{"id":22,"date":"2026-11-08T22:03:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T22:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/?p=22"},"modified":"2026-11-08T22:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T22:03:15","slug":"chapter-1-the-perfect-victim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/?p=22","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 1: The Perfect Victim"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/header>\n
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\"\"The slap echoed through the mansion before Darius could even finish explaining himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cYOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON MY WIFE?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Terence\u2019s voice thundered across the living room. Darius stumbled backward, one hand flying to his cheek as his shoulder struck the edge of a marble table.<\/p>\n

But the worst part wasn’t the pain.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

It was the woman standing behind his father.<\/p>\n

Monique.<\/p>\n

His stepmother.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

She was crying into a silk handkerchief, her shoulders trembling dramatically. Yet for one brief second, when Terence turned away, her lips curled into a satisfied smile.<\/p>\n

Darius saw it.<\/p>\n

And in that instant, something inside him changed.<\/p>\n

He stopped trying to defend himself.<\/p>\n

He stopped begging his father to listen.<\/p>\n

Instead, he looked directly at the small security camera mounted near the ceiling.<\/p>\n

Then he made a silent promise.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Monique had just started a game she couldn’t possibly win.<\/p>\n

Three hours earlier, the mansion had been filled with the smell of expensive perfume and fresh flowers.<\/p>\n

Darius sat at the kitchen island, finishing his mathematics homework while his father prepared for an important charity dinner.<\/p>\n

At seventeen, Darius had learned to stay out of adult conversations. Ever since his mother died five years earlier, he had become quieter, more observant, and far less trusting.<\/p>\n

His father, Terence, had remarried Monique two years ago.<\/p>\n

At first, Darius had tried to accept her.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

He remembered bringing her breakfast one morning and receiving a cold stare because he had used the wrong coffee cup.<\/p>\n

He remembered her throwing away a framed photograph of his mother, claiming it made the house look depressing.<\/p>\n

And he remembered the night she told him something he would never forget.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to understand something, Darius,\u201d Monique had whispered outside his bedroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father has a new family now. Don’t make things difficult.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Since then, he had learned to keep his distance.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Unfortunately, Monique had no intention of keeping hers.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarius!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice came from the staircase.<\/p>\n

He looked up.<\/p>\n

Monique descended slowly, wearing a cream-colored dress and carrying a garment bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius closed his notebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cI need you to take this dress upstairs and hang it in the guest bedroom.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced at the garment bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can’t you take it?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique’s eyebrows rose.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m doing homework. You could ask one of the housekeepers.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed without humor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father has spoiled you terribly.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Darius sighed and stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

He took the garment bag from her.<\/p>\n

But as he passed, Monique caught his wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201cCareful. That dress costs more than everything you own.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius looked at her fingers gripping his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen maybe you should carry it yourself.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Her expression hardened.<\/p>\n

For a moment, neither spoke.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Then Monique released him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch your attitude, young man.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius walked upstairs without answering.<\/p>\n

He didn’t notice that Monique watched him until he disappeared around the corner.<\/p>\n

Nor did he notice the way her eyes shifted toward the security camera above the staircase.<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, Darius returned downstairs.<\/p>\n

The dress was hanging safely in the guest bedroom.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

He walked toward the kitchen, but stopped when he heard a strange sound.<\/p>\n

A sharp tearing noise.<\/p>\n

Then Monique’s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius turned.<\/p>\n

She was standing near the dining room, holding the cream-colored dress.<\/p>\n

A long tear ran down its side.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

He frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique stared at him.<\/p>\n

For two seconds, her expression was completely blank.<\/p>\n

Then she gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius looked confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ruined my dress!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cI didn’t touch it.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t lie to me!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

She held the torn fabric up.<\/p>\n

Darius stepped closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hung it in the guest room. That’s all.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique’s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve been angry with me ever since I married your father.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn’t mean I destroyed your clothes.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve always hated seeing me happy!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Darius shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not doing this.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned to leave.<\/p>\n

