Russian doll

With a smile on her lips and her eyes full of hope, the young woman gets up from her bed. The day before, she was told that her husband was coming, this man with whom she is supposed to share her bed, but who does not give her a look, came to see her. All smiles, she gets ready. After all, they were celebrating their third wedding anniversary today.

Once ready and before going downstairs to prepare food for the other members of the family, she opens a drawer. Like every year, she prepared a small gift for him. She has never seen her husband wear what she gives him, but she likes to think that he keeps them carefully to avoid damaging them. This time it was a watch, a very nice watch that James, her husband has wanted for a long time. "Graft Diamonds Hallucination", also known as the pretty name of the $55M watch.

There he is, the front door has just opened and Cassie's heart is already racing. She looks at herself one last time in the mirror before putting that wonderful smile back on her lips and almost running down the stairs.

"Are you coming down now? We will end up starving here because of you, quickly go to the kitchen I want my lunch."

"Hello mother, was the night good?"

"Yes hello, now hurry up, my son hasn't eaten anything yet. A real good-for-nothing."

This kind of conversation quickly became Cassie's daily routine. Since living with her in-laws, she experiences wonderful treatment from her stepmother. In this family, no one really respects her. Today is a beautiful day, James is there so everyone maintains a semblance of presence. When he is not there, it is not only the insults that cajole her, the blows are also part of the game. To believe that her skin is much prettier with this bluish color. In other contexts, she would have left the premises a long time ago. Being treated this way without replying and above all keeping that silly smile has never been her character. It's him, it's for him that she's suffered all this time, because she loves him.

With a little difficulty, she maneuvers the pans. Her wrist has been hurting her badly since the altercation she had with her sister-in-law three days ago.

- Flashback (3 days before) -

Lost in her favorite series, Cassie didn't hear Virginie call her. She's sitting in her favorite little corner when she feels a sudden, annoying pain in her hair. Someone was pulling her hair. After a cry filled with pain and surprise, she turns to see the culprit. With a smile on their lips, Virginie and her two "friends" looked at her with disdain.

"Since when do you not answer when people call you the slut? Forgot your name? There is only one slut in this house if I remember correctly."

"Sorry Virginie, I was wearing my headphones."

Seeing that the new arrival did not intend to answer her, she bends down to pick up her poor phone on the floor. CRACK, that sound was definitely coming from her wrist. This bitch. Virginie had just crushed Cassie's hand with her foot.

Her teeth clenched until she bled, Cassie held back the scream in her throat. It was out of the question that she would satisfy this madwoman. She waited with her eyes closed for her sister-in-law to decide to leave her alone.

"Imagine her complaining to your brother."

"She won't do any of that, she knows her place... and besides, it's not as if he's really going to listen to her." Said Virginie before bursting out laughing again.

- End of flashback -

The meal cooked, she hastens to bring it all to the table. She had to make sure everyone was well served before she could sit down with them. It is her role.

The last bowl in hand, very happy, she approaches James. This will be the first time he tastes her cuisine. She was eager to get his opinion. Arriving a few steps from her husband, Cassie stumbles and the bowl and its contents spill on James.

"Damn it, you can't even walk?! Look what you did, that was your intention, right? Burn my son. A witch, that's what you are a witch."

"I..."

She didn't know what to say to defend herself. She had felt it seconds before she stumbled that there was something in her way, but now that she was looking for it, there was nothing. It only took her a second to look up and understand. It was her work, that accursed Virginie never ceased to persecute her.

"I'm so sorry James, let me go upstairs with you, you have clothes in the bedroom."

Without answering her, James climbs up and walks like an automaton in the room they should have shared. These two rarely talk to each other. There couldn't be a colder conversation. In silence, she helps him put on a new costume.

"I'm so sorry for what just happened..."

Remembering something important, she stopped speaking before taking a gift out of her pocket.

"That's not how I meant to give it to you, but happy third wedding anniversary James." She said smiling at him.

With his disinterested look, he reaches out his hand to take the small box. He doesn't even bother to open it.

"Cassie, I want you to move into the family's summer house. Jeanne leaves the hospital tomorrow. She's going to live here and since she doesn't want to see you, try to leave as soon as possible."