The Monster at My Feet novel Chapter 2

Sylvie glanced down at her outfit—a simple white t-shirt, a plain black skirt, sneakers, and a canvas backpack. Was it really that inappropriate?

With the crowd watching, Helena stepped closer, wearing a picture-perfect, magnanimous smile.

"You lack a sense of time and clearly haven't been taught proper etiquette. I don't blame you."

"Go on. Head up to your room, clean yourself up, and find something pretty to wear, alright?"

Then, lowering her voice so no one else could hear, she leaned in close. She rested a hand gently on Sylvie's shoulder, portraying the perfect image of a caring mother.

"What I really mean is, lock yourself in your room and don't come out. You're an absolute embarrassment. Look at yourself—you don't belong here."

Sylvie kept her head bowed in silence, her body trembling slightly as if utterly humiliated by the words.

Helena watched her reaction with deep satisfaction and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.

She played the role of the strict yet loving stepmother to absolute perfection.

Right at that moment, Sylvie tilted her head up to meet Helena's eyes.

Her large, luminous eyes were slightly glassy, blinking with the innocence of a cornered deer. She kept her voice at an equally discreet whisper.

"Helena, don't get so close to me with that ugly face. Do you have any idea how bad your breath reeks? You can play the aristocrat all you want, but at the end of the day, you're just a stray dog marking territory in my family's house."

Helena's face instantly drained of color!

Her eyes bulged as if she had just swallowed a fly, her cheeks flushing a violent shade of red as she refused to believe her own ears.

"What did you just say?!"

Her shrill, piercing shriek made everyone in the room jump, exchanging bewildered glances.

Sylvie stared innocently at her twisted expression, took a frightened step back, and let her eyes well up with tears.

"I'm so sorry, Helena. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

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