Part 3After My Daughter Was Switched by My Cousin, I Laughed

Nora’s hostility toward me was always subtle but unmistakable, woven into the smallest details of her behavior.

And yet, she played her part so convincingly that my husband, Brandon, never seemed to notice.

In fact, Brandon often spoke highly of her in my presence. "A woman’s reputation is her most fragile possession," he’d say. After today’s incident, with blood spilled and tempers flaring, he worried that rumors might spread from my household, tarnishing Nora’s name.

"She’s an unmarried woman, after all," he added. "If people start talking, she might feel compelled to throw herself into the river just to prove her innocence."

By the end of his little speech, Brandon even suggested that I bring her a small gift to smooth things over.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. But I went anyway.

I was curious to see what new tricks Nora had up her sleeve—and what fresh misery she’d devised for Skylar.

Nora’s quarters were always eerily quiet, save for the faint sounds of Skylar’s muffled sobs and the occasional sharp crack of a whip.

But today, the courtyard was silent. Too silent.

When I entered, Nora was alone, sitting in front of her mirror, leisurely fixing her hair. A gleaming silver hairpin—a new addition—sparkled atop her head.

I glanced around, but the timid, battered maid who usually hovered in the shadows was nowhere to be seen.

"Skylar? Where is she?" I asked casually.

Nora didn’t even bother to turn around. "Oh, her?" she said with a smirk, running the comb through her hair. "After what she did yesterday—humiliating both you and Kara in front of everyone—I sold her off to a brothel."

She paused, then plucked the silver hairpin from her hair and held it up for me to admire.

"This? Bought it with the money I got for her."

Her words were laced with malice, her eyes gleaming as she glanced at me, waiting for my reaction.

"And tonight," she added with a cruel laugh, "they’ll be auctioning off her virginity. I wonder what kind of man will claim her..."

Her voice trailed off, her smile venomous. She was watching me closely, no doubt hoping to see some flicker of anger or pain. After all, she knew the truth—Skylar was my daughter.

But I smiled back at her, calm as ever.

"Well," I said lightly, "she’s just a lowly servant. Whoever ends up with her will be doing her a favor."

My indifference clearly threw her off. Nora’s smirk faltered, disappointment flickering across her face.

But then something dawned on her, and her expression shifted to one of panic.

Kara hadn’t come with me.

Her voice wavered as she asked, "Where’s Kara?"

She stood abruptly, her composure cracking. "What have you done with Kara? Where is she?"