When I was eight, my father changed drastically, often arguing with my mother. The current hostess of the Stanley family wasn't my biological mother. She was my father's mistress.
After my father brought her back, my mother became strange, treating me coldly.
She often cursed me and tried to abandon me in the mountains several times.
Marlene, on the other hand, was extremely kind to me, giving me whatever I wanted.
On one rainy night, I saw my mother hanging in the corridor, dressed in red. It was horrifying.
Matthew claimed she had an affair with the stableman and hanged herself out of shame.
I was scared stiff, and it was Marlene who comforted me all night, promising never to abandon me.
Later, Matthew married her, making her the new lady of the residence, and she treated me very well.
When I was twelve, I played by the water with her daughter, Debora Stanley. She slipped and fell in. I tried to save her but ended up nearly drowning.
When I woke up, I was accused of killing my mother and sister. Debora's body had a faint butterfly birthmark on her collarbone.
Marlene cried, accusing me of pushing Debora into the river.