**Chapter 3: Family Tension**

As Lexi walked through the front door of her childhood home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Her father, John, and his new wife, Victoria, were sitting in the living room, watching TV and laughing together. Lexi's brother, Ethan, was sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed on his phone. The scene looked like a typical family evening, but Lexi knew that appearances could be deceiving. Victoria looked up and caught Lexi's eye, flashing a bright smile. "Hey, sweetie! How was your day?" she asked, her voice dripping with sweetness. Lexi forced a smile, trying not to let her true feelings show. "It was fine, thanks," she replied, dropping her bag on the floor. John stood up and walked over to Lexi, giving her a hug. "Hey, kiddo! How's work going?" Lexi shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable. "It's going," she said, not wanting to get into a detailed conversation about her day. Victoria jumped up from the couch and walked over to Lexi, putting her arm around her. "I'm sure Lexi would love to tell us all about her day, John," she said, her eyes sparkling with malice. Lexi felt a surge of annoyance at Victoria's attempt to manipulate her, but she tried to keep her cool. "Actually, I think I'm going to go to my room and relax," she said, trying to extricate herself from Victoria's grasp. Victoria's face fell, but she quickly recovered. "Okay, dear. I'll bring you some tea or something if you'd like," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity. Lexi shook her head, feeling a little sick to her stomach. "No, thanks. I'm fine," she said, turning and walking away. As she reached her room, Lexi closed the door behind her and let out a deep breath. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed since her father had married Victoria. It felt like her stepmother was constantly trying to control her, to manipulate her into doing what she wanted. Lexi walked over to her window and looked out, feeling a sense of frustration and anger. She knew she needed to talk to Ethan about what was going on, to warn him about Victoria's true nature. She walked over to her phone and sent Ethan a text. "Hey, can we talk?" she asked, hoping he would understand the urgency in her tone. Ethan responded almost immediately. "What's up? I'm free now. Want to grab a snack or something?" Lexi agreed, and they made plans to meet at a nearby café. As she walked to the café, Lexi felt a sense of determination growing inside her. She was going to warn Ethan about Victoria, and she was going to make sure he understood the danger that her stepmother posed. When she arrived at the café, Ethan was already there, sipping on a coffee. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked, looking concerned. Lexi took a deep breath and launched into a detailed explanation of Victoria's behavior, of the way she was manipulating their father and trying to control their lives. Ethan listened intently, his eyes growing wider as Lexi spoke. "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling you, Ethan, Victoria is not what she seems," Lexi said, her voice urgent. "She's using our father for her own gain, and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants." Ethan nodded, his face thoughtful. "I had no idea," he said. "But what can we do about it?" Lexi smiled, a plan beginning to form in her mind. "I have an idea," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But it's going to take some careful planning and execution." Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Tell me more," he said, leaning in close. As they sat there, huddled in the café, Lexi began to outline her plan, a plan that would change their lives forever. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to take down Victoria and free their father from her grasp. And she was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen.