Chapter 4

Penny had just finished her chocolate, licking the last bit of sweetness off her fingers. She had eaten so much that she felt she couldn’t possibly have another bite. But as she glanced around, the happiness faded from her face. Her mother was nowhere to be seen—not outside the window, not near the tables, not anywhere.

Her little heart began to race, but she took a deep breath. Mommy wouldn’t leave me, she told herself. Determined to find her, Penny wandered through the ballroom, her blonde hair bouncing with every step, her eyes scanning the crowd.

But in her haste, Penny didn’t notice where she was going, and she bumped straight into someone. The impact caused her to lose her balance, and instinctively, she grabbed hold of the woman’s dress to steady herself—her chocolate-smudged hands leaving sticky prints behind.

A voice cut through the noise, icy and cold as the winter’s night. “How dare you.”

Penny looked up, her wide blue eyes meeting those of a striking woman with pitch-black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glint like shards of ice. Her royal purple gown shimmered under the lights, but now it bore unmistakable chocolate stains where Penny’s hands had been.

“I’m sorry,” Penny squeaked, quickly letting go of the dress.

The woman’s lips curled into a sneer as she inspected the damage. “Do you have any idea how much this dress cost?” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

“I’ll clean it!” Penny said in a panic, reaching out with her chocolate-covered hands to wipe the stains away. But all she managed to do was smear the mess further, leaving streaks of brown against the luxurious fabric.

The woman gasped in outrage and stepped back, shoving Penny away as though she were a filthy animal. “You little brat!” she snapped. “This is why I despise children. Always dirty, always ruining things.”

Penny stumbled, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and fear. “I-I didn’t mean to—”

“Silence!” the woman barked, her piercing blue eyes narrowing. “If I had my way, children like you would be locked away where they couldn’t cause trouble. Perhaps I should find out who your irresponsible parent is and teach them a lesson.” Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “I eat kids like you for breakfast you know.”

Penny froze, her little body trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to get in trouble, and she really didn’t want her mommy to get in trouble either. Without another word, she turned and ran, her small feet carrying her as fast as they could through the sea of glittering gowns and polished shoes.

“Mommy!” Penny cried, her voice cracking as she searched frantically, tears now spilling down her cheeks. “Mommy!”

Her heart pounded as she weaved through the crowd, desperately scanning every face. But her mother was nowhere to be found. Penny’s chest tightened, the fear and shame overwhelming her. She just wanted her mommy—her safe place, her anchor.

Penny’s little feet carried her in a frantic sprint across the ballroom. Her tears blurred her vision, and the glittering crowd around her seemed like a swirling, noisy sea. She didn’t stop until she caught sight of a familiar figure—her mommy, standing near a column, her light red dress shimmering faintly under the chandeliers.

“Mommy!” Penny cried, throwing herself into Aliana’s arms, clutching her skirt tightly as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

Aliana’s hazel eyes widened in alarm as she knelt to pull her daughter close, gently brushing her fingers through Penny’s blonde hair. “Penny, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice thick with worry. “Why are you crying?”

Penny buried her face against her mother’s shoulder, shaking her head quickly. “N-nothing,” she sniffled, her small hands clutching at Aliana’s dress.

Aliana’s heart twisted at the sight of her daughter so distressed. She cupped Penny’s face, tilting it up so she could meet her watery blue eyes. “Penny,” she said gently but firmly, “tell me what happened. Did someone hurt you?”

Penny bit her lip, terrified of telling the truth. She didn’t want to get in trouble—not for dirtying that scary lady’s dress, and definitely not for eating so much chocolate. Instead, she let out a little hiccup and whimpered, “My tummy hurts.”

Aliana blinked, her worry giving way to a mix of relief and exasperation. She sighed, shaking her head as she pulled Penny into a tight hug. “Oh, Penny,” she said, her voice soft but scolding. “I told you not to eat so many sweets, didn’t I? Now look at you.”

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” Penny mumbled, her voice muffled against her mother’s shoulder.

Aliana kissed the top of her head, smoothing her wild blonde hair. “Alright, sweetheart. It’s okay. Let’s find somewhere quiet for you to rest, hmm?” She stood, lifting Penny into her arms with ease, despite the stickiness of her chocolate-smeared fingers.

As Aliana carried her toward the quieter edges of the ballroom, her gaze drifted over the crowd. Something didn’t sit right with her. Penny’s reaction had been too panicked, her tears too intense for just a stomach ache. Did something else happen?

But for now, Aliana chose not to press. Penny was safe in her arms, and that was all that mattered.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of cold, piercing blue eyes followed their movements from the shadows, a sinister smile playing on her lips.

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