Chapter 9: Mother knows best

Catherine's eyes burned with a flaming passionate hatred, her hand nursing her left cheek that stung from the slap her own daughter had given it. Her own beautiful daughter, who looked like her in every way other than her ugly mole and eyes. And now. Now she was using that vile thing to hide her beautiful hair that she shared with her mother. There was only one person who could have led her so far astray. Catherine gritted her teeth as she thought of the abomination that she had to keep in her house. Yes, only that evil girl could have bewitched her Judith like this. She thought she'd taught them better than this, better than to listen to their words and preaches. First, Iris had begun to silently defy her, refusing to acknowledge the jabs she made at Cinderella and constantly running to her side to help. And then Catherine was alerted by the school that Judith had begun to wear a headscarf to school. A headscarf! When she was Catholic! The nerve of the girl! At first, Catherine would never have believed it but now…

Now… after seeing such a rebellion with her own eyes and feeling the pain stinging on her face, she was filled with a seething rage. Noone was listening to her anymore! Her grip around her daughters was loosening and she couldn't tell why or how. But she knew who to blame. Dear little Cinderella…

As much as she wished to get rid of her immediately, there was a tugging memory that prevented her from doing so. Something that just stopped her from even thinking about doing something so cruel. The memory of an innocent little girl, beaming up at her from the door.

'A letter was in her hand, addressed to Cinderella. Turning her nose up, Catherine accepted the letter and slipped a slender gold coin from her hand, flicking it in the air so the girl had to scramble for it on the floor as it landed. Closing the door, Catherine walked back to her room, not intending to let this letter reach Cinderella in the slightest. The sheet was pure white and the lettering was a neat gold ink, sent by the funeral home. She sniffed as she closed the door behind her and opened the letter. Scanning it, she huffed in boredom until a small passage caught her eye.

"After the passing of Asad Mumin, it has become my responsibility to relate the last wishes of the deceased and how his wealth was distributed to his family.

For his second wife, Catherine, he leaves the decorations of the manor as well as an entire wing of the house.

For his second wife's daughters, Judith and Iris, he leaves an abundance of jewellery and clothing.

For his first wife's daughter, Laila, he leaves his entire fortune and the entirety of his mansion.

If she is unable to claim her fortune, it will all go to a charity for orphans instead."

Catherine nearly dropped the paper, horror filling her eyes. Not only does he only leave her decorations (decorations! of all things!), but he gives the entirety of the fortune she'd married him for to that brat. Resisting the urge to scrumple up the paper, she put it back in its envelope and swore to never show Cinderella. At least, not until she'd worked out a plan to trick her into handing it all over or for a way to be richer than her without it…'

Years later and the letter still sat in her desk drawer, underneath the mountain of makeup she kept. It gathered dust and the ink's golden shine had dulled itself yellow. The wealth would be passed to Cinderella when she turned 18 in two years. Until then, Catherine had to formulate a plan to get that money from her. Biting down on her nail, she narrowed her eyes and plotted the perfect scheme, unknowing that the perfect opportunity would arrive only two years later…