A SPELLBINDING LOVE

A MURDER??!!

The sun was barely rising, casting long shadows across the grand, opulent mansion of the Billiores. In a corner of the sprawling estate, a small figure scurried through the dimly lit hallway. It was Suri, the Billiores' secret, their daughter hidden in plain sight. At just seven years old, she had long accepted her place as a servant in her own home, scrubbing floors and cleaning rooms while her "family" treated her with indifference and cruelty.

Today, she had been given the task of cleaning her brother's room—a task she approached with trepidation. The room was filled with his prized toys, an assortment of mechanical wonders and intricate models. As Suri dusted the shelves, her fingers slipped, knocking a precious toy to the floor. The delicate model shattered into pieces, its tiny parts scattering across the carpet.

Suri's heart pounded in her chest. She knew how much her brother cherished those toys, and she was terrified of what would happen next. Her breath quickened as footsteps approached—heavy, angry steps. Her brother, Tarek, stormed into the room, his face a mask of rage.

"What did you do?!" Tarek's voice was a roar that echoed through the room. "You ruined it! You're useless!"

Suri tried to speak, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Tarek. I didn't mean to—"

Before she could finish, Tarek grabbed a toy from the shelf and began to smash things in a fit of destructive fury. His eyes were wild with anger as he threw objects around, breaking anything he could reach. Suri stood helpless, her small frame barely making an impact as she tried to stop him.

"Please, stop!" she begged, but Tarek's rage was insatiable.

 In a blind fit, he snatched another toy from the shelf and hurled it across the room, sending it crashing to the floor. His eyes blazed 

Then, the worst happened. Min Ho Yeni, their mother, arrived at the commotion. Her eyes, usually cold and indifferent, now burned with a merciless fury. She surveyed the scene of destruction and then turned her gaze to Suri. The sight of her daughter standing amidst the wreckage, her clothes stained with small cuts, ignited a cruel and unforgiving anger.

"What is going on here?" Min Ho Yeni's voice was a low, dangerous growl, carrying a weight that made Suri's stomach drop.

Tarek, with a sudden shift in his demeanor, wiped his eyes and let out a small, pitiful sob. His voice cracked as he pointed a trembling finger at Suri. "It's her, Mother. She broke my toy... and then she slapped me!" His lower lip quivered, his eyes brimming with tears that glistened under the light, but Suri knew better. This was no genuine sorrow—it was an act, a calculated performance designed to turn their mother's wrath on her.

Through his feigned sobs, Tarek choked out the words, "How could she? How could she mom"

Suri's heart sank as she saw the familiar look of fury that twisted Min Ho Yeni's face, her shock now deepened by the false image of betrayal her son was painting. Tarek was lying, and he was doing it masterfully. He knew exactly what to say, how to present himself as the wronged party, and Suri could see that he was reveling in it, anticipating the punishment he knew their mother would unleash.

"Suri," she hissed, her voice barely containing her fury. "You... slapped your brother?" Her words were laced with a venom that sent a shiver down Suri's spine. "How dare you lay a hand on him! Do you think I'll stand for this?"

Suri's small frame shook with fear. She tried to explain, but her mother wasn't listening. Min Ho Yeni's anger was palpable, and she grabbed a baseball bat from the corner of the room.