Directing Mommy From Inside The Womb Chapter 2

The next morning, the doorbell rang. It was the gown Tiffany had "specially prepared" for my mother.

"Jade, babe! I found the perfect 'warrior' outfit for you!" Tiffany’s voice over the phone was so sweet it was nauseating. "With your pale skin, this 'Fallen Starlet' piece is going to kill. Trust me, you’ll be the envy of the room tonight!"

My mother held up the black dress. It was barely a handful of sheer fabric. The sight of it made her stomach churn, and she gagged.

I hissed immediately, [Don’t you dare throw up!]

[Showing weakness is the cardinal sin of acting. Do what I say. Smile. Take it. Tell her you love it so much you want to sleep in it.]

My mother hated every second of it, but she forced a stiff smile and took the dress. "Thank you... I love it. It’s a very... airy design."

Tiffany sounded delighted and hung up. The second the screen went black, my mother bolted for the bathroom and retched. She leaned against the wall, staring at her bedraggled self in the mirror, her eyes filling with humiliation and hatred.

She was remembering the last life—the cold, the pain, the betrayal. She grabbed the "Fallen Starlet" dress, ready to tear it to shreds.

[Hey, hey! Stop! Don't throw it away.]

My mother froze. "But... this is the evidence of how they killed us."

I raised a mental eyebrow. [A good tool should be used where it hurts most. Sometimes, poison is the only way to break a stalemate. Go get your eyebrow scissors.]

My mother walked to the vanity, confused.

[See the side seams on that dress? Use the scissors. Snip the threads every few inches. Make it so that a stiff breeze—or a gentle tug—will make the whole thing fall apart. Remember, a prop only has value when it fulfills its destiny.]

My mother’s eyes lit up. She delicately picked at the seams, weakening the structural integrity of the gown.

[Perfect. Now it’s a dress with a mission. Next prop: that diamond necklace Tyler gave you.]

[The idiot tried to save money by taking the diamonds off your old jewelry and putting them on a new chain, but he forgot one thing: the clasp on that pendant is actually a high-end micro-recorder you bought years ago for your acting classes.]

Understanding my plan, my mother dug through the bottom of her jewelry box.

...

By evening, my "dear" father, Tyler West, was home. The moment he walked in, he saw my mother in that black "warrior" dress. I didn't miss the flicker of disgust in his eyes, but I kept my mouth shut.

His hand slid over her waist, his fingers lingering meaningfully over the weakened seams.

"Honey, you look stunning," he murmured. "Don't drink at the party. Take care of yourself."

Following my instructions, my mother lowered her head, a perfect flush of "shyness" on her cheeks. "I’ll be there. I won’t let you or Tiffany down."

Tyler smiled—the smile of a hunter watching his prey step into a snare.

Right then, her phone shrieked. Caller ID: Mother-in-Law.

Her "good" mother-in-law was always on time.

[Mom, put it on speaker.]

Beatrice’s scream erupted instantly. "Jade Montgomery! If you dare step foot in that trashy club tonight, don’t you ever think about stepping foot back in this house!"

My mother’s eyes turned red instantly. Tears rolled down her face—she had truly mastered Rule Number Two. "Mom, Tyler and Tiffany really want me to go... I’m too scared to say no..."

Before she could finish, the doorbell rang. Tiffany was here to pick her up, swaying in a long white silk gown, looking like a literal angel. She walked right into the middle of the mother-in-law showdown.

"It’s just a party, what’s the big deal?" Tiffany’s eyes flashed with disdain as she snatched the phone and hung up on Beatrice. "Why do you listen to that old bat? You’ve got Tyler and me. Who could possibly hurt you?"

My mother smiled but said nothing. Just before walking out the door, she clipped the diamond necklace around her neck.

The click of the clasp sounded like a gavel hitting a bench.

[Mom, remember. Tonight, you are the director—and the only lead actress.]