Cinderella had never been one to leave stones unturned. She had learned early in life that the truth was often buried beneath layers of lies, half-truths, and secrets. Now, with her newfound focus and determination, she had begun digging deeper, not just into Rebecca's manipulations, but into every dark corner of her father's past. After all, if she was going to break free from Rebecca's grip and finally take control of her life, she needed to understand the full scope of the situation.
It was a late evening when she stumbled upon something that would change everything. She had been reviewing a stack of old documents from the time before Caroline's death, a period when Rebecca had still been trying to worm her way into the Harper family. Her father's business transactions, letters, and receipts were scattered across the desk in front of her as she sifted through each piece, looking for something—anything—that would give her a better understanding of how Rebecca had managed to manipulate him so easily.
Then, tucked in the corner of a folder marked "Private," she found it: an envelope with no return address. It was yellowed with age, the paper fragile as if it had been handled countless times before. A name was scrawled across the front in unfamiliar handwriting—"For Desmond."
Cinderella's heart pounded as she opened the envelope with trembling hands, careful not to tear the contents inside. What she found was a series of letters. The first few were written in a formal, almost businesslike tone, but as she read on, the tone shifted. The words became more personal, more intimate.
"Desmond, I'm afraid I can't do this anymore. I never wanted to hurt you, but I'm in too deep now. You know what's at stake. You need to be careful, or this will destroy us both. I will be waiting for your answer, as always."
The signature at the bottom sent a chill through Cinderella: Rebecca.
Her breath hitched in her chest as she quickly scanned the rest of the letters. They were all from Rebecca, written during a time when she had been having an affair with her father. The details were damning. The letters described secret meetings, passionate confessions, and plans to manipulate Desmond into marrying her, all for the sake of securing his wealth and position. The affair had been far more than just a brief fling—it had been a calculated, long-term scheme.
Cinderella's mind raced as she pieced together the implications of what she had just uncovered. This wasn't just about Rebecca trying to control her life; it was about her entire existence being built on lies and deceit. Rebecca had been manipulating Desmond for years, and it was clear now that she had used their affair as the foundation for everything that had come after—her marriage to Desmond, her control over the Harper estate, and her cold, calculating behavior toward Cinderella and the rest of the family.
Cinderella's fingers trembled as she closed the letters and placed them back in the envelope. She had to be careful. If Rebecca found out she had these letters, it would be game over for her. She couldn't afford to confront Rebecca just yet. This was a weapon, a piece of evidence she could hold over her when the time was right. But for now, it had to remain hidden.
As she tucked the envelope into the back of a drawer, her mind churned with thoughts of how she would use this information. This was the leverage she had been waiting for—something that could finally expose Rebecca for who she truly was, without leaving room for doubt.
But as much as she wanted to bring it all to light immediately, Cinderella knew the risk. If she made one wrong move, if Rebecca caught wind of this, her entire plan could backfire. The affair wasn't just a betrayal of Desmond; it was a betrayal of everything Cinderella had ever known. It was the foundation upon which Rebecca had built her entire life, and taking that down would shake the very core of everything she had carefully constructed.
Cinderella leaned back in her chair, her mind buzzing with strategy. She needed to be patient. She needed to let Rebecca make the first move. And when she did, when Rebecca made her next mistake, Cinderella would be ready.
The next few days passed with a sense of quiet tension in the Harper household. Rebecca had become even more controlling, her eyes constantly on Cinderella as if she were waiting for her to slip up. Cinderella, however, remained composed. She kept up her schoolwork, attended meetings with Dr. Cole about her case, and maintained the calm exterior she had carefully built over the past few weeks. She even made small strides with her father, having dinner with him and engaging in light conversation. Desmond, though distant, seemed to be warming to her again, his rigid exterior softening in the face of her persistence.
But every time Rebecca looked at her, Cinderella could feel the weight of the woman's suspicion pressing down on her. Rebecca had begun watching her more closely, and Cinderella knew that it wouldn't be long before she made a move. The question was: what would that move be?
As the days went on, Cinderella's anticipation grew. She wasn't sure when or how Rebecca would act, but she knew one thing: it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. And when it did, Cinderella would be ready to take control of the situation, to turn the tables and use Rebecca's own manipulations against her.
That night, as she sat in her room, going over her notes and the evidence she had collected, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. There was a shift in the atmosphere, a sense of impending change. She could feel it in the air, like the calm before a storm.
Then, as if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message from Silvester. She looked at it quickly.
Silvester: I need to talk to you. Something's not right with Rebecca. I'm starting to see the bigger picture.
Cinderella's heart skipped a beat. This was it. Silvester had always been observant, and if he was starting to see what she had already uncovered, then things were about to change.
Cinderella: What do you mean?
Silvester: Just… meet me tomorrow. I'll explain then.
Cinderella didn't hesitate. She quickly typed out her response.
Cinderella: I'll be there. I need to talk to you anyway.
As she hit send, her mind raced with the possibilities. Silvester had become one of her closest allies in this battle, and if he was now seeing the truth about Rebecca, it meant they were closer than ever to exposing her.
But for now, Cinderella knew she had to stay focused. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. The battle wasn't over yet, and she had to remain smart. One wrong move could cost her everything. And as much as she wanted to tear down Rebecca's facade, she knew the right moment would come. She just had to be patient—and when it did, she would strike.
The truth about Rebecca's past affair with Desmond was just one piece of the puzzle. The key to bringing it all down lay in timing. And Cinderella was ready to wait, to bide her time, until she could use it to her advantage.
As the night wore on, Cinderella tucked the envelope back into her drawer, the weight of her discovery still heavy on her mind. Tomorrow would bring a new opportunity, a new piece of the puzzle. And with each step, she was getting closer to winning this battle.