When my mother was just days away from giving birth to me, my father cheated on her with her closest friend. I was born on the side of the road, a consequence of my father's infidelity sending my mother into a tailspin. For a woman who had indulged in privilege for most of her life, this was a disgrace, a stain she couldn't wipe away. My father, feeling invincible because their marriage had been an arranged one, was arrogant and reckless. But my mother had a fiery spirit; she stood her ground and divorced him. Determined to show everyone that she was fine on her own, she transformed into a relentless workaholic, pouring herself into her career. Not one to be outdone, my father devised a plan to take me away, believing it would hurt my mother. This was something I learned only later. Truthfully, my mother didn't care about my well-being; my very existence felt like a mistake to her, a symbol of original sin. She believed that if she hadn't gotten pregnant with me, m
By the time they found me, I was a bloody mess, and the doctor scolded my mother for letting a child wander off alone. With tears streaming down my face, I pleaded with the doctor, "Please don't blame my mom; she loves me!" The doctor looked skeptical but quickly turned his attention to treating my injuries, ignoring my mother. In fact, I understood everything. I was terrified of facing my mother's wrath once we went home. And sure enough, she struck me again. My body was covered in bruises as I crawled out of the hospital bed, begging her to stop, telling her I was in so much pain. She took pleasure in using a thorny switch, whipping my face repeatedly. "Look at you, pretending to be a victim! What a pathetic person you are! You're just like that tramp. You think I can't see through your pick-me act? You're just a kid, and you're already so good at manipulating others with your sad little story, huh?" I cried out, repeating, "I'm not being manipulative, Mom! Pleas
I flung open the door to the accessible restroom, and a cloud of smoke hit me, reeking of cigarettes. I coughed, my anger flaring up again as I slapped Wendy across the face. Her eyes narrowed, filled with fury. "What the hell is wrong with you? Who do you think you are?" A smirk crept onto my lips as rage surged within me. My mother might have treated me poorly, but I wouldn't let anyone play her like a fool. I grabbed the mop, swinging it hard into Wendy's stomach. She yelped, her voice rising in panic. "Help! There's a crazy woman attacking me! You ugly woman, I'm telling the school!" With no cameras around, I let loose, grappling with the two girls. "What are you pretending for? I heard everything you said!" As water splashed onto Wendy's face, she inexplicably stopped struggling. Instead, she gripped my mop tightly and said, "Rachel Garner, if you've got an issue, then take it out on me!" Just then, my mother burst in, delivering a stinging slap to my face in front of th
That man gave a twisted smirk, then started pulling down his pants.I screamed, terror rising in me, just as the call I'd dialed finally connected—only for a slender, pale hand to yank the phone from my grip.My mother's voice came through the line, tired and irritable. "Rachel, what kind of nonsense are you up to this time? Can't you stop calling me?"I felt a hand clamp over my mouth, and his thick arm wormed its way under my shirt.I bit down, hard, on his rough palm, causing him to grunt in pain.In the next moment, my mom's voice crackled through the phone again, sounding startled, impatient, and scornful. "Rachel, you're so shameless! Seducing men and making sure I hear it? Really?"I wanted to scream, to beg her for help, but his hand smothered every desperate breath, sealing in my pleas.Seconds later, Wendy smirked coldly as she smashed the phone under her heel, then turned and sauntered out, leaving only the cloying scent of her perfume hanging in the air, along with h
He glanced at me, silently asking if I needed comfort. I awkwardly shook my head, but in the next moment, tears slipped down my cheeks, which I quickly wiped away.At the dinner table, I hadn't even swallowed a bite of my food when Wendy strolled down from the second floor, instantly capturing my mother's attention. Dressed in an expensive designer dress, she stood in stark contrast to my simple white shirt and jeans. Yet she still managed to win my mother's favor. Like a little bird, Wendy nestled into my mother's arms, sweetly calling her "Mom," despite having her own mother from the countryside. My mother, clearly delighted, served her food, even peeling shrimp for her—something she had considered a chore—as if it were second nature to her. My heart ached, and a metallic taste rose in my throat as I cleared it, only to be met with my mother's cold glare and malicious assumptions. She didn't care that Nelson was there; she leaned in and whispered, "Rachel, what are you pretendin
However, a cruel glint sparked in Wendy's eyes as she spoke sweetly yet venomously, clearly trying to provoke my mother. "Rachel, what do you think you're doing? Do you really believe this will make Mom forgive you? Just leave! Don't make her angry anymore; she can't take it with her health!"The moment my mother heard this, her fury erupted, and she yanked me roughly, tossing me outside. "Leave… just go! I don't want a disgusting daughter like you!"I collapsed to my knees, crying as rain began to pour down in torrents. The icy droplets pierced my heart like a thousand needles. I couldn't understand how Nelson had suddenly become Wendy's boyfriend. Nor could I grasp why my mother harbored such intense hatred for me, all because of my face. They always said all mothers loved their children, but ever since my parents' marriage, I lost my grandparents. I didn't even have anyone who could support me.Through the villa's floor-to-ceiling windows, I saw Wendy helping my mother up the s
