Chapter 4 - The Shattered Mirror
By evening, a heavy thunderstorm rolled over the coast, rattling the high glass windows of the estate. Claire sat at her vanity table in the master suite, staring at her reflection in the gilded mirror. The faint bruise on her cheek was visible under the soft vanity lights, a physical reminder that her control over the Carrington household was slipping. She picked up a heavy silver hairbrush and brought it down hard against the glass, spiderwebbing the mirror into a dozen distorted reflections of herself.
A soft knock at the door broke the silence following the crash. It wasn't Ethan; his heavy, measured tread was absent from the hallway. When the door drifted open, it was Lily who stood on the threshold, dressed in a simple white nightgown, holding a small silver tray with a cup of chamomile tea. The child’s face was a mask of pure innocence, her round blue eyes wide and soft as she stepped into the room.
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Lily placed the tray on the side table, speaking in a small, hesitant voice that sounded entirely broken. She told Claire that she was sorry for making her father angry, and that she didn't want them to fight because of her. Claire watched the girl suspiciously, searching her angelic features for any sign of malice, but found nothing other than the submissive posture of a frightened six-year-old trying to keep the peace.
As Claire reached for the tea, her fingers brushed against Lily’s small hand, noticing how cold the child's skin felt despite the warm room. Lily offered a meek smile, stepped backward out of the room, and closed the door softly behind her. Only when the latch clicked did Claire notice that her personal leather-bound planner, which had been sitting beside the vanity mirror just moments before, was no longer there.
