My heart pounded as Sarah and I sprinted away from the opulent chaos left in our wake. The shocked gasps and panicked murmurs of our guests faded into a distant hum as we burst through the service exit, the grand conservatory’s doors swinging shut behind us.
The world outside was starkly different from the fairytale inside. The cool night air slapped against my face, a harsh reminder of the reality unraveling before me. My thoughts raced, colliding into each other as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. David’s sinister transformation felt surreal, like a scene torn from a psychological thriller.
“Sarah, what is going on?” I panted, struggling to keep pace with her hurried strides. My satin heels, perfect for gliding down a pristine aisle, were now a hindrance on the uneven ground of the back alley.
She glanced back, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and urgency. “I overheard him, Maya. It was an accident. I wasn’t supposed to be there—but I heard everything.” Her voice trembled, yet there was a fierce determination that had always defined my sister, cutting through her fear.
“What did you hear?” I demanded, my voice breaking with emotion. “Why did he want me to eat the cake?”
