The Monster at My Feet novel Chapter 30

But Lydia didn't forget to placate Lawrence either. "Dad, you're used to managing the big picture of the corporation. You probably just miss the little toxic details that Mom picks up on."

Lawrence chuckled, his ego sufficiently stroked.

The picture-perfect family dynamic was restored.

As they pulled up to the hospital entrance, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Just as Lawrence opened his mouth to shout at the man, a sleek black Rolls-Royce coasted past them.

It was Caspian Graves's car.

Lawrence instantly swallowed his anger. You absolutely yielded the right of way to a Graves.

The family made their way up to the VIP wing. Helena and Lydia walked arm-in-arm, pushing open the door to Lucas's suite with bright smiles.

The smile instantly died on Helena's face.

Lucas wasn't alone. Sylvie was sitting right next to him on the edge of the bed.

The girl had her head tilted, her shoulder pressed against Lucas's as they laughed at a video on his phone.

The second the door swung open, Sylvie was just pulling the fork out of Lucas's mouth after feeding him a piece of fruit.

"What the hell are you doing here?! Get away from him!" Helena screeched as if she'd just found a rat in her kitchen.

The sheer venom and disgust in her voice made Lydia glance at her mother in surprise.

Then, Lydia looked back at the stranger sitting on the bed.

Sylvie jumped in terror, practically scrambling off the mattress. Her hands nervously twisted the hem of her shirt.

Her large, tear-filled eyes darted between them as she whispered a greeting.

"Hi, Dad. Hi, Mrs. Lawson. And..."

Lydia stepped forward with a polished, diplomatic smile and extended her hand. "Hi, Sylvie. I'm Lydia. I'm a bit older than you, so just call me Lydia."

"Lydia," the girl beamed. She looked curious and pathetically eager to please as she reached out to shake her hand.

Her palm was soft and warm, the handshake brief before she quickly pulled back.

Lydia studied Sylvie's face.

She had dealt with plenty of girls who played the innocent white lotus card, and she knew a manipulative social climber when she saw one.

But this girl...

She couldn't quite get a read on her yet.

Lucas hopped off the bed and gave Lydia a quick hug before immediately turning his glare on his mother.

"Mom, why are you screaming at her again? She literally just came to visit me. Is that a crime?"

Helena didn't know why, but the sight of them sitting so intimately on that bed made her skin crawl.

Lydia stopped and took the packet. "Thank you."

Right at that exact second, Helena stepped forward, her heel hitting a slick patch of water.

She shrieked as her feet flew out from under her, her body violently pitching backward toward the hard tile.

Sylvie, who had been perfectly positioned for this exact moment, lunged forward with lightning speed and caught Helena in her arms.

But to maintain the illusion of a desperate rescue, Sylvie deliberately slammed her own forearm brutally into the doorframe.

The sickening thud echoed in the hallway. It sounded agonizing.

The girl's face instantly contorted in pain as she sucked in a sharp breath.

Yet, she kept a vice grip on Helena, shouting in a panic, "Mrs. Lawson! Are you okay?!"

Helena was hyperventilating from the near-fall. Pure instinct kicked in, and she immediately tried to violently shove Sylvie away.

But something was wrong.

Sylvie's arms were wrapped around her like the coils of a python. She didn't budge an inch.

The struggle only forced their bodies intimately close together.

Sylvie pressed her lips directly against Helena's ear, her sweet, melodic voice dropping to a terrifying whisper.

"You worthless animal. You belong rotting in the dirt with the maggots, not barking in my face."