Chapter 3

Lucia's POV

Theo was sitting on the carpet, a Lego set in his hands, completely focused on building his model.

The moment I saw him, my eyes filled with tears. I walked over quietly and crouched down in front of him, my voice catching in my throat. "Theo..."

He looked up, and his expression went from surprise to wariness and disgust. "Bad lady! What are you doing here?"

I pulled him into my arms and held him tight, tears streaming down my face. "Theo, will you come with me..."

"Let go of me!" He struggled against me. "I'm not going with you! I have a mom!"

"Theo, I am your mom..."

"No you're not! You're lying! My mom is Julia!" he screamed.

His voice caught the attention of the bodyguards outside. I heard footsteps heading our way.

I quickly covered his mouth and whispered, "Shh, don't yell. I just need one thing from you, and then I'll leave, okay?"

Theo stared at me with wide eyes, hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.

I let go and pulled a small plastic bag from my pocket, then reached up and plucked a few strands of hair from his head.

He winced but didn't make a sound.

I tucked the hair carefully into the bag, took one last look at him, and turned to leave, teeth clenched.

'Theo, wait for me. I will come back for you.'

But I barely made it to the door before I ran straight into a bodyguard.

"Got her!" He grabbed my arm and pinned me to the floor.

"Let me go!" I fought to get up, but more bodyguards closed in and held me down.

They dragged me back to the room and dumped me on the floor.

The door was locked again. I curled up in the corner, hugging my knees, staring blankly at the moon through the window.

Every time I thought about the hatred in Theo's eyes, mine would fill with tears all over again.

I can't just stay trapped here. If this keeps up, I'm going to lose my mind.

Time passed without me noticing. By the following night, I suddenly heard urgent footsteps outside the door.

Then it was kicked open, and Julia strutted in, Mia trailing behind her.

Five years had gone by. Mia was six now, and looked a lot like her mother — already wearing that same arrogant, careless expression at such a young age.

Julia came straight at me and slapped me across the face. "You little bitch! How dare you hit my son!"

The blow sent my hair flying. I pressed my hand to my cheek and looked at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"

She grabbed me by the hair and yanked me up. "Tell me. Theo is covered in bruises. Was that you?"

"What bruises? I didn't hit him!" I only pulled a few strands of hair. There was no way he'd be bruised because of that.

"Still lying?" Julia scoffed and turned to Mia. "Mia, tell her where your brother's bruises came from."

Mia stepped forward, pointed straight at me, and said without a trace of guilt, "I saw it with my own eyes. This crazy woman hit Theo."

I stared at her. "You're lying! You little liar!"

I struggled to stand but the bodyguards held me down.

"If she's lying, we can just ask Theo." Julia's mouth curved into a smile as she looked toward the door.

Theo walked in then, wearing his pajamas, his small frame trembling visibly the moment he spotted Mia.

His face was pale, and his arms and legs were covered in bruises that looked like someone had pinched him all over. The sight of it nearly crushed me.

He had been fine when I saw him earlier. How did it come to this?

"Oh no, who did this to you..." I reached out to hold him, but he stepped back.

"Yes, Theo." Julia crouched down and asked him in a soft, gentle voice. "Tell Mommy who hurt you."

Theo kept his eyes down, not looking at me, not looking at Julia.

He snuck a glance at Mia.

She was standing behind Julia, eyes fixed on him, the threat in her gaze unmistakable.

Theo trembled with fear, tears spilling over, and pointed at me. "It was her... the bad lady hit me..."

I understood his look instantly. Mia had hurt him, and he was too scared to say so. So he was pinning it on me instead.

"Was it you?" I pointed at Mia, my voice shaking. "You hit Theo, and then you made him lie. You spoiled, nasty little girl..."

Mia smiled faintly, completely unbothered, and turned to wrap herself around Julia's leg. "Mommy, she's being mean to me..."

Julia stroked Mia's head, then looked at me with cold, sharp eyes. "First you hit my son, now you're going after my daughter. Looks like you have a death wish."

She turned to the bodyguards and waved her hand. "Beat her. Don't stop until she admits what she did."

Two bodyguards walked over. One gripped my shoulders while the other raised a club.

"You can't do this!" I struggled and screamed at Julia. "I never touched Theo! You're blaming me for something I didn't do!"

The club came down across my back, and the pain nearly knocked me out.

"Still not admitting it?" Julia looked down at me, cold and unmoved.

I gritted my teeth. "I did nothing wrong. You're the ones who owe Theo an apology."

The words had barely left my mouth before another blow landed. My entire back felt like it was being torn apart.

But I couldn't give in, especially not in front of Theo. I would not bow to these people.

Theo huddled behind Julia, shaking all over as he watched the guards beat me.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Julia put her arm around him and looked at me with contempt. "Only people who don't listen get punished. You're such a good boy. You'll always listen to Mommy, won't you?"

Her tone was layered with threat. Theo looked up with wide, terrified eyes and nodded through his tears.

"Theo! She is not your mother! Don't listen to her!"

I cried out as the blows kept coming, one after another. My back had gone numb, and blood was trickling from the corner of my mouth.

I was barely holding on. My vision was blurring, and a low ringing had started in my ears.

Julia stood over me, looking down. "Tough mouth on you. Let's see how tough the rest of you is."

She took the club from the bodyguard's hand, raised it high, and just as it was about to come down, a low voice cut through from outside the door.

"Stop."