Just as I had meticulously planned, Lucy’s curiosity had been thoroughly piqued. The cliffhanger tactic was a resounding success. When I walked into breakfast the next morning, she couldn't stop staring at me. Her expression was no longer guarded or fearful; instead, her eyes were wide, twinkling with the unmistakable desire to listen to the rest of the story. That intense, eager focus was the best news I could have received. I had successfully crossed the treacherous first step, and I felt a deep, quiet surge of happiness and vindication.
Valerie, predictably, was a different story. She caught sight of her daughter’s expectant eyes watching me and immediately started giving me dagger eyes. The sheer frustration radiating from her was almost visible. She looked absolutely pissed, knowing
