo it, but this time, I'll make it more subtle."
Her friend agreed. "Alright, we'll catch up tomorrow. Bye!"
Sophia responded, "Bye," and ended the call.
Sophia rose from the chair and headed towards the bathroom, but a knock on the door interrupted her. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled.
"Your mother sent me," the maid replied, her voice faint through the door.
"I'm about to take a bath. Come back later," Sophia called out, her voice firm but polite.
The maid acquiesced, and Sophia could hear the soft footsteps retreating. She quickly shed her disguise, washing away the makeup and bruises in the bathroom. Emerging with a fresh face, she donned a plush white robe and wrapped her hair in a matching towel.
After changing into a new outfit in her closet, Sophia sauntered back into her room, her hair still damp and her eyes sparkling. But her relaxed demeanor was short-lived, as she was taken aback by Piper's unexpected presence on her bed, looking utterly at ease.
"Piper, what are you doing in my room? How many times have I warned you..." Sophia's voice trailed off as she realized her door had been locked. "How did you even get in?" she asked, confusion etched on her face.
Piper smirked mischievously. "Well, the space under your bed seemed cozy, so I decided to make myself at home."
Sophia's eyes widened in horror. "So you've been hiding there since I came in? Oh God, I'm so screwed." She knew Piper couldn't keep secrets.
Piper nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yeah, and I heard every word of your conversation. You're a piece of work, Sophia. What did Aunt Isadora ever do to you?"
Sophia's face darkened. "Shut up, Piper. You don't know anything."
Piper stood up, her voice dripping with indignation. "I know a lot more than you think, Sophia. And I'm not going to keep quiet about this."
"You wouldn't dare side that stupid nanny to your sister, would you?" Sophia asked, her voice laced with menace.
Piper shot back, "The same sister who's been cruel to me? I'll do anything for her, but you? Forget it. You can dream on."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Listen, Piper, this little secret stays between us. Got it?"
Piper's grin was defiant. "Oh, the whole world will know about this. Mark my words."
Sophia's voice dripped with venom. "You're playing with fire, Piper. If anyone finds out about this..."
Piper stood her ground, her voice firm. "I'm not afraid of you, Sophia. You may be bigger and older, but you can't touch me. I know your secrets."
Sophia's face darkened. "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Piper. Don't push me."
Piper's words were laced with indignation. "You're just like Mom and Dad - heartless. You've treated Aunt Isadora like dirt for far too long."
Sophia's eyes flashed. "How dare you speak about our parents like that!"
Piper's voice remained steady. "It's the truth. You're all cruel, and I won't stand for it."
"Piper, you're too young to comprehend complex issues, so keep your opinions to yourself," Sophia said, her tone condescending.
Piper's response was fierce. "I may be only 10, but I'm wiser than you'll ever be. My age doesn't equal ignorance."
Sophia's anger flared. "You're an insolent little brat!"
Piper shot back, "And you're the worst sister ever!"
Before Piper could react, Sophia's hand flashed out, leaving a stinging slap on her cheek.
Piper's eyes widened, her hand cradling her face. "You hit me!"
Sophia's instant regret was evident. "Oh, Piper, I'm so sorry!"
Piper's eyes blazed with anger. "I hate you, Sophia! You're going to pay for this!" She flung open the door and fled, leaving Sophia in a state of panic.
Sophia's despairing cry echoed through the room. "God, what have I done?! I'm ruined! What do I do now?"
Sophia's mind raced as she paced back and forth across the room, desperate to find a solution. She knew her mother's absence bought her time - four days, to be exact, as she had eavesdropped on her mother's phone conversation. But the uncertainty of Piper's next move filled her with dread.
Just then, the maid entered, concern written on her face. "I saw Piper running out in tears. Is everything okay, miss?"
Sophia's frustration boiled over. "Get out!" she shrieked, pushing the maid away and slamming the door shut.
As the lock clicked into place, Sophia collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow. A muffled scream of frustration echoed through the room, her anxiety and fear threatening to consume her.