MY EVIL STEPFATHER

DAISY'S POV I was in a black dress as I walked slowly into the church. My heart was breaking in silence, The air was so cold, so quiet, and yet inside me, everything was loud and aching. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I walked gently down toward my mother’s funeral. Everyone was sitting still, their heads lowered in silence. My hands shook as I held the cross so tightly it almost dug into my skin. My tears fell quietly, and I whispered to myself, “Mum, it’s all my fault…” Suddenly, Dominic stood up. I heard his footsteps coming closer, slow and firm, until he stood beside me. Without waiting, he wrapped his arms around me. “Daisy,” he said softly, his voice heavy yet calm, “don’t blame yourself for your mother’s death. It was an accident. Don’t worry, you’ll always be my daughter. I’ll always love you.” His words only made my chest tighten. I lifted my head and looked at him with anger burning in my eyes. “If it weren’t for you,” I said in a low, shaky voice, “my mother would still be alive!” His hands gently grabbed my shoulders, and his eyes locked with mine. He whispered in a low voice, “Hey… don’t blame this on me. You know why this happened. I just loved you so much. Why else would I marry your mother? It was all because of you.” My eyes dropped to the floor, my lips trembling. “It’s my fault,” I whispered. He nodded slowly, almost too calmly. “Yes,” I said again, louder this time, “it’s all my fault. You’re right. If I had just been stronger… she would still be here.” I broke down, my tears falling harder as I rested my head against his chest. His arms wrapped around me, and he rubbed my back slowly, comforting me like nothing was wrong. “Your mum is at peace now,” he murmured into my hair. “We’re gonna move on. We can only have what we never had to… That’s what she wanted for us.” I tried to open my mouth to speak, but the crying was too strong, choking my words. Still, with my head pressed against him, I managed to whisper, “My mum was the happiest woman when she married you.” But deep inside me, a cruel thought twisted through my mind, “And you should go with her… then everyone will be happy.” THREE MONTHS BEFORE NOW The smell of alcohol was still heavy on me as I pushed open the door of Club Casablanca. My vision was spinning; I was drunk, too drunk. I needed to go home. The cold night hit me the moment I opened the door, but before I could take two steps, I felt eyes on me. I glanced back. Two men had also come out of the club, their eyes following me like predators. My heart raced. I tried to walk faster, but my heels betrayed me. I stumbled, nearly falling, before panic took over and I started running. “Stop!” one of them shouted behind me. I kept running, my breath sharp and painful, my legs weak. I could hear their footsteps getting closer, faster, hunting me. “No!” I screamed, trying to escape. But then my body gave out, and I fell, straight into the arms of a stranger standing by the road. “Help me!” I cried desperately, clutching onto him with all my strength. “Please, help me!” He froze for a second, looking down at me. “What’s wrong, miss?” Before I could answer, he looked up. The two men were already there, coming toward us, ready to attack. His eyes turned sharp. With a quick hand signal, his bodyguards rushed out of the shadows. They went after the men instantly, dragging them away. My strength faded as relief washed over me. My head grew heavy, and before I knew it, I was falling asleep in his arms. He carried me, his steps calm, his grip steady, as if I weighed nothing. He took me to his house. I barely knew what was happening, only that he laid me down on a soft bed. I felt his hands gently brush the hair away from my face. He was about to leave the room when my weak hand grabbed his. “Please… don’t leave me,” I whispered, my eyes half-open. He stopped. His gaze held mine, dark and unreadable. Then he leaned down. His lips touched mine. I kissed him back. One kiss became another, and soon we were lost in it, our breaths mixing, our hearts racing. His hands moved slowly down to my shoulder, pulling at my dress, while my fingers traced the middle of his back, moving gently, slowly, driving him deeper into the moment. The next morning, when my eyes opened, the first thing I felt was warmth... I froze, staring at the ceiling before slowly turning my head. My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I saw myself lying in a man’s arms. His arm was heavy over me, his breath steady, his face too close. Panic hit me. I gasped softly, my eyes going wide. Quickly, I slipped out of the bed as quietly as I could, praying he wouldn’t wake up. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. I rushed to gather my things, my hands shaking, but just as I was about to sneak out, I heard his deep voice behind me. “Leaving so soon?” I froze. My whole body stiffened. Slowly, I turned, forcing a weak smile. “Sorry,” I whispered, my throat dry, “last night was a mistake. I was drugged.” He sat up lazily, his eyes on me, but his smile didn’t fade. “Oh, that’s alright.” I grabbed my handbag from the table beside the bed, trying to avoid his gaze. Just as I was about to leave, his voice stopped me again. “Hey… you look familiar.” My heart skipped. I turned quickly, shaking my head. “Ah, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I’m not Daisy Morgan.” The moment the lie slipped from my mouth, my mind went blank. My hands froze around my bag. He tilted his head, a knowing smile forming on his lips. “Oh… no wonder you’re such a big hit.” His words stabbed into me, confusing and frightening at the same time. I didn’t reply. Instead, I pulled out some money from my bag with trembling fingers. My pride burned, but I couldn’t stand his gaze anymore. I threw the cash onto his chest. “Last night was just a mistake,” I muttered, my voice sharper than I intended. I didn’t wait for his reply. I walked away quickly, my heels clicking on the floor. The moment I stepped out of the elevator I realized I was in a hotel. The sign above the reception desk burned into my eyes. I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting. And then, my heart dropped when I saw my mother. Just then, my phone began to ring.