The Cuthbert triplets arrived home, their moods starkly contrasting. Lizzie stormed into the house, her face a mask of fury. She threw her bag across the room, the loud thud echoing through the grand hallway.

"How dare she!" Lizzie fumed, her eyes blazing with anger. "That little upstart actually had the nerve to challenge us!"

A staff member cautiously approached, clearly intimidated by Lizzie's outburst. "Miss Cuthbert, shall I take your bag?" they asked nervously.

"Obviously!" Lizzie snapped; her tone sharp. "And next time, be quicker about it."

Liv, standing nearby, watched her sister's tirade with a mix of annoyance and concern. "Lizzie, calm down. It's just Kaye. She's not trying to overthrow us."

"Not trying?" Lizzie scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "She's making a mockery of us! The whole school saw it."

Aaron, unphased by the drama, leaned against the doorframe, watching his sisters with a smirk. "Kaye is nothing compared to us," he said calmly. "Just because they live in the house that used to belong to the first family doesn't mean they're related."

"But she looks exactly like one of them," Lizzie retorted, frustration evident in her voice. "What if—"

"Shh!" Liv interjected, her eyes darting around to ensure no one was listening. "Do you want the staff to hear? They'll report everything to Father."

Lizzie huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't care. We can't let her get away with this."

Liv sighed, trying to keep the peace. "Look, I don't like the way she challenges us either, but shouting about it won't help. Besides, Kaye's different. I think she actually cares about people, unlike most of the posers at school."

Lizzie rolled her eyes, her anger simmering. "You're only defending her because of Wiley."

Liv blushed but stood her ground. "That's not true. I'm just saying we need to be smarter about this. We can't just lash out."

Aaron nodded in agreement. "Liv's right. We need to keep our cool and be strategic. Kaye's not a threat if we handle this properly."

Lizzie glared at her siblings, but the fire in her eyes slowly dimmed. "Fine. But mark my words, she won't get the best of us."

As the tension in the room eased, the triplets turned their attention to their own affairs. Aaron retreated to his study, Liv watched after them, worry still etched on her face. The Cuthbert legacy was not one to be trifled with, and she knew all too well the consequences of letting emotions get the best of them.

The Cuthbert triplets lived on their own for most of their teenage years. Their father was always away on business and used money as a way to show his affection for his children. His expectations of his only son, Aaron, were immensely great. He expected him to take care of his family and handle business and estate affairs in his absence. Aaron had been doing this since he was fourteen years old. His father was extremely hard on him, an abusive man who favored his daughters greatly.

Lizzie, one of the triplets, was very immature and often acted out of emotion without thinking about her actions. She was obsessed with becoming a famous public figure and didn't care about how she spent money. Liv, the other sister, was very calm and level-headed but had a jealous side that could be very vengeful. She was acutely aware of how their father treated Aaron and served as his emotional support. She was the caretaker out of the triplets, trying to do as much as she could to lighten her brother's burdens.

Liv also had a secret. She visited their mother in the mental hospital, where their father had sent her out of spite when she wanted to divorce him. She kept these visits hidden, as the other siblings pretended their mother was dead out of fear of their father

The large, opulent mansion where the triplets lived was often filled with an empty ambience that made them feel lonely and deserted. The grand hallways echoed with silence, amplifying the tension that resembled the strained relationship they shared with their father. The grandeur of their home was a stark contrast to the void they felt within its walls.

Despite the luxurious surroundings, the house felt more like a gilded cage, a constant reminder of their father's controlling presence. The weight of expectations and the lack of genuine affection made every room feel cold and unwelcoming. This emptiness often drove the siblings apart, each retreating into their own world to cope with the pressures placed upon them.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The grand mansion was eerily quiet as the triplets went about their individual activities. Aaron retreated to his study, while Liv took a moment to check on their younger sister, who was still fuming about the day's events.

Lizzie had finally calmed down, occupying herself with a stack of fashion magazines. Liv sighed and decided to head to the hidden room in the east wing—a place she visited often but kept secret from her siblings. There, she found solace away from the chaos.

As Liv walked through the dark, narrow hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The hidden room was her sanctuary, but today it felt different. She paused outside the door, taking a deep breath before entering.

Inside, she found a stack of old letters that had been sealed and marked with the initials of her father and another familiar name—Wiley’s father. Liv's heart raced as she opened one of the letters, her eyes scanning the words quickly.

The contents were chilling. The letters detailed a sinister pact between the two families, a pact that involved the former inhabitants of the house Wiley’s family now resided in. The agreements were filled with threats, coercion, and plans to maintain control over the island's wealth and power. Liv’s stomach churned as she read the final line: "The first family must be eradicated at all costs."

A noise from the hallway made Liv's heart stop. She quickly hid the letters and turned off the light, slipping into the shadows. As she peeked through the crack in the door, she saw Aaron approaching, his face set in a grim expression.

