Chapter 6: Monstruosité

I at first took Liam's words with a grain of salt. After all, many are wary of new friends. He knew little about Francisca, only that she was my sister.

Of course, he also claimed that during the mornings, Francisca was often throwing up in the bathroom.

She herself spoke of feeling ill, and quite nauseous.

Liam's assumptions, though well-intentioned, were absurd. He claimed that she may have had a stomach virus, or perhaps her, ahem, 'monthly curse'.

When I disregarded his suggestions, he then blurted out the unthinkable: that she was likely to be with child!

Though plausible, I also found it ridiculous. It was not in Francisca's nature to simply...do such a thing.

Were she carrying a child within, it was likely she would have shown by that point. The timing of her disappearance would also have not made sense.

No, what truly ailed her was something completely different.

Chapter 2: Beau-père

My sister and I were not the only ones unfortunate enough to suffer under Catarina's rule.

Of course, he was roped into her ways, rather than being born into it, as was Francisca and I.

Renauld was not my true father...but he was kind enough, I thought of him as if he was.

Countless times, he stood witness to Catarina's tirades. However, he was powerless to stop it. Whenever he and I were alone, his words were sympathetic.

I held no ill will against him. It was not his fault his wife was an obsessive, self-centered woman.