1 On this parenting show, I was cast as the villainous foil to beloved actress Cherry. She was the doting ideal mom while I played the hated stepmother. After slow-cooking porridge all night, my five-year-old stepson Matthew slapped it away, scalding my hand. He accused me of poisoning him, then gleefully took Cherry’s fast food. As viewers praised her, he smiled sweetly and called her Mama Cherry. Online, I was told to leave. I looked at my blistered hand and laughed coldly. I would pay the penalty, divorce, and walk away. But as I turned to quit, a panicked voice screamed in my head. The old witch is mad. Her food is the best. Who will cover my ears in storms or carry me? Do not go. I froze. Matthew still puffed his chest, silently demanding attention. While the chat raged and Cherry smirked, I marched back, pinched his cheek, and said coldly, Want me to stay. Kiss me on the cheek live for the whole country. The entire set fell into a dead silence. Matthew’s eyes widened, and a deep flush crept up his neck, turning his face bright red. He clutched the hem of his shirt with his tiny fists, his lips trembling. Cherry, holding her daughter Lily’s hand, stepped right into the center of the camera’s frame, letting out a soft, maternal sigh. “Barbara, I know being a stepmother is hard, and I understand your frustration,” she said, leaning down to stroke Matthew’s hair. “But you shouldn’t take it out on the child. Forcing him to do things he hates will only scar him. Please, don’t pressure him like this.” Lily shrunk behind Cherry’s skirt, whispering in a trembling voice, “Mommy, Auntie Barbara is scary. I’m afraid.” Cherry immediately pulled Lily into a protective hug, giving me a look of helpless disappointment. The chat went wild. [Can Barbara please get kicked out of show business? This evil stepmother act is sickening!] [My heart breaks for poor baby Matthew. Imagine having such a psycho for a stepmom.] [Cherry is the perfect mother! She’s the only one who deserves to be Nathan’s wife and Matthew’s mom!] [I’m signing a petition for Nathan to divorce her! Kick Barbara out of the family and let Cherry marry in!] I ignored Cherry’s little performance. My fingers remained gently but firmly pinching Matthew’s soft cheek. He craned his neck and yelled, “Who wants to kiss you! You ugly woman! I would never!” Yet, his frantic, embarrassed inner voice rang out right on cue: Ah! Why isn’t the old witch playing by the rules? She used to beg and plead to coax me! This is so humiliating! But she smells so nice, like the vanilla body wash she used to bathe me last night. Fine! A kiss is nothing! I’m not scared of you! Matthew suddenly hoisted himself up on his tiptoes, squeezed his eyes shut, and planted a massive, loud kiss right on my cheek. The smack of the kiss echoed in the quiet courtyard. The smile on Cherry’s face froze. The live chat froze. Her army of fans collectively lost their minds. I let go of his cheek, pulled out a wet wipe, and slowly cleaned the dried porridge off the back of my hand. “Fine. Since you’re being so sincere, I suppose I’ll stay.” Matthew stumbled back two steps, his face burning. He looked away, but his ears were bright red. The director cleared his throat, hurriedly raising his megaphone to keep the show moving. “Welcome, mothers and children, to the first stop of Super Moms, right here in the beautiful village of Willow Creek! Your task today is to search the village for fresh ingredients. Whichever family places last by noon will be stuck eating plain boiled cabbage for lunch!” Cherry took a paper bag from her assistant. Inside was a greasy batch of fast-food fried chicken and fries. “You must be starving, Matthew,” she said sweetly. “I had my assistant drive to town just to get you some fresh fried chicken.” She held out the bag, letting the rich, salty aroma drift through the air. But my eyes were sharp. I saw Cherry reach behind Lily and viciously pinch her back. Lily trembled with pain, her eyes welling with tears, but she bit her lip, too terrified to cry out. Forcing a tight, pleasing smile, she whimpered toward Matthew, “Big brother, have some chicken…” Cherry sighed, looking at me with feigned innocence. “I just have such a soft heart. I can’t bear to see a child go hungry. Barbara, you don’t mind if I give him a little treat, do you? Nathan was complaining to me on set just the other day about how Matthew is such a picky eater. He was so worried about him.” The chat exploded again. [Oh my god, Cherry remembers even the little things Nathan vented to her about on set. This is true love!] [Did you hear that, Barbara? Nathan would rather confide in his co-star than talk to you. You’re a total failure of a wife!] [Cherry is an angel. She’s starving her own daughter just to make sure another kid gets fed first.] I glanced at the greasy paper bag and took a step back. “Your call, Matthew. You can eat that junk, or you can come with me to find some real food.” Cherry smirked, entirely confident that a five-year-old could never resist the allure of fried chicken. Matthew stared at the bag for a split