Poppy was the dog I had cared for a long time. My mother couldn't stand it, so I only dared to keep it in my room. But when Wendy moved into our house, she wasted no time asserting her dominance, using intimidation tactics right out of the gate. To prove her place in my mother's heart, she lured my little dog out of my room with food. In front of my mother, Poppy bit Wendy, who brushed it off while my mother ordered me to take care of it. As a result, Wendy barged into my room when I was asleep and killed Poppy. When I sobbed and went to my mother, she merely glanced at the lifeless dog and bluntly dismissed my grief. "It's just a dog… Why are you crying? It's not like you lost your mother!" Just like that, Wendy faced no consequences for her actions, growing bolder in her bullying. Meanwhile, I cradled Poppy's lifeless body, mourning for an entire night. Poppy wasn't just a stray dog to me; it was my family. Wendy was so cruel… I had known for a long time that she was no goo
Her eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, disbelief etched across her face as she wrapped her arms around my waist. "It can't be true! You've always been so healthy! You must be lying to me!"The façade I had maintained for so long cracked, and the tension in my mind snapped like a frayed wire. Perhaps it was the culmination of everything I had wished for before my impending death; I no longer craved my mother's embrace.I slowly pushed her awkward hug away, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. The pain from the cancer had spread through my body like wildfire. I coughed up more blood, and as my mother reached out to wipe the crimson stain from my lips, I fought against the urge to faint. With great effort, I stood up and forced my back to straighten as I walked toward the exit, every step a colossal effort. I was only a few steps away from the door when I stumbled forward, but my mother rushed to catch me. I closed my eyes in exhaustion, and her heart-wrenching cries filled th
"I'll do anything you ask... please don't do this..." After signing the papers that severed our mother-daughter relationship, I arranged for my posthumous services. I requested that my ashes be scattered directly into the sea, leaving my mother with a simple message. 'It was a fun ride, but I don't want to relive this or be your daughter again.' Since I had refused my mother's visits, she couldn't see me. All she could do was call me repeatedly. However, it didn't take long before I blocked her number. She kept switching phones, bombarding me with calls, until I finally confronted her hypocrisy. "Mom, do you think this will ease your conscience? You'll never be able to atone for what you've done! Spare me your crocodile tears!" There was a brief silence before the call ended. -As time passed, I found it increasingly difficult to eat. Yet, my mother still hired a top-tier medical team to treat me. But there was no cure, and she turned her hopes to supernatural forces.
Her eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, disbelief etched across her face as she wrapped her arms around my waist. "It can't be true! You've always been so healthy! You must be lying to me!"The façade I had maintained for so long cracked, and the tension in my mind snapped like a frayed wire. Perhaps it was the culmination of everything I had wished for before my impending death; I no longer craved my mother's embrace.I slowly pushed her awkward hug away, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. The pain from the cancer had spread through my body like wildfire. I coughed up more blood, and as my mother reached out to wipe the crimson stain from my lips, I fought against the urge to faint. With great effort, I stood up and forced my back to straighten as I walked toward the exit, every step a colossal effort. I was only a few steps away from the door when I stumbled forward, but my mother rushed to catch me. I closed my eyes in exhaustion, and her heart-wrenching cries filled th
Poppy was the dog I had cared for a long time. My mother couldn't stand it, so I only dared to keep it in my room. But when Wendy moved into our house, she wasted no time asserting her dominance, using intimidation tactics right out of the gate. To prove her place in my mother's heart, she lured my little dog out of my room with food. In front of my mother, Poppy bit Wendy, who brushed it off while my mother ordered me to take care of it. As a result, Wendy barged into my room when I was asleep and killed Poppy. When I sobbed and went to my mother, she merely glanced at the lifeless dog and bluntly dismissed my grief. "It's just a dog… Why are you crying? It's not like you lost your mother!" Just like that, Wendy faced no consequences for her actions, growing bolder in her bullying. Meanwhile, I cradled Poppy's lifeless body, mourning for an entire night. Poppy wasn't just a stray dog to me; it was my family. Wendy was so cruel… I had known for a long time that she was no goo
