Jessie hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "This milk tastes strange. Every time I drink it, I sleep so deeply that I don’t wake up—even if I wet the bed."
My expression stiffened. I lifted the glass to my lips and took a small sip. The rich, creamy taste was laced with a subtle bitterness. No wonder Jessie disliked it.
After tucking Jessie into bed and coaxing her to sleep, I picked up my phone, my face darkening. I needed to check the surveillance footage.
I had to find out if Elsa had been mistreating Jessie. There was no other way to explain my daughter’s fear of her.
The security cameras in our house had originally been installed by my parents. They had been too busy with work to care for me themselves, so they used surveillance to check in on me from afar.
Since marrying Al, I hadn’t used the system much. But when Jessie started kindergarten, I quietly turned the cameras back on—without telling Al.
I had my doubts about Elsa from the start. But since she was Al’s relative, telling him that I wanted to monitor her every move would only make him think I didn’t trust his judgment.
Still, with my workload, I never had time to review the footage. Until now.
I pulled up yesterday’s recording—Jessie’s birthday.
As I watched, my blood boiled.
Al hadn’t even been home. Jessie had spent her birthday with Elsa.
But what infuriated me the most was the cake.
Instead of the luxurious Black Swan cake I had specially ordered, Jessie had been given a cheap roadside pastry that cost only a few yuan.
On-screen, Elsa’s face twisted with impatience. "It’s just a birthday. Be grateful you even have a cake! Don’t be picky."
She sneered and added, "Your mother, that wasteful woman, throws money away on you, a useless brat."
"My grandson’s birthday is tomorrow. This fancy cake will be perfect for him."
Elsa’s voice turned sharp and threatening. "Listen to me, little loser. If your mother asks, you’d better say you ate that expensive cake. If you don’t—" her eyes narrowed dangerously, "I’ll beat you."
She grabbed Jessie’s wrist, shaking her slightly. "Now hurry up and eat, then go to bed. And don’t forget to drink your milk. If you wet the bed again tonight, I’ll string you up and thrash you tomorrow. Do you hear me?"
Jessie’s small face was frozen with fear.
My hands trembled as I watched, barely able to contain my rage.
That wicked old woman dared to treat my daughter like this?
I wanted to storm out of my room and tear her apart.
Then, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
Elsa pulled a small packet from her pocket and poured something into the milk. Then, she forced Jessie to drink it, ignoring her frightened protests and struggles.
Moments later, Jessie’s tiny body went limp in deep sleep.
As if that wasn’t enough, Elsa then crept into my bedroom and ransacked my belongings. She stuffed my jewelry, Jessie’s designer clothes, custom-made shoes, and even her expensive toys into a bag.
Finally, she picked up the untouched Black Swan cake and casually strolled out—leaving my daughter asleep on the floor.
Elsa wasn’t just abusing my child—she was a thief.
I would never forgive her.
Furious, I reached for my phone to call the police.
But suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit me. My eyelids grew unbearably heavy.
With my last bit of strength, I glanced at the glass of milk on my nightstand.
I had only taken a sip, and the drug was already overpowering me.
I could only imagine how much my daughter had suffered, drinking this poisoned milk night after night.
Darkness swallowed me before I could do anything more.
