Let Her Dig Her Own Grave

Sophia's Point of View

I stormed into the house, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, my entire body trembling with rage.

My head was pounding, and the only thought in my mind was how much I wanted to destroy something—or someone.

The maid, Anna, rushed to greet me like she always did, bowing her head as she reached for my bag. "Welcome home, Miss Sophia. Let me take....."

Slap!!

My palm connected with her face before she could finish her sentence. The sound echoed through the grand living room.

"Get out of my way!" I snapped, shoving my bag at her so hard that she stumbled back.

Anna looked up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes, but she didn't dare protest. She clutched her cheek, which was already reddening, and muttered, "I'm sorry, Miss Sophia..."

"Sorry?" I barked, advancing on her. "What exactly are you sorry for? Breathing? Existing?"

Her lips trembled, and she lowered her head, her tears falling freely now.

"Stop crying!" I yelled, the sight of her tears only fueling my anger. "You think I need to see your pathetic face looking like that right now? Useless girl!"

I grabbed the vase on the side table and flung it to the floor, watching with grim satisfaction as it shattered into pieces. Anna jumped at the sound, her shoulders shaking as she tried to stifle her sobs.

"Miss Sophia, please....."

"Shut up!" I screamed.

"What's going on here?"

I turned at the sound of my mother's voice. Isabella descended the grand staircase with her usual grace, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene: Anna trembling like a leaf, me standing amidst the broken vase, seething with anger.

"Who made you annoyed, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice calm, almost indulgent, as if my tantrum was nothing more than a child throwing a fit.

Anna looked at her as though she hoped for salvation, but my mother barely spared her a glance.

"Get lost," I spat at the maid, waving her away like she was a fly buzzing around my head.

Anna didn't need to be told twice. She nodded quickly, clutching her cheek as she scurried out of the room.

My mother waited until the maid was gone before she walked over to the couch and sat down gracefully, crossing her legs.

"Now," she said, patting the spot beside her. "Come and have your seat and tell me what's wrong."

I let out a frustrated growl, running my hands through my hair. "I'm not sitting, Mom. I'm going crazy!"

She sighed, leaning back into the couch with a serene expression that only made me angrier. "Would you calm down and tell me what's bugging you so that I can help?"

"Don't tell me to calm down, Mom!" I snapped, throwing my hands in the air. "I'm too annoyed for that!"

"I know, sweetheart," she said patiently, her voice as smooth as silk. "But just try."

I let out a sharp exhale and finally flopped onto the couch beside her, resting my head in my hands. "It's Morana," I said through gritted teeth.

At the mention of that name, my mother's face darkened. "What about that trash?"

I looked up at her, my anger flaring again. "Can you believe she's coming back to the agency, Mom?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "What?" she said sharply. "Why would she do that?"

"Exactly!" I shouted, throwing my hands up. "Why would she? She has no place there, no right! She was nothing but a low-level pawn, and now she thinks she can just waltz back in like she owns the place?"

"She came back," my mother said, her voice heavy with disdain, "despite what we did to her the other time."

I sighed, slumping back against the couch. "Exactly, Mom. I was shocked when I found out. I mean, how could she? After everything we put her through? After the humiliation, the scandal, the..." I cut myself off, shaking my head. "She has no shame, clearly."

My mother leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. "And yet here she is, walking back in like nothing ever happened."

"She's going to ruin my plans," I said, my voice trembling with frustration. "Everything I've worked for, all the connections I've built, the spotlight I've fought to keep"

"It'll all be for nothing if she's allowed to step back into the industry. I can't afford to let that happen, Mom. I won't let it happen."

My mother's lips curled into a sneer. "But how did this happen? Did Sebastian approve it?"

I laughed bitterly. "Of course, he did. That idiot is useless, Mom. Useless!"

Isabella's eyes narrowed, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the armrest.

"Sebastian has always been spineless, but this? Letting Morana come back? Unacceptable."

"I'm telling you, Mom," I said, leaning forward, my voice dropping to a hiss. "She's up to something. She's not coming back to the agency just to work. She has a plan. I know it."

"She doesn't have the brains to scheme," my mother said dismissively.

"She doesn't need brains, Mom. She has her grandfather's backing now. She's his precious little protégé. Do you know what that means?"

My mother's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, she looked genuinely concerned. "Her grandfather..."

"Exactly," I said, my voice shaking with fury. "He's giving her the resources, the power, the connections. She's going to be a threat, Mom. A serious threat."

Her lips curved into a cold, knowing smile. "She won't succeed, sweetheart. Not as long as we're here. We've dealt with her before, haven't we?"

"Yes, but this time it feels different," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "She has his backing now. Do you realize what that means? With his resources and influence, she could....."

"Stop," my mother interrupted sharply, holding up a hand.

"Don't give her that much credit, Sophia. She's still the same weak little girl who couldn't stand up for herself."

"Having her grandfather's backing won't magically make her capable. She's just a puppet, and you know what happens to puppets when the strings are cut."

I let out a bitter laugh. "That's easy for you to say, Mom. You're not the one whose reputation is at stake. If she starts climbing the ladder again, people will start comparing us, and I refuse to let that happen."

"Do you know how hard I've worked to be the face of that agency? The top star? I earned this, and I won't let her take it away from me."

"She won't," my mother said firmly. "We won't let her. You're my daughter, Sophia. You're smarter, stronger, and far more cunning than she'll ever be."

I looked at her, my chest tightening with a mix of anger and desperation. "It's not just about me being smarter, Mom. It's about perception."

I paused then continued, "She's already painted herself as the victim, the poor girl who was unfairly cast out. And now, with her so-called comeback, people will eat it up. They'll root for her. They'll side with her."

"Let them," my mother said dismissively. "People are fickle, Sophia. They'll side with whoever shines the brightest, and that's you. You've built your brand, your reputation. No one can take that from you, not even her."

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. "But what if she exposes what we did, Mom? What if she uses that against us?"

My mother's eyes narrowed, her voice turning icy. "If she tries that, we'll destroy her. Again."

Her confidence was reassuring, but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen. "I don't know, Mom. She seems different this time, she's not the same pathetic girl we used to push around. She's... bolder."

"Bolder?" my mother said with a scoff. "She's putting on a show, Sophia. That's all. The moment things get tough, she'll crumble. People like her always do."

"She's still trash, Sophia. And trash can be disposed of."

I wanted to believe her, but a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that Morana was more dangerous now than ever before.

"What do we do, then?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "How do we stop her?"

Her smile returned, colder and more calculated this time. "We don't stop her, sweetheart. We let her climb, let her think she's winning. And when the time is right, we'll pull the rug out from under her."

"You mean... sabotage?"

"Exactly," she said, her tone as smooth as silk. "But we'll be subtle. No need to get our hands dirty just yet. Let her dig her own grave. And when she does, we'll be there to bury her."

I nodded slowly, my mind racing with possibilities. "You're right. She's walking into the lion's den, and she doesn't even realize it."

"Good girl," Isabella said, patting my hand. "Now stop worrying. Focus on staying ahead, keeping your position secure. Leave the rest to me."

"Thanks, Mom," I said, leaning back against the couch. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "You'll never have to find out, sweetheart. As long as I'm here, no one will ever take what's yours."

Her words settled over me like a balm, soothing my nerves.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that this time, Morana might be harder to crush. And that terrified me.