Chapter Nineteen – The Plan Unfolds

The next morning, Cinderella awoke with purpose pulsing through her veins. The evidence she had gathered, while damning, was just the beginning. She couldn't march into the mansion and shout her truth—not yet. Rebecca had manipulated everyone for years. A sudden accusation without a calculated plan would only backfire. She couldn't risk it.

She needed strategy. She needed proof. She needed allies.

Her mind raced as she sat up in bed, her heart already working through the steps of her plan. She couldn't simply confront Rebecca or Stephen directly; they'd be expecting that. Instead, she had to outsmart them. She had to be patient, precise, and above all, she had to make sure that when the time came, the evidence would be irrefutable. No one could dismiss her as the bitter stepdaughter. They would see the truth.

The first step was documenting everything.

Cinderella had always been good at staying out of sight—observing people, noticing things others missed. But this time, she wasn't just observing; she was collecting. Every cruel comment, every suspicious action, every moment of abuse was now carefully recorded. With a hidden camera embedded in a simple pendant she wore around her neck, and a voice recorder clipped to the spine of a notebook she carried everywhere, Cinderella began capturing real-time proof.

It wasn't hard. Rebecca's mask often slipped when she thought no one was looking. One evening, Cinderella returned late from the library, having stayed behind to study for an exam. She was greeted with Rebecca's usual icy glare as she entered the dining room, her stepmother's gaze cold and judgmental.

"You'll never be anything without me," Rebecca spat, her voice sharp and cutting.

Cinderella's heart raced, but she smiled softly, pretending to cower under Rebecca's venomous words. In reality, she was triumphant. The recorder in her notebook caught every single word, and with each new instance, the evidence against Rebecca grew stronger.

Stephen wasn't much better. His threats were less subtle, more aggressive. One night, when she refused to hand over the money she'd saved from her part-time job, he shoved her hard against the wall, his breath rancid with alcohol.

"Ungrateful brat," he sneered, his hands curling into fists. "Don't forget who runs this house."

Cinderella didn't argue. She didn't scream or cry. She simply stood her ground, forcing herself to remain calm as the camera embedded in her pendant recorded everything. The proof was in her hands now. The only thing left to do was wait for the right moment.

But Cinderella knew she couldn't do this alone. She needed someone who would stand with her—someone still loyal enough to see through Rebecca's façade. Her first thought was her father. But Desmond had been so deeply manipulated by Rebecca over the years that she feared approaching him too soon. He would never believe her without the full evidence, and confronting him too early might push him further into Rebecca's arms.

So, Cinderella turned to the one person who had always treated her with kindness, even if subtly—Lydia, the elderly housekeeper.

Lydia had been a part of the household for as long as Cinderella could remember. She was more than just an employee—she had always felt like family. Though Lydia wasn't in a position of power, her quiet presence in the house had allowed her to witness more than most. She had seen Rebecca's cruelty, but she had also seen Cinderella's quiet resilience. It was time for Lydia to become her ally.

Cinderella waited until late one evening, after the others had gone to bed. She made her way to the kitchen, where Lydia was at the counter, folding dish towels with slow, careful movements. Her face lit up when she saw Cinderella, though there was a tinge of worry in her eyes. Lydia was always quick to spot when something was amiss.

"I need to show you something," Cinderella said softly, placing the folder on the table in front of her.

Lydia hesitated, her hands stilling for a moment before she sat down across from Cinderella. She took the folder from Cinderella's hands, her weathered fingers gently flipping through the documents. She paused when she reached the photograph, her brow furrowing. Then came the signed statement, and Lydia's expression shifted from confusion to understanding.

When she finished reading, Lydia's eyes met Cinderella's, her expression softening. "I always knew something was wrong," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Your mother… she was the kindest woman I'd ever met. Rebecca… she changed everything when she arrived."

Cinderella's throat tightened, and she struggled to keep her voice steady. "Will you help me?" she asked, her words trembling with urgency. "I can't do this alone. I need someone I can trust."

Lydia's hands reached across the table, and she clasped Cinderella's hand firmly. "Whatever you need, dear," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "I'm with you."

From that night on, the plan began to take shape. Lydia became her silent partner, subtly helping Cinderella gain access to locked rooms and hidden files. Cinderella knew that every step had to be taken carefully. She couldn't afford to slip up now. Lydia had helped her sneak into Rebecca's study on several occasions when the woman was out. It was there that Cinderella discovered the first crack in Rebecca's armor.

Using a forgotten password written on a notepad tucked inside Rebecca's vanity, Cinderella was able to hack into her stepmother's email. What she found made her blood run cold. Bank transfers to Vernon Chase, the mechanic who had tampered with her mother's car, emails with threats to silence certain individuals, and worst of all, drafts of legal documents suggesting an attempt to cut Cinderella out of the estate entirely—all of it was there.

Piece by piece, the puzzle came together, and Cinderella felt her resolve harden. Each new piece of evidence was another step toward exposing Rebecca's lies. She knew it wasn't enough to simply have the information, though. She needed to be strategic. The evidence had to be presented at the right time, in the right way, so that Rebecca couldn't wriggle her way out of it.

Then, Cinderella made her boldest move yet—she sent an anonymous tip to a private investigator known for taking on corrupt cases involving wealthy families. She included everything: Vernon's recording, the incriminating emails, and a detailed summary of everything she had discovered. She wasn't sure how long it would take for him to get back to her, but she knew that she couldn't keep waiting forever.

Two days later, her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. It was simple but direct.

"Got your file. I believe you. Let's talk."

Cinderella's heart raced. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for. She was no longer just a victim. She was finally taking control of her own fate.

But with each step forward, Cinderella knew that danger was closing in. Rebecca wouldn't go down without a fight. She had spent years manipulating everyone around her, and now that her dark secrets were starting to unravel, Cinderella knew the woman would do anything to protect herself. Once Rebecca realized that Cinderella was the enemy… all hell could break loose.

And that thought alone sent a chill down Cinderella's spine. But she wasn't afraid. She couldn't afford to be.

Her plan was unfolding, and with each passing day, she was one step closer to bringing Rebecca down.