Chapter One: Mistreated.

I sneakily found my way down the vast hallway, keeping my back pressed against the wall. I could hear them in the kitchen, and I had a large doorway ahead. I just need to pass by it unnoticed at the right time.

Peering around the corner, I noticed the group of women facing away from me. So taking a deep breath, I brace myself before leaping across the two-meter gap. I internally cursed when the gown I wore rustled as I staggered, and then I fell to the floor. I held in a deep breath in anticipation, knowing I had been caught. Just then a pair of black shoes came into my eyeline.

Gulping, I look up to the snooty grimace of Nicole. She slicked her straight, shiny, black hair back, her hazel eyes staring down at me. Her curvaceous hips were posed in a black, tight gown as she stood, arms folded. She was stunning and an accurate picture of everything a woman should be. However, she harbored an intense hatred for me. Her two daughters behind her had the same feelings towards me, too.

"What are you doing, Camila?" She grunted. "And where have you been? huh?" Her voice was somber.

I stayed where I was on the floor, looking away from her eyes to stare at the floor.

"I-I... I just wanted t-t-to go to my room. I—I promise I already d-did everything you told me to do." I poured out rambling on my words, not answering the part where I was. She narrowed her eyes at me and snorted.

"What about the guest rooms I told you to clean? Because I went up, and it was still the same way I left it," Hailey, her older twin daughter, asked, eyeing me disdainfully.

Shit. I muttered mentally.

Last night, the girls had brought in a lot of people and organized a party. The party was so loud, and a lot of them got wasted with alcohol; some slept overnight and left this morning using the guest room. So this morning, before they all left for their various workplaces, they instructed me to clean up after their mess. So with a heavy headache due to the loud music and a sleepless night, I cleaned everywhere. It was difficult, but I didn't complain and managed to do it.

Now realizing, I remember I didn't clean the guest room.

How was I expected to recall all that she articulated when I was experiencing such a severe headache?

Holding on a breath, "I-I-I w-was sick, and t-t-then I I was-" I poured out my words, rambling on them, not knowing how to explain myself.

"I-I-I w-was. I'm sorry we can't hear you clearly through your fucking stutter." Bailey, the other twin, chortled. They are both blonde-haired, but with different eye colors. Hailey has green eyes like mine, but Bailey has blue eyes. Their glowing, fair skin and slender bodies, unlike mine, were truly stunning. I simply couldn't compete with any of them.

"Aww, Hailey, don't be like that. It's not like it's Camila's fault her father died, leaving a poor thing like her behind with nothing on his will for her. Poor thing." Hailey said, snacking her teeth against her tongue. Her other twin laughed maliciously at her sister's sick joke.

I felt my heart ache as my eyes began to water, and I tried to blink them in. These people are so cruel, and I always wondered why Dad ever married a second wife after Mum died. He could have raised me alone. I miss my dad. His excessive kindness and gentle disposition rendered him unable to perceive the true nature of the individual to whom he was committing himself in marriage. I consistently attempted to reveal her true nature, but he consistently refused to believe me. Look at where it has gotten me.

I looked up to glare at them for disrespecting my dad in that manner. They would pretend to care for him when he was alive, even when he was on the sick bed. They pretended like they loved him, and I didn't trust them. I always saw past them. Dad wouldn't, blinded by his stupid love for Nicole.

Nicole narrowed her eyes at me and glared back before nodding her head over to the twins. Upon receiving the message, Hailey stepped forward and squatted at my front. Before I got the chance to move back, she grasped me by my hair and pulled me up. I stood up in time with her and winced as she snagged my hair into her grip. I winced in pain as her hand tightened on my root before releasing me.

I breathe out in relief when a hand with full force smacks me on the face, and I fall to the ground with a groan. I winced again as my left chin felt so hot. A hand dragged me up by the hair, and I stood to see Nicole glaring at me.

"You little ungrateful, spoiled brat." She spat venomously. "I fed you, allowed you to stay in my house, and took you in after the old man died, but you reward me with disrespect and disobedience. You foolish girl, no matter what you do, you will always be beneath me and my daughters. Your parents left you; no relatives want to take you in, but I bet the street men would do so. I could kick you out right now and allow you to fend for yourself in the street with no place to go. Is that what you want?" She spat out, grabbing my jaw roughly with her hand.

"No, I'm sorry." I hiccuped, tears threatening to stain my cheeks.

"Good, now why don't you run along and get the rooms cleaned up?"

I nodded, my green eyes meeting hers warily.

"Use your words," she says, snapping at me.