My stepmother was infamous for being a venomous woman. They said she drove two former husbands and my dad to their deaths. When my dad died, she wasted no time cremating him. When my dad’s mistress brought her son over to fight for the inheritance, they were all dumbfounded. My stepmother sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, counting stacks of cash with a bright smile on her face. “I’m rich! There’s no way I’ll finish spending all this money in my lifetime.” I hid behind the dining table, too scared to make a sound. When my relatives came over, offering to adopt me, I hesitated. And then, suddenly, a row of subtitles appeared before my eyes. [The plot’s kicking off already? The heroine’s about to be taken by her relatives and tormented. Can’t wait!] [These relatives are ruthless. Once they get the money, they’ll sell the heroine off to some remote mountain village.] [No big deal. All the suffering she faces now will be compensated for with the male lead’s love later. The delicate little flower thrives in hardship and eventually finds salvation! I’m obsessed!] Hold on. Who was this heroine everyone was talking about? Was it too late for me to cling to my stepmother?
Not long ago, my dad married a new wife. From the shadows, I watched my brand-new stepmother, whose smile was radiant and enchanting, her beauty like a burst of sunlight. I finally understood why my dad married her. Even knowing she had allegedly sent two former husbands to their graves, he still couldn’t resist. Just for that face alone, it was worth it. Men like my dad thought they were victorious, having won over such a stunning woman. Unfortunately, they all ended up dead. My dad didn’t even last two months after the wedding. Some speculated it was my stepmother’s doing, but there wasn’t a shred of evidence. With no proof, people turned to superstition instead. They claimed my stepmother was cursed, a walking death sentence for any man who touched her. On the day my dad died, a group of women came knocking at the door, children in tow, demanding a piece of the inheritance. But my stepmother, being the undisputed queen of household battles, unleashed her full firepower. “Lucas, get these filthy pests out of my house!” Robbing people of their money was like killing their parents; of course, they didn’t take it lying down. My stepmother looked delicate, but her words were anything but. She pulled out my dad’s urn. “Oh dear, he’s nothing but ashes now. Can’t do a paternity test anymore, can you? But hey, you’re welcome to reunite with him.” The women wept and wailed. “How could you be so ruthless? His body wasn’t even cold before you burned him!” Smiling sweetly, my stepmother replied, “I checked. He was cold. Ice cold.” That smile sent chills down my spine. I quietly moved further away. In the end, the sobbing women and their children were dragged out by the bodyguards. My stepmother reclined comfortably on the couch, pouring herself a glass of red wine, clearly pleased with herself. “I’m rich. There’s no way I’ll finish spending all this money in my lifetime. “Too bad there’s an extra baggage to deal with.” She smiled and sighed as if I were some pesky burden. I didn’t dare make a sound. It felt like she wanted nothing to do with me. Would I even have a home anymore? Thankfully, since my mom passed, I still had my uncle, who doted on me. Just yesterday, he told me he wanted to take me away. Sure enough, my uncle and aunt soon arrived. My aunt came in sobbing, her eyes red and swollen. “Oh, Erika, how could your parents leave so soon? “Poor girl, left all alone with no one to rely on. What’s going to happen to you now?” My uncle patted my head, his voice soft with pity. “Don’t worry, kiddo. From now on, you’ll live with your aunt and me.” They looked at me with such sincerity, like they truly cared. I sneaked a glance at my stepmother. She didn’t seem particularly interested in keeping me. Everyone said she was a terrible person, but I didn’t feel that way. To her, I was just a stranger. No different from how my dad treated me. The scales in my heart started tipping toward my uncle. Just as I was ready to agree… A row of subtitles appeared before my eyes. [The plot’s kicking off already? The heroine’s about to be taken by her relatives and tormented. Can’t wait!] [These relatives are ruthless. Once they get the money, they’ll sell the heroine off to some remote mountain village.] [No big deal. All the suffering she faces now will be compensated for with the male lead’s love later. The delicate little flower thrives in hardship and eventually finds salvation! I’m obsessed!] [That vicious stepmother doesn’t seem like much better. She probably can’t wait to get rid of the heroine.]
