Arriving home April walked through the black iron cast gate and crept to the kitchen window. Just observing Tom the butler through the window she breathed a sigh of relief and walked in the kitchen door. She had come in the back way to avoid her family remarking on her late return or seeing her with a bag.

“Tom everything okay.” April had noticed Tom pacing.

“Miss your stepmother, step-sister and father are all waiting for you to come home, they talked about your stepsister’s artwork.”

April read between the lines and patted Tom’s shoulder reassuring him, he had always looked out for her.

“Not to worry, I’ll start dinner in a few minutes if you can help me by heating the oven please.”

“Okay miss, please be careful.” Tom had seen how the family had taken advantage of her but he couldn’t say or do anything to assist her.

April went to her bedroom which was right beside the kitchen and unlocked her door. She then put her bag down on the bed and looked around the room, there were no good hiding places here she thought. She had to make do with putting her bag under her bed for now and locking her door. Tomorrow she would put all her mother’s belongings in her new apartment when she visited, there they would be safe from her greedy stepmother and stepsister.

By the time she stepped into the living hall, she saw that, other than her father, two other people were sitting around the table. It was her stepmother Rachel and step sister Lucy.

Even though she was very far away from them, she could sense the intense atmosphere in the living room.

April fell silent. She didn’t want to sit with them so she stood waiting to see which snake would strike first.

The moment that Lucy saw April she jumped up from the chair and screeched.

“April, we’re where you today?” Lucy had on a pale pink sweater and a cream skirt. She looked like a young, delicate and pure heiress. How April was fooled in her past life by these pathetic people she couldn’t contemplate.

April raised her eyes and replied calmly.

“Yes, sister?”

Seeing her calm countenance Lucy was losing her composure, April usually handed in all her artwork as her own and she always passed her grades. She only had a few weeks left and she needed some paintings to show off as her final piece. Before she came to this family she was held back a year for her poor grades, but her mother had convinced April to submit her artwork for her.

“You were supposed to help me hand in a painting by today.” Lucy had calmed herself down as she cast her eyes to the floor intending to look humble and gentle in front of her stepfather.

April watched the show and thought ‘Just enjoy your last moment as everybody’s sweetheart, as I will expose your true face in front of everyone!’

“I was, but would it not be better to use your own work for your final exam piece?”. April replied calmly and stole a glance at her father.

Her father still wore his suit he had not taken off his jacket yet. April remembered that her mum would help him take off his jacket and shoes at the door as she welcomed him home. Melancholy filled her heart.

Seeing her look at her father Rachel decided to step in and help her daughter, she held Martins’s arm and cast him a smile.

“Dear, shouldn’t sisters help each other out? it’s just a few paintings and the final exam is so important for her passing this year and getting a good job.”

April was so impressed by her mother’s acting skill that her tongue could not utter a word. Her father didn’t say anything but glanced at April. Seeing this her stepmother felt uneasy she stated again.

“Your sisters last year of very important, so what’s the harm in helping her with a few paintings. Your sister says she saw you outside running about doing who knows what. But I know you aren’t that kind of delinquent. Could you tell me why you failed to help your sister today? I don’t care even if you tell me a lie about your whereabouts. I’m just worried about you and your sister’s relationship deteriorating if you don’t know when to help each other.”

April lowered her head as if she was absorbed in thought.

Seeing her looking so demure and not replying Rachel stamped her feet. After she then put her hand on her forehead, giving people the impression of a frail-looking woman in her death throes.

April couldn’t let her have the stage for too long or her father may concede.

“Sister your final grade is very important, I am of course aware of this. I have already helped you for many years and have not taken a job this year just to help you. But when you eventually go to work I cannot possibly continue to do your work for you. You must rely on your own abilities after all I will get a job soon and be too busy to help you with your own job.”

Nobody spoke for a few seconds. As everyone stared at each other in a plunging silence.

Lucy was one year older than her, but her heart still skipped a beat when she stared at her. She had no idea why, but she felt that this must be what a mouse felt like when a cat was staring at it. In this situation, April was the cat and she was the tragic mouse.

Swallowing a big gulp of saliva, she shooed the thought away, forced herself to stay relaxed, and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lucy thought what the hell is wrong with her? She just went out for a few hours, yet she’s already picked up bad habits outside?’