The Threads Of Deceit

Chapter Four: Strings of the Past

Vivian, on the other hand, took her seat across from him with a deliberate grace, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass. She looked up for the first time, her sharp gaze settling on Lizzy, who was nervously serving the toast.

Ellie kept an eye on them both, noticing the frosty silence between Lucas and Vivian. It was always like this. The façade of their partnership—perfect on the surface, but deeply fractured underneath. Their relationship was a power game, one where Lucas’s coldness met Vivian’s manipulation, and Ellie couldn’t help but feel like an outsider watching a battle play out in subtle, silent ways.

Vivian finally broke the silence, her voice cutting through the tension. "Who's this little helper?" she asked, her eyes locking onto Lizzy for the first time.

Lizzy froze under her gaze, clutching the serving tray nervously. Ellie quickly stepped in. "This is Lizzy," she said, offering a gentle nod of reassurance to the girl. "She's the youngest of the staff. Very hardworking."

Vivian tilted her head, studying Lizzy with an unsettling gleam in her eyes, as though something about the young girl intrigued her. "How old are you, Lizzy?"

Lizzy hesitated for a moment before answering quietly, "I'm fifteen, ma'am."

"Fifteen," Vivian repeated, her voice almost amused. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the table as if calculating something. "And where's your mother, dear?"

Lizzy’s face brightened slightly. "She works in town. She sent me here to help."

Ellie could feel the weight of Vivian’s gaze lingering on Lizzy a bit too long. There was something predatory in the way Vivian assessed the young girl, as if she were sizing her up for something. The gleam in Vivian’s eyes sent a chill down Ellie’s spine. She had seen that look before, the look Vivian wore when she found someone she could use.

Lucas, who had been silent until now, shifted slightly in his seat. His sharp gaze flickered towards Vivian, clearly noticing the unusual interest she had taken in Lizzy. But, as always, he didn’t say anything. He simply observed, his expression a mask of indifference, though Ellie could tell he wasn’t entirely unaffected by what was happening.

Vivian’s smile returned, but it was cold, calculated. "Well, Lizzy, you must be a good worker. Keep up the hard work. Perhaps I’ll find more tasks for you in the future." Her voice dripped with a subtle condescension that made Ellie’s stomach turn.

Lizzy, unaware of the hidden meaning behind Vivian’s words, nodded eagerly, grateful for the praise. "Thank you, ma’am!"

Ellie quickly intervened, placing a comforting hand on Lizzy’s shoulder. "Go finish your breakfast, Lizzy. You’ve done enough for now." Lizzy obediently left the dining room, her youthful energy a stark contrast to the oppressive tension in the air.

Vivian’s gaze followed the girl for a moment before finally turning her attention back to her plate, her smile fading. The moment of amusement had passed, and she returned to her usual cool demeanour. Lucas remained silent, his jaw clenched as he slowly sipped his coffee, though Ellie could feel the tension radiating from him.

Ellie couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. The distance between Lucas and Vivian had always been palpable, but this morning it seemed more pronounced. She glanced at Lucas, who was now focused on his food, his eyes distant as though lost in thought.

As the breakfast continued, Ellie couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that had settled in her stomach. She busied herself with clearing the dishes, moving mechanically, but her mind was elsewhere.

Vivian’s sudden interest in Lizzy wasn’t something Ellie could ignore, but that wasn’t the only thing that bothered her. She had started noticing a few inconsistencies in Vivian’s words over the past week—small things, fleeting moments that seemed to slip by unnoticed by the others. And yet, they stuck in Ellie’s mind like a splinter, something she couldn’t quite shake off.