second. Inside his head, his thoughts were dripping with disgust: That chicken is cold! The skin is all soggy! The sweet-and-sour pork ribs the old witch made yesterday are ten thousand times better than this garbage! Who wants greasy fast food? I want the old witch’s cooking! Suddenly, Matthew lunged forward and wrapped his arms around my leg, burying his face in my denim jeans. “I don’t want it! I want to go find food with my mom!” Cherry’s hand froze mid-air. Her face flushed a sickly mix of pale white and angry red. I offered her a cool, indifferent look, completely ignoring her cheap attempts to stir drama. “You heard the boy. He’s not interested. You should probably keep it for yourself, Cherry.” With that, I took Matthew’s small hand in mine and walked out of the courtyard. August in Willow Creek was brutal. The sun beat down mercilessly, heating the dirt roads. I led Matthew to the massive banyan tree at the entrance of the village. A cool breeze swept under its dense canopy, offering a perfect shield from the heat. I spent a couple of dollars on two ice-cold bottles of orange soda and handed one to Matthew. He held the frosty glass bottle in his small hands, taking tiny sips while peering out toward the fields. Not far away, in the muddy cornfields, Cherry was dragging Lily through the dirt to pull weeds. Sweat poured down Cherry’s face, yet she kept a bright, forced smile plastered on for the cameras. “Good girl, Lily. If we work hard, we’ll get a delicious lunch. Mommy’s not tired at all, as long as you get to eat well.” Lily was so exhausted her eyes were sliding shut, her tiny frame swaying precariously on the muddy ridge. Every time she tried to sit down for a break, Cherry would yank her back into the dirt to keep working. The chat went into overdrive. [Cherry is so hardworking! She’s a real, down-to-earth woman!] [And then there’s Barbara, lounging under a tree drinking soda! Did she think she was signing up for a luxury vacation?] [Nathan, open your eyes! Divorce Barbara and marry Cherry! Cherry actually knows how to run a proper household!] Matthew took a long sip of his soda and let out a small burp. Leaning against my knee, he gave a tiny scoff. “You’re so lazy. Everyone else is working, and you’re just sitting here slacking off.” But his inner voice was hilariously honest: Oh, man! This cold soda is heaven! It’s boiling hot out there. That mean woman is actually making Lily pull weeds in the direct sun. The poor girl’s face is practically peeling. The old witch is way better. No hard labor, just shade and cold soda. I guess I won’t complain about her today. Ignoring his little attitude, I looked over at the stone table under the tree. The village chief and an elderly local were locked in a tense game of chess, both staring at the board with deep frowns, completely stuck. I strolled over, glanced at the layout, and murmured a classic winning sequence. “Move your bishop to block, then bring the knight up.” The chief blinked, hesitated, and then moved his piece exactly as I suggested. The old man slapped his thigh in excitement. “Incredible! That broke the entire deadlock!” Within five minutes, the chief secured a swift victory. Laughing heartily, he stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers. “Smart girl! You’re with that TV show, aren’t you? Here, my family just harvested some fresh eggs and vegetables this morning. Take them!” He handed me a woven bamboo basket filled with a dozen farm-fresh eggs, crisp green cabbage, and plump red tomatoes. Just like that, our lunch ingredients were sorted. Matthew hugged the bamboo basket tight, a look of pure pride washed over his face. By eleven-thirty, the families gathered back at the meeting point. Cherry and Lily arrived caked in mud. After a grueling morning of labor, all they had to show for it were two shriveled, dusty potatoes. Lily was sobbing from hunger, clinging to Cherry’s legs. “Mommy, I’m so hungry… I want real food…” With her back to the camera, Cherry’s eyes flashed with pure annoyance. But the instant she spun around to face the lens, her face softened into a picture of tearful, heartbreaking worry. She walked over to me, casting a glance at my basket of fresh ingredients, and bit her lip, looking thoroughly pitiable. “Barbara, Lily worked all morning and her stomach hurts from hunger. Could you spare just two eggs? Think of it as a loan. I’ll pay you back.” The chat immediately took the bait. [Barbara, she’s practically begging you. Just give her the eggs!] [Exactly, you have over a dozen! What’s two eggs to you?] [No wonder her husband ignores her. She doesn’t have a single caring bone in her body!] I looked at Cherry with a cold, unyielding stare. “You chose this martyr role. Don’t complain now that you actually have to play it. If you cared so much about your daughter’s hunger, maybe you shouldn’t have spent the whole morning posing for the cameras.” I leaned back slightly. “And don’t teach kids to expect hand-outs. If you want eggs, go win a game of chess yourself.” Tears welled in Cherry’s eyes. “Barbara, you can target me