Then he heard the sound of fabric ripping again.<\/p>\n

He spun around.<\/p>\n

Monique had grabbed the dress with both hands and was pulling at the already damaged seam.<\/p>\n

Another section tore open.<\/p>\n

Darius stared at her.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique immediately dropped the fabric.<\/p>\n

Her face transformed.<\/p>\n

She slapped her own cheek.<\/p>\n

Hard.<\/p>\n

Then she stumbled backward, clutching her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop! Please!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cDon’t hit me again!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth fell open.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you crazy?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique began crying loudly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody help me!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius looked toward the kitchen.<\/p>\n

A housekeeper appeared in the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Monique?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCall Terence!\u201d\u201d Monique screamed.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cTell him what his son just did!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius felt his stomach tighten.<\/p>\n

He understood immediately.<\/p>\n

This wasn’t an argument.<\/p>\n

It was a trap.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t do this,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

Monique looked at him through her tears.<\/p>\n

Then, beneath the hand covering her cheek, she smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have thought about that before touching me.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Darius took a step backward.<\/p>\n

His eyes moved toward the security camera.<\/p>\n

The little red indicator light was glowing.<\/p>\n

Good.<\/p>\n

He hadn’t touched her.<\/p>\n

The camera had seen everything.<\/p>\n

But he didn’t yet know that Monique had already thought of that possibility.<\/p>\n

And she had another lie prepared.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

When Terence entered the room five minutes later, Monique was sitting on the sofa, crying.<\/p>\n

The torn dress lay beside her.<\/p>\n

A red mark was visible on her cheek.<\/p>\n

Terence rushed toward her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMonique! What happened?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at Darius.<\/p>\n

Then lowered her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour son attacked me.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Darius felt the blood drain from his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad, that’s not true.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Terence turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t touch her. She tore the dress herself.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Monique began sobbing harder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you don’t want to believe this, Terence, but I can’t keep living like this.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius stared at his stepmother.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

She looked terrified.<\/p>\n

She looked helpless.<\/p>\n

And she looked nothing like the woman who had smiled at him moments earlier.<\/p>\n

Terence’s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarius, apologize.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

The word escaped before he could stop it.<\/p>\n

Terence took a step toward him.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cApologize to your mother.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe isn’t my mother.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

The room went silent.<\/p>\n

Monique lowered her face, hiding the faintest smile.<\/p>\n

Terence’s expression darkened.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet over here.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius didn’t move.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad, please. Look at the camera. It recorded everything.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Terence glanced toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n

For one second, Darius thought his father might finally investigate.<\/p>\n

But Monique spoke first.<\/p>\n

\u201cTerence, please don’t make him angrier. I’m scared.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

And that was all it took.<\/p>\n

Terence grabbed his son’s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you lost your mind?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius tried to pull away.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad, listen to me!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

But his father’s hand was already rising.<\/p>\n

The slap came so hard that Darius stumbled sideways.<\/p>\n

His shoulder struck the marble table.<\/p>\n

He hit the floor, his homework scattering beneath him.<\/p>\n

For several seconds, he couldn’t hear anything except the ringing in his ears.<\/p>\n

Terence stood over him, breathing heavily.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever raise your hand against my wife again.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Darius slowly lifted his head.<\/p>\n

His cheek burned.<\/p>\n

His shoulder throbbed.<\/p>\n

But his eyes weren’t on his father.<\/p>\n

They were fixed on Monique.<\/p>\n

She was standing behind Terence.<\/p>\n

And she was smiling.<\/p>\n

Not a nervous smile.<\/p>\n

Not a relieved smile.<\/p>\n

A triumphant one.<\/p>\n

Darius stared at her until the expression disappeared.<\/p>\n

Then he looked up at the security camera.<\/p>\n

The red light was still blinking.<\/p>\n

He knew what he had to do.<\/p>\n

And this time, he wouldn’t make the mistake of trusting his father to believe him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The slap echoed through the mansion before Darius could even finish explaining himself. \u201cYOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON MY WIFE?\u201d\u201d Terence\u2019s voice thundered across the […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22\/revisions\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedailytale.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}