Chapter 14 Chloe
They shoved me back into the attic. The door slammed. The lock clicked.
Ava’s voice echoed from the hallway. “She’s getting worse, Arthur. We can’t keep doing this—”
“Go back downstairs,” Olivia cut in, calm and controlled. “I’ll handle it.”
There was silence, then the soft click of heels. Olivia stepped inside like she owned the air I breathed. Her face was so contorted with rage it almost made her look ugly. She closed the door behind her.
“That goddamn tree,” she snapped.
My stomach dropped, but my face stayed blank. My breathing remained steady.
“That little escape route you love so much?” she continued, stepping closer. “I should have them cut it down.” Her lips curved into a cruel smile. “No…”
She crouched in front of me, close enough that I could smell her perfume. “I will have them cut it down.”
My chest tightened. I needed that tree for just a few more days. But I didn’t move. Her hand came out of nowhere—grabbing my chin, forcing my face up.
“Look at me.”
I didn’t. My eyes stayed fixed on a point just past her shoulder. Her thumb brushed under my eye; the touch was so light it was almost gentle.
“You know what I think?” she whispered. “I think you understand everything.”
My pulse pounded in my ears.
“And I think you’re smart enough to stay quiet.” Her grip tightened just enough to hurt. I counted in my head through the pain. “Because if you don’t…” She smoothed my hair back into place. “They won’t just lock you up here.”
She leaned in, close enough that I felt her breath against my skin. “They’ll move me somewhere no one visits. No Mary. No window.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “No tree.”
She pulled back slightly, studying me.
“You did that on purpose,” she said, her voice low and tight. “Running around like some wild thing. Jumping out of trees. Letting him see you like this—” She let out a shaky breath. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? You think I don’t know you’re trying to get his attention?”
She snapped her fingers in front of my face. “I’m not stupid, Chloe. I see everything in this house.”
“Olivia?” Killian’s voice came from downstairs. “Come here.” He was saving me.
She froze. Just for a second. Then she straightened quickly, smoothing her skirt, her face rearranging into something soft. Polished.
“Yes—coming!” she called back, her tone light and easy. Like none of this had happened.
Her eyes flicked back to me, cold again. “Don’t try me again, Chloe. I won’t let you ruin this for me.”
Soon as the door close, I listened for the footstep to fade before I let my smile take over my face. It was too late for her to be worrying about ruining anything.