"Liv, are you in there?" Aaron called, his voice low and tense.

Liv stepped out of the shadows, trying to compose herself. "What are you doing here, Aaron?"

Aaron looked around the room, his eyes narrowing. "I could ask you the same thing."

Liv hesitated, then decided to take a risk. "Aaron, have you ever wondered if there's more to Wiley's family than we know?"

Aaron's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Liv took a deep breath. "I found letters from Father. They mention Wiley’s father and some kind of pact. It’s... disturbing."

Aaron's face darkened. "Show me."

Liv retrieved one of the letters and handed it to him. As Aaron read, his expression turned from confusion to anger. "This... this changes everything."

Liv nodded. "It makes me wonder if Wiley's family is truly the first family or what connection his father could possibly have with them."

Aaron's mind raced. "We need to be careful. If Father finds out we know about this..."

Liv's eyes widened with fear. "I know. We have to keep this to ourselves for now. But we need to find out the truth."

The discovery of the letters and the sinister pact had opened up a new level of tension and suspicion. The triplets now had to navigate their father’s demands while uncovering the secrets that linked their family to Wiley’s. The emptiness of their home now felt even more oppressive, the weight of their discoveries pressing down on them as they vowed to uncover the truth.

Aaron glanced around, lowering his voice. "We can't tell anyone about this, Liv. Not even our friends. If this gets out, our entire family could be in danger."

Liv nodded solemnly. "I understand. We'll keep this between us and find out what we can, discreetly."

As they left the hidden room, the shadows of their family's dark past seemed to follow them, a constant reminder of the secrets they now had to unravel. And with every step they took, the stakes grew higher, the threat of danger looming ever closer.

Stasi walked into her house, the familiar scent of freshly baked cookies wafting through the air. Her mother was an extreme girl's mom, always eager to be involved in every aspect of Stasi's life. She loved being invested in her daughter, perhaps trying to make up for the crimes she had committed against so many other mothers.

"Stasi, darling, you're home!" her mother called out, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Come here, I made your favorite cookies."

Stasi forced a smile, feeling the weight of her new knowledge pressing down on her. She didn't know how to act around her ever-so-loving parents. Her mother had always cherished her, looked after her like she was their most prized possession. But now, everything felt different.

She entered the kitchen, where her mother was bustling around, setting a plate of cookies on the table. Her father sat at the head of the table, reading a newspaper, a warm smile spreading across his face as he saw her.

"There's our little princess," her father said, his eyes twinkling with affection. "How was school today?"

Stasi hesitated, her mind racing. "It was fine," she replied, trying to sound normal. "Just the usual stuff."

Her mother beamed, pulling out a chair for her. "Come, sit down and have some cookies. You look tired, sweetheart."

Stasi sat down, the weight of her parents' love and attention feeling suffocating. She wanted to scream, to demand answers about the chilling crimes she had discovered. But she knew she couldn't. Not yet.

As she took a bite of a cookie, the sweet taste turned bitter in her mouth. Her parents had always been kind and loving, but now she saw them in a different light. The revelations about their dark past had changed everything.

Her mother reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You know, Stasi, we just want what's best for you. Everything we do is for you."

Stasi looked into her mother's eyes, searching for any hint of the woman who had committed those crimes. But all she saw was the doting, affectionate parent she had always known.

"Thanks, Mom," Stasi said quietly, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Her father nodded in agreement. "That's right. We love you more than anything in this world."

Stasi’s heart ached with confusion and anger. How could they be so loving and yet have such a dark past? She needed to find out the truth, but for now, she had to play along.

As the evening wore on, Stasi excused herself and retreated to her room. The walls felt like they were closing in on her, the weight of her parents' secrets pressing down on her.

She sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with questions. What else were her parents hiding? And how could she ever reconcile the loving family she had known with the criminals she had discovered?

Locking the door behind her, Stasi finally let the facade drop. She crumbled onto the bed, tears streaming down her face. The sobs came in waves, her body shaking with the force of her grief. Her once perfect picture of her family was shattered, and she felt utterly alone in her pain.

Stasi cried in silence, the walls of her room witnessing the breaking of her heart. She clutched a pillow to her chest, seeking comfort in its softness, but nothing could soothe the turmoil within her. The darkness of the room mirrored the darkness of her thoughts, the secrets of her family threatening to consume her.

As the tears subsided, she lay in the dim light, feeling exhausted and empty. But amidst the sorrow, a spark of determination ignited within her. She had to find the truth, no matter the cost. For herself, for her family, and for the future that lay ahead.

With a deep breath, Stasi resolved to keep searching for answers, even if it meant facing the darkness alone. The journey ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but she couldn't turn back now. The stakes were too high, and the truth too important.