I couldn’t make sense of the floating words. What male lead? What tragic heroine? Seeing I wasn’t budging, my uncle and aunt’s patience started to wear thin. “Erika! I’m talking to you!” she snapped. Were the relatives mentioned in the subtitles referring to my uncle and aunt? Would they really sell me off one day? My hesitation grew, and I couldn’t make up my mind. Before I could decide, my uncle clapped his hands, as if settling the matter for me. “Just take Erika away. I’ll talk to Leah about this.” Ignoring my protests, my aunt grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door. Feeling helpless, I burst into tears. My stepmother, clearly irritated, got to her feet. “What’s this? Trying to snatch a child from my house?” Desperate, I broke free from my aunt’s grip and ran toward my stepmother like she was a lifeline. Before I could touch her sleeve, she recoiled in disgust. Fidgeting with my fingers, I finally stammered, “Mom… I don’t want to go with them.” It was the first time I had called her “Mom.” A flash of surprise crossed her face, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. “You…” My uncle yanked my arm and turned to my stepmother. “She’s just being difficult. Once she’s with us, she’ll be fine.” He glared at me, his voice turning harsh. “Your parents are gone. I’m the only family you have now. Who else are you going to rely on? “Stop causing trouble and come with us.” At that moment, I started to believe the strange subtitles. Maybe they were telling the truth. Maybe they really would take me away and sell me. I looked up at my stepmother, pleading silently. She was my last hope. Ignoring my uncle’s words, she gazed down at me with an air of authority. “Think carefully. If you stay, you’ll be my daughter from now on. “And that means you’ll take care of me when I’m old.” I hesitated, then nodded slowly. My stepmother cast a cold glance at my uncle. “See that? She doesn’t want to go with you.” Forcing a dry laugh, my uncle tried to reason with her. “You’re still young. You can have your own children in the future. “This kid’s skinny and not too bright. Keeping her will only cause you trouble.” My stepmother let out a disdainful chuckle. “I know what you’re really after. I’m her legal guardian now, and without my permission, none of you can take her.” Seeing her firm stance and the bodyguards stationed by the door, my uncle knew better than to try anything forceful. He shifted tactics and asked tentatively, “Well, her father left a considerable inheritance, didn’t he? We could help manage it and make sure she doesn’t waste it.” My stepmother nodded exaggeratedly. “Oh, yes, so much money.” When she saw their eyes light up with greed, she added, “But it’s none of your business.” That remark finally broke their patience. Just as my uncle started to lunge forward, the bodyguards stepped in and carried them out. As they were dragged away, another wave of subtitles appeared. [Wait, what’s going on? Is the wicked stepmother actually planning to raise the heroine?] [But what about the male lead? The heroine was supposed to meet him after being sold off to a remote village!] [Maybe the stepmother is plotting to sell her later. Let’s wait and see.]
After that uproar with my uncle and aunt, I came to a realization. Even as a child, I could tell they weren’t good people. If they couldn’t be trusted, who could I rely on? My stepmother? Would she really sell me off, just like the subtitles hinted? After they left, I kept my presence in the house as small as possible, afraid of catching my stepmother’s attention. What if one day she decided I was too much trouble and sent me off to some remote mountain? Luckily, she seemed very busy and was out of the house for several days. I finally breathed a sigh of relief. One day, as I rummaged through the kitchen for food, her voice suddenly rang out. “What are you looking for? Have you eaten?” Clutching the hem of my shirt, I stammered, “Yes, I have, Ms. Barry.” She let out a cold snort, clearly displeased. “You little brat. You only call me mom when you need something from me, don’t you?” Her tone was sharp, and she didn’t look happy. “I’ve been busy these past few days. How have you been eating?” How had I been eating? Just the same as usual: whatever leftovers the maids didn’t finish. I told her the truth. Opening the fridge, she stared at the leftover chicken bones inside, her brows knitting together. “So, this is what you usually eat?” I nodded. What else could I eat? I was just one of the many children my father had fathered outside, lucky enough to have been brought home. Only because my mother had passed away and there was no one else to take care of me. After he brought me here, my father had practically forgotten my existence. He rarely came home, leaving me to be completely neglected. The maids, sharp as they were, followed his lead. Seeing how indifferent he was, they treated me the same. If I was lucky, there’d be leftovers. More often than not, I’d go hungry for an entire day. After a long silence, my stepmother cursed under her breath, using words I didn’t understand. Then, she called for all the staff in the villa. Standing before them, she said loudly, “Do you know who she is? And who you are? “She’s my daughter, and you’re feeding her leftovers? Just thinking about it is enough to make me a laughingstock. “Erika, look at these maids. Point out anyone who’s been mistreating you.”
