ted me with a cheerful smile and a plate of freshly baked muf

this big city," she said, her voice filled with

iliar weakness she and Sarah both knew how to exploit. Maybe I had

of manipulation continued in more subtle ways. She st

' ve made a list of all the organic, premium t

me. I suspected she was buying groceries for her own family with my money,

heckbook at the kitchen table. She hovered

in her eye. "That' s a lot of money for a young girl to

prickle of annoyance. "I' m m

owering her voice as

allowance transferred to my account. I' ll manage everything for you-pay the bills, buy the groceries. I' ll give you a small stipend each

thtaking. She wanted to take control of my entire financial life.

ou proposing?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet. I wanted t

sinterpreting my qu

ng about expensive laptops or fancy clothes. I' ll make sure it' s spent wisely, on p

in her voice fin

with rage. "You are my housekeeper. You are not my mother, you are not my financial ad

mask of the caring servant fell away comple

w and intense. "You are a lamb surrounded by wolves. You n

r, her eyes gleaming

od, strong boy. He would be a perfect husband for a girl like you. Together

so grotesque it made me feel sick. The entire scheme clicked into plac

man was not just manipulative, she was de