Secret Plans

"Where the hell do you think you're going, you silly fool?" The rash feminine voice repeated, pulling at my hair from behind.

My scalp burned with pain. It felt like my hair would pull off the scalp. Rosalie didn't care. She tossed me back into the living room

"You think you were smart, huh?" she snarled at me. "Now go do the dishes. You have just a few minutes!"

My head was lowered to the ground, so I didn't get to meet her angry gaze. I could feel her piercing eyes on me, so I had better not raised my face.

A loud unexpected slap echoed against my left cheek. "Don't you ever waste my precious time!" she snapped.

My cheek writhed in severe pain but I dared not say a word. What was I going to say and who would listen to me?

I hurriedly rushed out of the living room and traced my steps to the kitchen, evading her palm, which would have brushed heavily against my cheek. More tears rolled down, but I wiped them off and tried not to look pathetic, so it doesn't earn me more insults.

I got into the kitchen and began preparing what was on the menu, the fastest I could. In less than an hour's time, I was done with it. I dish out the food from the pot and lay it on the already set table. Rosalie and Lisa were already seated, chatting about something they didn't want me to know about. As I got in, they went totally silent.

"Why did you have to take so long to prepare dinner? I thought you were only dumb, I never knew you were sluggish as well," Lisa scoffed, giggling at her mum.

"Nature was so generous to give you good looks. At least, that is the only thing you could be proud of and yet since you are a good-for-nothing, it is not surprising that you are a failed model," Rosalie jeered, alluding to my failed modelling career.

Lily chortled loudly, amused by what her mum just said.

As much as I tried to react to their insults, I couldn't get myself to do that. If Dad happens to hear that I ever talked back at any of them, I'd be skinned alive. He detested me so much since after my mum's death and had even brought in his pregnant mistress a few days later, who now is my worst enemy. I never belonged, no matter how hard I tried.

"Go call your Dad for dinner, dumb ass!" Rosalie's voice rang again.

I stomped out of their presence immediately and headed upstairs to dad's study. That was where he spent most of his time.

"Dinner is ready!" I announced, as soon as I got there.

Dad appeared not to be interested in what I was saying. He buried his face into the magazine he held in his hands.

"Leave, I'd join in soon!" he muffled, without sparing me a glance.

I felt like a plague, being avoided by everyone I met. Why did my mum leave me to this wicked world? I wish I had joined her in the vehicle that had led to her Waterloo, because living in this house was as good as being dead to me.

As I got back downstairs, Rosalie and Lisa were still discussing in low tones. My presence instilled a fresh wave of quietness, which made it become more suspicious what they were discussing.

"Come serve us, loser!" Lisa sneered.

I walked up to the table and began dishing out the food I cooked into the plates, while Rosalie stared at me consciously. I served them both and sat down to eat mine.

"It seems you have forgotten your place in this house. You don't deserve to sit on the table with me! You are nothing but an unfortunate stepdaughter, a miserable one at that! So get lost!" she growled remorselessly.

I darted my eyeballs sideways for a while and as I heard heavy footsteps descend the stairs, I gave up being adamant. I had better leave, while she was still being gentle with me.

I took my plate and cutlery and left for the kitchen, shutting the door behind me slowly. I dropped my food on the kitchen island and rested my ear against the door.

"Why did you allow that stinking hag to sit here in the first place? You don't want me to breathe in peace?" I heard my dad, James Peterson say.

"I'm sorry, hunny. I could have done better. I wonder why she came to this world in the first place," my stepmother hissed.

I exhaled deeply and ran my rickety fingers through my silky hair.

"So how about the plans?" Lisa opted to change the topic.

"Oh yeah! I was on a phone call with him just a few moments ago. Evelyn was never a match for him. I'm glad their wedding won't come by. We need to get connected to this powerful family, so we don't get to miss out on the deals with those higher ups," Dad spelt out, not risking that I listened secretly.

My eyes widened with shock. My jaws dropped at once, but no word came out of my mouth.

My spoon slipped off my grip and fell to the ground with a loud noise. I immediately covered my mouth with my palm and picked it up quickly.

Silence descended on the living room at once. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Soon, I heard footsteps nearing the kitchen door. I doubled in fear.

The door was pushed open and Lisa walked in, finding me by the door with my meal untouched.

"So you think you can eavesdrop on us and do away with it so easily huh?" she threatened in a tone similar to her mother's.

"I'm sorry. I..." A thunderous hit on my head shut me up and sent me reeling backwards. I hit my hand against my plate and it fell down and shattered, sending pieces of ceramics flying to my foot. I got injured by it, while Lisa scampered for safety.

"What?! You just broke my mum's dish? You'll pay for it!" she said, coldly.

I bent down to clean up the mess and she slapped her palm against my back remorselessly. I cried in pain, but no one listened.

Rosalie walked in immediately and found the kitchen messed with the broken pieces. she gritted her teeth and kicked at me.

"When you're done with that, you go prepare the dress for your sister upstairs. It's never my fault that you're so unfortunate!” she declared and walked away, with Lisa behind her.