Chapter fourteen

Weeks passed, and Chloe infiltrated Lucille's trust, seamlessly following through with her business proposal to become the ambassador of her clothing line. Although her commitment hadn't fully materialized yet, Lucille had already sent out the contract outlining what Chloe needed to fulfill. Part of it was to model the clothes available in her store and the exclusive events she needed to attend.

As she slowly put into action her plans the more that she needed to keep up with her lies, Chloe realized the necessity of fully embodying the character she was portraying. Lucille was her stepmother, and she had lived with them for some time. Chloe knew she had to be careful not to intentionally reveal any gestures or behaviors that would give Lucille a clue about her real identity. She needs to believe that she is Ruby and be immersed in her world fully to survive. And so, Chloe found herself walking on eggshells, carefully planning each step to gain Lucille's trust and friendship.