Chapter 2

A boring morning filled with a surprising email.

 

From Father.

 

Sweet Khloe, we haven't contacted each other in years. But Father knows that you still love Father.

 

Gosh, what selfish contents of that letter. The older man always wanted to win alone. I then continued reading emails from him, a little annoyed and curious.

 

Father is sick right now and Father's time is not long. Please, you come home. I'm sorry.

 

Am I sorry? Okay. Finally, the older man softened after what I said and what he did that night.

 

"Mom, where are we going?" My handsome son suddenly hugged me from behind. His sharp little nose rubbed against the nape of my neck.

 

"Go home."

 

"Where? This is our home." My intelligent, handsome boy. He's critical. I turned around and looked at his face gently. His eyebrows are very similar to...

 

The asshole who raped me that night!

 

"Your grandpa sent Mom home. He's sick." I told my son carefully and waited for his response. Will he hate his mother for not telling him about his family origins?

 

"I have a grandfather?" Those beautiful eyes widened. I nodded.

 

"I'm so happy. I want to meet grandpa!"

 

I'm finally at the point of closing my eyes. My son is thrilled with the fact that he has a grandfather. But he doesn't know that he also has an evil step-grandmother with a step-aunt who stole her mother's fiancé.

 

Ah, a small child shouldn't know the complicated world of adults. Just tell him that he has a grandfather and he is happy. I'll take care of everything later.

 

***

 

"Khloe?"

 

Father welcomed me with an expression of surprise that I considered excessive. Father spread his arms and asked me to come into his arms. I don't think we ever had a dramatic scene. Even when I was little, I never felt Father's warm embrace.

 

 

My son pulled on Father's shirt. Father looked at me questioningly. I just nodded. "He's Adam."

 

"Oh, my grandson. My handsome grandson!"

 

Father lifted Adam and hugged him tightly. I feel perfect. My son has a big family like his friends have. He often told how Jason and his grandfather went fishing together. He also often talks about the tea parties his girlfriend Emily's grandmother threw. Adam only has me and I think that's enough. It turns out that children are always deprived. Even if he doesn't say it, I know he wants it.

 

"Seeing that Dad is this strong, is Dad really sick?"

 

Father smiled. Unlucky. I've been fooled so far.

 

"You better rest in your room. Every day your room is cleaned. Dad is sure you will come home. This is your house too, honey."

 

Father changed. Not as rude as before. Or is this just bait to keep me in his house? In this house.

 

"Who's coming, baby?"

 

Footsteps were heard. A gentle voice that I hate to death. That bitch!

 

"Khloe."

 

A woman with red hair in a matching dress stood before me. She scanned my appearance up and down. Okay. She is like a king's wife with all the luxurious facilities she got from Father. At the same time, I am a young woman who looks pitiful because she has to survive alone while raising a son.

 

The witch greeted my son gently. "Hi, cutie... I can't believe I'm a grandma now. So, where's your daddy?"

 

Immediately I kept Adam away from the witch's reach because we were tired and had to rest soon.

 

***

 

Dinner became something I hated when I lived in this house a few years ago. But I'm excited now. I dressed Adam neatly. This is not our small house where we can eat and look as we like. Father has his own rules. A dinner is an event where the family gathers.

 

I forgot one thing.

 

Samantha isn't married and she still lives here!

 

"Long time no see Khloe. You just got thinner."

 

"Thank you for your compliment. I don't like to accumulate fat." I replied coldly after landing my butt on the chair.

 

Father cleared his throat. I get the point. The older man certainly didn't want commotion the first night I arrived. But the witch, of course, won't let her child lose to me.

 

"Did you get married without telling us?"

 

“Mellisa!”

 

"Shut up, honey. After all, Khloe is my daughter too. I deserve to know what happened to her over the years."

 

 

Tch, the woman starts again. Samantha stared at me intensely. She seems curious. I'm also curious how her relationship with my boyfriend. Is she satisfied, or have they broken up?

 

"I'm not married," I tell everyone.

 

"Do you know who your father is, sweetie?" Samantha asked my son.

 

"Are you my aunt? Why don't you look like my grandfather?"

 

Good grief. My smart son. It's not in vain that I gave birth to him. He was even very talented in defending his mother.

 

"I-I-"

 

Samantha felt bad. She looked at Father, who just shrugged his shoulders and started to enjoy the food in front of us. Mellisa seems more interested in the red crabs presented than in my life.

 

"Why are you silent, Aunt?"

 

Adam kept badgering my poor stepbrother. Samantha looked down and was heartbroken to eat her food.

 

"Are you from the orphanage?"

 

Oh god, I feel like laughing.

 

"Shut up, you devil child!" Samantha threw her spoon roughly. She pointed at Adam's frightened face.

 

"Samantha! What did you do to my grandson? He's still a child and she doesn't understand."

 

My lips lifted slightly. Father defended me. Samantha sat down and ate gleefully. I squeezed Adam's hand and whispered so he need not be afraid. I also reassured him that he didn't feel guilty.

 

"Khloe," Father called me.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Dad's purpose for calling you is because I wants you to continue Dad's business."

 

"What do you mean? Don't you have Samantha and Jack going on with your business, honey?"

 

Mellisa looked nervous. Oh, come on. I still don't understand why daddy didn't divorce this snake woman even though he knew Mellisa's intentions and goals to marry him. I feel sorry for Father. So lonely is he? Or so stupid that he would want to be in the arms of this witch all his life.

 

Finally, I know. After I left, Samantha was engaged to Jack. I'm unsure if they got married since Samantha still lived here, or if they married Samantha, then Jack would have lived here too.

 

Father gave his wife the 'Khloe is my biological daughter and she deserves it all.’ I pretended not to see or hear anything. I saw Mellisa's and Samantha's eyes staring at me hatefully out of the corner of my eye.

 

 

I was determined to stay in this house and turn things around. They will feel what it's like to live in hell. I will create misery for them. Get ready!