a millionaire abruptly returned home after his business trip was unexpectedly called off

the situation he found in his daughter’s room instantly compelled him to rush the girl to the hospital

at the medical center the little girl cried out Mommy put something in my tummy and when the ultrasound images appeared

everyone panicked and dialed the emergency services number I don’t care what the fellow in London says

Barry if he hasn’t signed by five PM today call off the whole deal

Samuel Anderson clamped the phone between his shoulder and ear his hands busily grappling with the knot of his silk

Hermes tie the Manhattan penthouse was flooded with morning light

but the atmosphere around Samuel was thick with the high stakes pressure of million dollar figures

he strode across the living room eyes glued to the Patek Philippe watch on his left wrist completely oblivious to the small figure

huddled next to the sofa Charlotte timidly stepped forward her tiny fingers clutching the worn hem of her old

teddy bear print pajamas she rubbed her dark rimmed tired eyes her pale face

dotted with a fine sheen of cold perspiration trying desperately to attract the attention of the tall man

before her Daddy Charlotte whispered her voice weak from the dull discomfort in her lower abdomen

I feel strange inside my tummy is Samuel lightly pushed his daughter’s hand away from his waistcoat

a decisive gesture much like dismissing an unfavorable contract clause

he didn’t even glance down his mind already miles away in the glass walled boardroom on the 40th floor

you probably snuck some sweets from the refrigerator again didn’t you he pulled out his wallet

his thumb lightly caressing the powerful black credit card the Centurion card that the entire city coveted

he slipped it into his daughter’s trembling small hand treating it as the perfect shield for his impending absence

this weekend give this to Aunt Christina tell her to take you shopping for anything your heart desires Legos

dolls or even the whole toy store I don’t care daddy has to leave now

the sharp dry sound of the door slamming shut severed the fragile connection between father and daughter

Charlotte stood frozen in place clutching the cold plastic card yet what she truly needed

was a warm hand placed upon her forehead not an unlimited spending limit

the sunshine streaming through the floor to ceiling windows illuminated the pop up studio

that Christina had just set up the young stepmother was busy adjusting the brightness of a massive ring light

she tilted her face left then right meticulously checking her foundation through the phone camera

ensuring that not a single pore would dare show up on her live stream Charlotte trudged closer

her empty stomach beginning to churn with a hollow feeling she looked at Christina who was absorbed in arranging expensive perfume bottles

onto the filming table Aunt Christina Daddy left Christina clicked her tongue

her finger still rapidly scrolling on the screen to select a skin smoothing filter she didn’t turn around simply jutting her chin

towards the piles of shopping bags scattered across the floor I know and please keep out of the camera sight

this is a very important unboxing session today I don’t need the viewers seeing this untidy scene

seeing Charlotte still standing there Christina reached into her handbag for a clear acrylic box and tossed it

missing toward the sheepskin rug the box hit the chair leg and the lid sprang open

hundreds of tiny gleaming metal spheres tumbled out scattering like droplets of mercury

eat it eat all of them just keep absolutely quiet so I can work

Charlotte smiled the first genuine smile of the day her aunt had agreed

daddy had given her a card for gifts and her aunt had given permission for candy maybe they did care about her after all

she placed the first metal sphere in her mouth the cold hard feel of the metal against her tongue

was nothing like the soft sweetness she had anticipated but Charlotte swallowed it anyway

a tiny gulp sounded in her throat the magnet slid down her esophagus

beginning its silent destructive journey on the phone screen the word live glowed bright red

upbeat fashionable background music filled the space Christina flashed her manufactured

radiant smile at the camera hello my darlings welcome back to Christina’s life of luxury

behind her Charlotte picked up the second sphere twenty minutes later Charlotte swallowed the last sphere

she rubbed her stomach believing she had successfully completed a task on the phone screen

Christina waved farewell to her audience one last time her dazzling smile instantly extinguishing

the moment her finger hit the end stream button the room fell silent

save for Charlotte’s even breathing and the clatter as Christina disassembled the ring light clean up these boxes

I don’t want guests thinking the house is a mess when they arrive Christina tossed out the curd order

and quickly left the room leaving Charlotte alone with her hunger temporarily subdued by the metallic sweets

the girl obediently collected the wrapping paper scraps unaware that inside her small body

a devastating countdown had been activated night descended upon the wealthy suburb

bringing a chill that seeped through the window cracks Charlotte lay curled up in bed

the thick down comforter failing to ward off the shivers running down her spine the internal distress didn’t hit like a sudden blow

it crept in slowly like a snake first came a heavy uncomfortable feeling in her lower abdomen

then the intense cramping started the super strong magnets after drifting through her stomach

began to find each other in the winding loops of her small intestine they violently attracted and clamped onto each other

squeezing the delicate intestinal lining between them crushing the soft tissue to form a deadly solid mass

Daddy Charlotte whimpered clutching her abdomen with both hands cold sweat poured off her

soaking her pajamas she wanted to sit up and find water but the slightest movement sent a wave of intense discomfort

tearing through her consciousness in stark contrast to the life threatening situation

upstairs the villa’s ground floor was vibrating with smooth jazz music and the clinking of glasses

Christina in a figure hugging silk dress showcasing her attractive figure gracefully circulated among her friends

from the local American Housewives circle holding a martini glass

oh Christina how do you manage to stay in such great shape while caring for your husband’s child

I hear she’s quite a handful Jessica a friend with perfectly curled blond hair

sipped her drink and asked with feigned curiosity Christina smiled a practiced expression