all you want, but the child is innocent…” Before she could finish her sob story, Matthew suddenly lunged forward, spreading his small arms to block me. “No! These are our eggs! My mom won them! If you’re so amazing, go win your own!” Cherry choked on her words, her jaw tightening as she glared at the boy. “Fine. If you won’t share, you won’t. I don’t blame you, Matthew. It’s just a shame your mother never taught you how to share.” She took Lily’s hand and turned away, the very picture of a wronged victim. But as she walked away, I caught the calculated, venomous glint in her eyes. That afternoon, I fired up the rustic wood stove and whipped up a fragrant plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and a light, stir-fried cabbage. The second the plates hit the table, Matthew grabbed his spoon and started shoveling food into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out. His inner voice was practically screaming with joy: This is delicious! How are these eggs so good?! This is a hundred times better than what our private chef makes at home! That’s it. I’m going to make the old witch cook for me every single day! I scooped some rice for myself, sat down beside him, and gently wiped a stray grain of rice from his chin with a napkin. His little body stiffened for a brief second, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned slightly closer to me. Meanwhile, things were going downhill fast in Cherry’s courtyard. Lily was crying louder and louder from sheer exhaustion and hunger. Flustered, Cherry glanced toward the camera crew stationed outside. Seeing that she was out of their immediate line of sight, she dragged Lily into a blind spot inside the house. “Stop crying!” she hissed, her voice dripping with rage. “Haven’t you embarrassed me enough today?” She pulled a cheap, greasy packet of spicy gluten strips from her bag and shoved them into the girl’s hands. “Eat this and shut up!” The snack was heavily processed, oily, and intensely spicy. Starving, Lily tore the packaging open and devoured it. Within half an hour, the toll hit her. She fell to the floor, clutching her stomach and rolling in pain. Her face turned pale as cold sweat beaded on her forehead. “Mommy… it hurts… my tummy hurts so bad…” Cherry ran out of the house, screaming at the cameras, “Medic! Lily’s having a severe reaction to the local food! She has acute gastroenteritis!” The show’s medical team rushed over. Suddenly, Cherry ran over to my courtyard, throwing herself onto her knees right at my gate, sobbing hysterically. “Barbara, I beg of you! Lily’s stomach is cramping from the local food, and the doctor says she needs warm broth to settle it. All I have are cold potatoes. Can you spare just one bowl of hot soup? I’ll get down on my knees and beg!” The second she dropped to her knees, the live chat exploded with venom targeted entirely at me. [Barbara, are you even human? Cherry is literally on her knees begging you!] [Barbara is a monster! Nathan must have been blind to marry her!] [Ban Barbara! Get this toxic woman off our screens!] I walked to the gate holding my bowl, looking down at Cherry. “A reaction to the local food?” I walked right past her to check on Lily. As soon as I got close, a pungent smell of artificial flavorings and heavy chili oil hit my nose. I turned back to Cherry. “A five-year-old child got severe stomach spasms from eating cheap, greasy, spicy junk food on an empty stomach, and you’re blaming the local weather?” Cherry’s face went pale, her eyes darting around. “What are you talking about? I would never feed her trash like that!” Just then, the camera panned down. Peeking right out of Cherry’s pocket was a crumpled plastic wrapper stained with bright red chili oil. The chat froze for a long second. [Wait… what’s that in Cherry’s pocket?] [Is that actually a spicy snack wrapper?!] [Feeding a five-year-old spicy junk food on an empty stomach? No wonder the poor kid is having spasms!] The show rules strictly forbade bringing outside snacks into the village. The production crew’s expressions turned grim. The director immediately barked into his walkie-talkie, “Cherry, please empty your pockets. You are in direct violation of the rules.” Cherry clutched her pocket, her face completely drained of color, unable to utter a single word. The director announced on the spot, “Cherry’s team has violated the rules, resulting in a child falling ill. Her food privileges for tonight are officially revoked!” That evening, while the other families enjoyed piping hot meals, Cherry was stuck chewing on cold, dry bread. Night fell over Willow Creek, thick and silent. Cherry stood in her yard, glaring at the warm glow coming from my cabin windows, her face twisted with resentment. She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. Barbara, since you want to humiliate me, I’ll use that little brat to utterly ruin you. The next morning, the mountain mist was still heavy in the air. I stepped out of the cabin with a basin of fresh water and immediately sensed that something was off. Matthew, who had finally started warming