“Is there anything else you need, Miss?” I asked, my voice tight with restrained emotion.

“What’s wrong, Marina? Can’t handle the truth?” Cristyne said, getting closer. “Well get used to it. This is the truth. The cold, awful, reality that you aren’t worth anything anymore, and you never really were—even your dead father knew it.” I held back a sob, biting my lip so hard I could taste blood in my mouth.

“You thought you were so pretty didn’t you? So perfect, so rich, so high and mighty. Now look at you,” Cristyne hissed in my ear. “Now, you’re just a worthless piece of trash that I let clean out my fireplace.”

I could feel my spirit breaking. I knew she was wrong, I didn’t want to believe her, but she was everywhere around me. Her voice wrapped around my brain and pulled it tight so that I felt like I was suffocating under her words. I wanted to beg her to stop, but I couldn’t bring myself to sink that low.

“This is who you really are, my dear; my little…Cinderetta.” She laughed maniacally in my ear.