However, a cruel glint sparked in Wendy's eyes as she spoke sweetly yet venomously, clearly trying to provoke my mother. "Rachel, what do you think you're doing? Do you really believe this will make Mom forgive you? Just leave! Don't make her angry anymore; she can't take it with her health!"The moment my mother heard this, her fury erupted, and she yanked me roughly, tossing me outside. "Leave… just go! I don't want a disgusting daughter like you!"I collapsed to my knees, crying as rain began to pour down in torrents. The icy droplets pierced my heart like a thousand needles. I couldn't understand how Nelson had suddenly become Wendy's boyfriend. Nor could I grasp why my mother harbored such intense hatred for me, all because of my face. They always said all mothers loved their children, but ever since my parents' marriage, I lost my grandparents. I didn't even have anyone who could support me.Through the villa's floor-to-ceiling windows, I saw Wendy helping my mother up the s
He glanced at me, silently asking if I needed comfort. I awkwardly shook my head, but in the next moment, tears slipped down my cheeks, which I quickly wiped away.At the dinner table, I hadn't even swallowed a bite of my food when Wendy strolled down from the second floor, instantly capturing my mother's attention. Dressed in an expensive designer dress, she stood in stark contrast to my simple white shirt and jeans. Yet she still managed to win my mother's favor. Like a little bird, Wendy nestled into my mother's arms, sweetly calling her "Mom," despite having her own mother from the countryside. My mother, clearly delighted, served her food, even peeling shrimp for her—something she had considered a chore—as if it were second nature to her. My heart ached, and a metallic taste rose in my throat as I cleared it, only to be met with my mother's cold glare and malicious assumptions. She didn't care that Nelson was there; she leaned in and whispered, "Rachel, what are you pretendin
That man gave a twisted smirk, then started pulling down his pants.I screamed, terror rising in me, just as the call I'd dialed finally connected—only for a slender, pale hand to yank the phone from my grip.My mother's voice came through the line, tired and irritable. "Rachel, what kind of nonsense are you up to this time? Can't you stop calling me?"I felt a hand clamp over my mouth, and his thick arm wormed its way under my shirt.I bit down, hard, on his rough palm, causing him to grunt in pain.In the next moment, my mom's voice crackled through the phone again, sounding startled, impatient, and scornful. "Rachel, you're so shameless! Seducing men and making sure I hear it? Really?"I wanted to scream, to beg her for help, but his hand smothered every desperate breath, sealing in my pleas.Seconds later, Wendy smirked coldly as she smashed the phone under her heel, then turned and sauntered out, leaving only the cloying scent of her perfume hanging in the air, along with h
I flung open the door to the accessible restroom, and a cloud of smoke hit me, reeking of cigarettes. I coughed, my anger flaring up again as I slapped Wendy across the face. Her eyes narrowed, filled with fury. "What the hell is wrong with you? Who do you think you are?" A smirk crept onto my lips as rage surged within me. My mother might have treated me poorly, but I wouldn't let anyone play her like a fool. I grabbed the mop, swinging it hard into Wendy's stomach. She yelped, her voice rising in panic. "Help! There's a crazy woman attacking me! You ugly woman, I'm telling the school!" With no cameras around, I let loose, grappling with the two girls. "What are you pretending for? I heard everything you said!" As water splashed onto Wendy's face, she inexplicably stopped struggling. Instead, she gripped my mop tightly and said, "Rachel Garner, if you've got an issue, then take it out on me!" Just then, my mother burst in, delivering a stinging slap to my face in front of th
By the time they found me, I was a bloody mess, and the doctor scolded my mother for letting a child wander off alone. With tears streaming down my face, I pleaded with the doctor, "Please don't blame my mom; she loves me!" The doctor looked skeptical but quickly turned his attention to treating my injuries, ignoring my mother. In fact, I understood everything. I was terrified of facing my mother's wrath once we went home. And sure enough, she struck me again. My body was covered in bruises as I crawled out of the hospital bed, begging her to stop, telling her I was in so much pain. She took pleasure in using a thorny switch, whipping my face repeatedly. "Look at you, pretending to be a victim! What a pathetic person you are! You're just like that tramp. You think I can't see through your pick-me act? You're just a kid, and you're already so good at manipulating others with your sad little story, huh?" I cried out, repeating, "I'm not being manipulative, Mom! Pleas
When my mother was just days away from giving birth to me, my father cheated on her with her closest friend. I was born on the side of the road, a consequence of my father's infidelity sending my mother into a tailspin. For a woman who had indulged in privilege for most of her life, this was a disgrace, a stain she couldn't wipe away. My father, feeling invincible because their marriage had been an arranged one, was arrogant and reckless. But my mother had a fiery spirit; she stood her ground and divorced him. Determined to show everyone that she was fine on her own, she transformed into a relentless workaholic, pouring herself into her career. Not one to be outdone, my father devised a plan to take me away, believing it would hurt my mother. This was something I learned only later. Truthfully, my mother didn't care about my well-being; my very existence felt like a mistake to her, a symbol of original sin. She believed that if she hadn't gotten pregnant with me, m