Chapter 86

Another family.

Laila’s POV

My name is Laila Martins, daughter of the late Emperor Martins—one of the wealthiest and most influential men in London. You’d think my life was a dream come true, filled with luxury, privilege, and endless opportunities. But that’s far from the truth.

Since my father’s untimely death, my existence has been nothing short of a nightmare. I’m nothing but a maidservant in the very house I was born into. My father, after my mother’s tragic death during my childbirth, married another woman. At first, my stepmother was kind and loving—a true angel sent to heal our broken family. But the moment she gave birth to my stepsister Mara, her mask slipped. She became a tyrant, and Mara, my supposed sister, transformed into a demon in human form.

I still remember the first time they turned against me. Mara had broken one of my father’s priceless vases, and when I tried to explain what had happened, my stepmother slapped me so hard my ears