up to me, was acting incredibly strange. He was huddled in the corner by the door. When I reached out to lead him to the washbasin, he suddenly shivered violently and recoiled, pushing himself against the wall. “Don’t touch me!” he shrieked, his voice cracking with tears. I frowned, slowly retracting my hand. Following his terrified gaze, I spotted Cherry standing under a nearby tree. It turned out that while I was fetching water, she had slipped over to whisper poison into his ear. Your dad is planning to divorce her and marry me. I’m going to be your real mom soon. Barbara is about to get kicked out of the family. Matthew had grown up without a mother, and his deepest, darkest fear was abandonment. Those words shattered his fragile defenses completely. “Get away from me!” he sobbed, screaming at me. “I hate you! Just leave!” Seeing this, Cherry rushed forward, pulling him into her arms and looking at me with a face full of sorrow. “Barbara, a forced relationship never brings happiness. The boy is terrified of you. What on earth did you do to him?” She raised her voice, making absolutely sure the cameras captured every word. “Even if you’re frustrated, you can’t go abusing a child!” The word “abuse” instantly escalated the situation. The assistant director marched over, holding a megaphone. “Barbara, given Matthew’s current state, we must ask you to make a public apology. Otherwise, we cannot continue filming.” His statement put a target on my back. The live chat erupted in absolute fury. [It’s confirmed! Nathan really is divorcing her! Even the kid knows!] [The little heir really told her to scram! Get Barbara out of the industry!] [This is child abuse! Call the police!] I stood my ground, watching the crew and onlookers crowd around, pointing and whispering. But right then, a faint, trembling sob echoed inside my head. I didn’t mean to yell so loud… It’s all my fault! If I hadn’t lost my temper, the director wouldn’t be forcing the old witch to apologize. Everyone is yelling at her. She must be so sad right now… I didn’t want them to yell at her… Sensing an opportunity to crush me once and for all, Cherry decided to push her luck. Under the cover of her sleeve, she gave Lily’s thigh a vicious pinch. Lily let out a sharp cry and broke into loud wails. Cherry seized the moment, pointing a finger directly at my face. “Barbara! Your behavior has terrified even Lily to tears! You don’t deserve to be a mother!” Then, Cherry spun around and squatted in front of Matthew. She stared into the eyes of the trembling five-year-old, delivering her final, devastating blow right in front of the live cameras. “Matthew, you’re a smart boy. Your dad doesn’t want her anymore. She’s getting kicked out of your house very soon.” “Now, you have to make a choice in front of everyone.” “Do you want this bad woman who abuses you, or do you want Mama Cherry?” “If you walk over to me, you’ll be my real son, and your dad will love you forever.” “But if you choose her, your dad will kick you out along with her, and you’ll end up an unwanted street kid!” The chat went wild. [Beautiful play, Cherry! Let the kid decide!] [Is that even a choice? He’s obviously going to pick Cherry. Only an idiot would stay with a toxic woman like Barbara!] Matthew stood frozen, shaking, tears streaming down his face like broken pearls. He bit his trembling, pale lower lip, his tiny hands desperately twisting his shirt. His inner thoughts, a chaotic storm of fear and pain, rushed into my head like a tidal wave. Is Dad really going to throw her out? If I choose the old witch, will I drag her down with me? Will we both get thrown onto the streets? The old witch is so high-maintenance. She doesn’t know how to do chores, and she loves pretty things. If she goes broke, she won’t even be able to afford her designer bags! What if… what if I pretend to choose the mean woman, so the old witch doesn’t get dragged down because of me? But… but she’s standing there all by herself. Even the director is bullying her! If I abandon her too and walk over to this bad woman, she’ll really become the laughingstock of the whole country! Yesterday, just to get me some eggs, she stood under the blazing sun watching those old men play chess… How can I just leave her? Old witch, you’re usually so good at yelling at people! Why aren’t you yelling at me now? Just come over and grab my hand! If you do… if you do, I won’t even eat meat anymore. I’ll go beg on the streets with you, okay?! He sobbed, his face bright red, his small body torn apart by the weight of the decision. On one side was his absolute terror of the future; on the other was his fierce, clumsy instinct to protect me and keep me from facing the world’s malice alone. Hearing his frantic, desperate thoughts, my chest tightened, and a sudden wave of warmth rushed through me. Cherry looked at the hesitating boy, a trace of impatience flickering in her eyes. But she quickly masked it, her lips curving into a smug, victorious smile. “Come on, Matthew. Tell everyone. Who do you choose?”
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