The Principessa's Ruined Canvas

"Everyone saw what happened. You were the one who snatched Trinity's locket," my father said sternly, tossing the gold locket at Ava's feet.

Ava cried out, crumpling to the floor. "No! No, I didn't! I swear, I was just scared."

She looked up with wide, innocent eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I was scared Trinity hadn't changed, scared I would be bullied again. I just wanted to test her."

Her hands trembling, she stripped off her jewelry, throwing it on the floor. "I've always thought of you as my own father, but I know I can never be your real daughter."

"Now that Trinity's back, you don't need a substitute anymore. I hope you'll take care of yourself. I'm leaving."

Quincy immediately blocked her path and met my father’s gaze. "Father, you know how much Ava has suffered, how hard her life has been."

As he spoke, his gaze shot toward me, filled with a disgust so palpable it was almost a physical force.

"Trinity always used her status as your daughter to bully Ava. I threw her into the Under-District to teach her what a hard life looks like, to make her appreciate what she had. Besides, I sent two guards to protect her. She should have been fine."

"I never thought she'd get even worse! Now, not only has she not repented, but she's using self-harm to drive Ava away! What sane person carries that many painkillers? And the timing was too perfect, with you walking in just as she swallowed them."

"She planned it all! She’s just trying to make you feel guilty and force Ava out."

"Are you listening to yourself?!" my father roared, slamming a fist on the table in fury. But a seed of doubt had been planted in his mind.

Sensing their resolve falter, Ava grew bolder.

Once, she commented that my hair was messy and offered to style it. As I sat obediently, she brought out a preheated curling iron and, with a feigned slip, pressed the scorching-hot metal against my arm.

The pain was excruciating, but I didn't dare make a sound. I felt my skin sizzle, smelled burning flesh, yet I didn't let out a single whimper. I knew any reaction would only bring Quincy's wrath down on me.

So, I bit my lip until it bled, stifling any sound.

My lack of reaction only infuriated Ava further. During one meal, she mixed shards from a shattered glass into my risotto.

Then, she shoved my face toward the bowl.

"Such a great actress, aren't you? Let's see how long this lasts! Eat it, if you have the guts!"

An older maid couldn't bear it and tried to intervene. However, my father stopped her, pushing her back down with a meaningful look. She could only watch me with horrified eyes.

Quincy said nothing, just stared at me coldly, as if waiting for me to throw a tantrum like I used to, to smash the plate and cause a scene.

Everyone was waiting.

With deadened eyes, I picked up my fork, scooped up the risotto glittering with glass shards, and swallowed it whole.

Ava, not expecting this, began to panic.

I felt the glass scrape my throat. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, choking me.

The maid turned deathly pale. She screamed for a doctor, holding me and wailing, "Miss Trinity, what's wrong with you?"

But I couldn't hear her. I just numbly continued shoving the glass-laced food into my mouth, not stopping even as it cut the inside of my mouth.

My father erupted, flipping the table. He grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it at Quincy, roaring, "This is on you! If she dies, you all die with her!"

I couldn't speak, my mouth and nose flooding with blood. Sometime between my father's furious roars and the doctor's horrified screams, I lost consciousness.