"How did you…,"
"Do you want to know how I managed to get a video of you revealing your ugly secrets when none was around when you made the revelation?" Joanna asked.
There was a sly smile on her pretty face as she approached the centre table where Laura and Adhara sat.
"Why do you think Bacon is always with me wherever I go? Because I like it?" Joanna questioned.
At a snap of her finger, Bacon that was hovering around the sitting room flew onto her right shoulder.
"Of course I love Bacon. It was my only companion for over five months so it's natural that I love it but the reason it follows me around isn't because of my love…," Joanna smirked as she lifted her index finger and stroked Bacon's head.
"It's because of one out of the many qualities it possessed, which is its ability to capture and video everything that goes on around him with its magical eyes…,"
"What!" Laura shouted, jumping up to her feet. "Are you trying to tell me that everything that went on in this house ever since you returned has been recorded by the evil bird?" Laura asked with widened eyes.
"Bingo!" Joanna maintained her evil smile, her eyes not moving away from Adhara's astounded face.
Listening to Joanna's words made Adhara recall some of the things she had done and said ever since Joanna came back.
From all the things she recalled they were more vicious words and actions compared to good ones.
[Does this mean that not only my life but also my doom is in this stupid girl's hands?... How did it come to this?]
Never had Adhara imagined that she would be at the mercy of her stepdaughter whom she regarded as nothing in the past.
In fact, if someone had prophesied that such a day would ever come to pass, without hesitation she would have shut the person up with a tight slap on the face.
Now it was too late to regret. She has lost to her cruel stepdaughter without even getting the opportunity to put up a strong fight.
"Bacon's eyes are far better than cameras. I am sure you will agree with me after seeing the quality of the video even though it was captured at night…,"
"What do you want in order not to reveal this video?" Adhara admitted defeat to Laura's surprise.
Even Joanna was a bit taken aback to see that she easily conceded defeat.
"Hmmm… what do I want you to do for me in exchange for keeping your biggest secret?" Joanna asked. She tapped her lips and walked to and fro twice as though she was in deep thoughts.
Although she had long come up with what to ask of her stepmother, seeing her and Laura on the edge gave her a sense of satisfaction.
Nothing feels better than seeing your enemy suffer and that was how she was feeling.
"About what happened today, you will make sure none mentioned anything to anyone outside this house and that includes the police," Joanna finally decided to put an end to their suffering.
She stood in a way that she was looking directly at Adhara's eyeballs.
"That is my first condition".
Just then a maid walked into the sitting room with a tray containing two glasses of juice.
The maid only needed to see Adhara's murderous glares to run for dear life.
In haste to leave, the glass of juice fell from the tray and smashed on the tiled floor. "I… will get it cleaned….,"
"Will you get your filthy body out of here before I descend on you," Adhara took out her frustration on the innocent lady with brown hair?
With a trembling heart, the maid scrambled for dear life.
"My second condition is that you will stay out of my business from now on," Joanna stated.
"Although we are living in the same house, you will mind your business. In fact, it will be better for everyone if all of you avoid me like a plague because I can't guarantee what I will do if any of you dares to provoke me…," Joanna trailed to make sure that her points had sunk into their head.
"Apart from roasting two of you alive, I have 1001 ways to kill and get rid of your bodies so don't you dare try any nonsense with me. I am everything except kind. Let this stick into your thick skulls because I promise you, I won't be talking next time if this nonsense repeats itself," Joanna issued her last warning to the evil set of people.
Sitting there anyone who doesn't know them and sees them will think that they were angels not knowing that they were the true definition of evil.
"Isn't it just concealing the truth and keeping away from your business?" Adhara asked, standing up. She bent and pushed Laura's legs to the sides and afterwards proceeded to where Joanna stood.
"I will do it as long as you take this secret to your grave. Your father can't know about this, ok?" Adhara said. Her eyes were full of desperation as she waited for Joanna's response.
Although she looked so pitiful at the moment, Joanna didn't feel the least moved by her expression of misery.
"I will think about whether or not to keep your secrets if you meet my two conditions… but don't be deceived that this is my only condition for concealing such a huge secret," Joanna said.
She turned and strolled towards the back door.
"More conditions will be coming in the future so get yourself prepared stepmother," Joanna said before she vanished into space with her bird.
Adhara's legs lose strength the instant Joanna disappears. She staggered backwards and almost fell but Laura came to her rescue.
Laura standing at her mother's back prevented her mother from falling with her body weight.
"Mum, what is wrong? Are you not feeling fine?" Laura asked with a worry-stricken face.
"I am doomed, Laura. I can't believe that my downfall is in that vicious girl's hands… what will I do now?" Adhara lamented.