The next day, all the maids I had pointed out were gone, replaced by a group of young college students. My stepmother said college students were cheap, hardworking, and very competitive. Apparently, the government even encouraged it. I didn’t quite understand what she meant until I saw the floors being mopped three times a day and the dining table filled with a variety of delicious meals. Then, things started to click. Cautiously, I sat at the dining table, inhaling the fragrant aroma of freshly cooked food but too afraid to pick up my cutlery. My stepmother propped her head up with one hand, sliding the plate of food closer to me. “Finish all of this. You’re not allowed to leave the table until it’s gone.” I swallowed hard. Was this real? Could such good fortune really be happening to me? Without hesitation, I devoured the food like a whirlwind, clearing the plate in no time. She frowned as she watched. “From now on, eat like this every day. Otherwise, people might think I’m mistreating you.” I nodded enthusiastically as I continued to eat. Once I was full, the subtitles appeared again. [What’s this wicked stepmother up to? Fattening up the girl to sell her for a higher price?] [This plot is so cruel, letting the heroine feel warmth only to abandon her later. The emotional impact will be devastating.] [The heroine is such a sweet, obedient little thing. No wonder so many men fall for her when she grows up.] Leaning back in her chair, my stepmother stretched lazily. “Just get rid of that shabby room of yours. It doesn’t look like a place fit for a human. “I had a room upstairs cleaned out for you. From now on, you’ll stay upstairs with me.” The dramatic pauses in her speech had me on edge. Her next words made my heart leap into my throat. My mind involuntarily flashed back to the subtitles. Could they be right? Was she really planning to fatten me up just to sell me later? That summer passed in constant anxiety, but school eventually started. Thanks to the meals my stepmother provided, I had put on some weight and now had chubby cheeks. She found it irresistible and couldn’t stop pinching them every day. I dared not protest. At school, everyone noticed the drastic changes in me. The once scrawny girl was now soft and clean, dressed in a brand-new dress. As I took my seat, the girl behind me, Lauren, kicked my heel forcefully. “Erika, where’s my stuff?” I knew she was asking about her summer homework. I lowered my head, not daring to speak. The maids who used to bully me had torn up my homework along with hers. Seeing I had nothing to give, Lauren kicked the back of my legs harder and sneered. “Just wait till after school!” Because I couldn’t turn in my homework, the teacher made me stand in front of the class as punishment. Lauren, emboldened by her family’s wealth and influence, got away with it while the teacher turned a blind eye. After school, I tried to avoid her by leaving through the side gate. But she still found me. She and her gang surrounded me, grabbing and dragging me toward the bathroom. This bathroom was secluded, rarely visited by anyone. Even if someone saw, they wouldn’t dare interfere. Lauren kicked me in the chest, slamming my head against the sink. “You little brat. How dare you defy Lauren?” “Do you have a death wish?” Her gang took turns hitting and kicking me until I was too weak to fight back. They were clever, aiming only for places covered by clothing to hide the bruises. When they finally stopped, I lay on the ground, trembling in pain. “This time, I’ll let you off, but if this happens again, I’ll make sure you disappear.” [The villainess is vicious even as a child! Her character is so juicy and dramatic!] [Finally, the plot is back on track. No more confusing detours.] [The heroine doesn’t even fight back because she knows no one will save her. So tragic!] Incidents like this happened weekly. Every time I resisted, the retaliation grew worse. For a brief moment, a trace of confusion flashed through my mind. It really did seem like no one would ever come to my rescue.
Once I managed to recover a little, I pushed myself up and staggered toward the door. That was when I saw my stepmother waiting outside. I was a mess, my new clothes covered in dirt. Afraid she would look down on me, I climbed into the car slowly, trying not to draw attention to myself. But she immediately lifted my skirt, revealing the bruises on my waist and abdomen. Her face turned dark with rage. “Damn it, who hit you?” she demanded. Oddly enough, her anger didn’t scare me. Instead, it made me feel safe. No one had ever shown any emotion for me before. I had always been a disposable presence. Having me around brought no joy, and my absence wouldn’t bring any grief. Even stray cats and dogs had better luck. Some of them at least found kind souls to take them in. I mumbled quietly, “Just classmates playing around. It doesn’t hurt.” Her voice rose sharply. “Playing around did this? If you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll send you away.” Terrified, my legs went weak, and I blurted everything out. I even mentioned Lauren’s father and how influential he was. That night, I overheard my stepmother on the phone. “What do you mean she’s just a burden? She calls me Mom. Do you think I’d throw her away? “This is your job. Are you doing it or not? If not, we’re done.” The next morning, she made me wear my dirty clothes from the day before and took me to school. At the entrance, a crowd of reporters with live-streaming equipment rushed toward us. Standing behind me, she gave me a subtle signal. Then, her expression changed, and tears streamed down her face.
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