Chapter 2

Fiona seemed convinced of something. She shouted loudly as she kicked at me, who was struggling to break free.

“I saw him transferring you so much money. How low can you be? You must’ve seen all the pricey gifts my boyfriend gives me on social media and thought you could just slide in and flirt with him on the side!”

I did not pay much attention to social media, so I had not changed my dad's contact info or seen Fiona’s posts, leading to today's big misunderstanding.

However, I knew deep down that if I found out my dad was dating Fiona after three months, there would not be a future for them from the start.

My dad used to avoid remarrying out of fear that a stepmother might mistreat me. Now, he could choose not to be with Fiona because of my words.

Besides, Fiona had never hidden the fact that she juggled multiple college relationships. She even bragged about how popular she was every day in the dorm.

She had no shame in pretending to be so devoted to my dad. I glared at her in anger, which only fueled her rage.

I was so furious that I did not bother clarifying my identity and just stared at her with contempt.

“Really? You? I remember your boyfriend was featured in finance magazines and even had a daughter around your age! You’re dating a man twenty years older than you for money, and you think you’re so high and mighty?”

Fiona, her eyes blazing with rage, lost her usual feigned gentleness and yanked my hair, forcing my face into the ground and rubbing it against the floor.

“Shut up! Damon and I truly love each other. Age doesn’t matter! Besides, you’re just as bad. Flirting with him and knowing him so well, you are shameless!”

Claire and Sara turned more hostile towards me after hearing Fiona's words. They even spat on my face.

“You have no shame. How dare you flirt with someone else’s boyfriend. If you keep acting like a side chick, your future kids will have no father!"

“Usually, you try to avoid us like we’re a bad influence, but it turns out you’ve been sneaking around being a side chick. No wonder you’re so ashamed. Seriously, how low can you be? Messing with someone else's happiness is bound to come back and bite you!”

“It makes sense now why Fiona said you wear earplugs when she talks about her boyfriend. You can’t stand that he loves someone else, or should I say, that you’re having an affair with Fiona’s boyfriend!”

One by one, they accused me of being a side chick, making their claims sound more convincing, which only delighted Fiona.

Fiona grabbed my face, looking at me from side to side before suddenly taking a craft knife and slashing it across my cheek.

I screamed in pain, and as she yanked my hair, I tilted my head back, unable to make a sound.

“If you want to be a side chick, I’ll make sure everyone remembers you as one.”

Then, she carved the words “side chick” into my skin with the bloodied knife while covering my mouth with tape, preventing me from screaming.

“Lucky you, I’ve never written this seriously for my finals, haha!”

“Wow, what beautiful handwriting! It’s obvious you’re labeled as a ‘side chick.’ Just look at how pathetic you are! I can't wait to see how you'll try to seduce Damon looking like this now!"

Seeing my pale face in the mirror, now streaked with red, the words "side chick" made me feel utterly repulsive.

As I stared at my helpless reflection, the rage inside me felt like it was about to explode, aimed straight at Fiona!