The Gilded Cage - Episode 2
15-09-25 (11:38)
**Episode 2: The Porcelain Doll**
Years passed. Amanda grew, a
beautiful child with wide, inquisitive
eyes and a shock of dark hair. She
was dressed in expensive clothes,
lived in a room filled with toys, and
wanted for nothing… materially.
Yet, there was an unspoken chill in
the air, a subtle distance between
her and Eleanor.
Eleanor treated Amanda more like
a precious object than a daughter.
She meticulously curated her
appearance, ensuring she was
always impeccably dressed and
perfectly behaved. Amanda was
enrolled in exclusive schools, taught
etiquette, and encouraged to excel
in the arts. But there were no
spontaneous hugs, no bedtime
stories, no whispered words of
affection.
The warmth Amanda craved came
from Mrs. Gable, the aging
housekeeper who had been with
the Vance family for decades. Mrs.
Gable would sneak Amanda extra
cookies, brush her hair with gentle
hands, and tell her stories of
Eleanor’s late husband, a man who,
according to Mrs. Gable, possessed
a kind and generous heart.
One afternoon, Amanda, now
seven years old, overheard Eleanor
speaking on the phone. "…yes, she's
developing nicely. A credit to the
Vance name… No, of course, she’ll
never be a *true* Vance. But she
serves her purpose…"
Amanda didn’t understand the
words, but she understood the
tone. Cold. Dismissive. It felt like a
shard of ice had pierced her heart. Don't forget to leave a Comment 
