After our parents’ divorce, my sister Chloe was desperate to stay with our lenient dad, while our strict mom took me away. Two years later, both our parents found new partners, but Chloe regretted her choice. Our stepmom was open-minded, taking Chloe to get tattoos and dye her hair, which led to Chloe being cyberbullied. Our stepdad, on the other hand, was a “gentleman” who molded me into a well-mannered young lady and helped me marry a “quality” man. Chloe, forced to drop out of school, accused me of stealing mom away from her and poisoned my drink. So in this new life, Chloe resolutely chose to go with mom. But her life was completely ruined by our stepdad. 0 “Mom, I want to go with you! Please take me!” Chloe’s loud voice rang out as I woke up in bed. The stomach pain from the poison in my previous life was gone. I realized I had been reborn. Reborn to the day our parents finalized their divorce. I got up and walked to the living room. Sure enough, I saw our worried parents sitting on the couch, while Chloe was on her knees, tugging at mom’s sleeve and begging. “Please, mom, let Emma go with dad. I promise I’ll be good!” Then she turned and gave me a venomous look. As expected, Chloe had been reborn too. Her goal in doing this was to avoid the stepmom who would marry our dad two years later. Seeing me come out, dad’s gaze fell on me. He asked gently, “Emma, do you want to go with dad?” Memories suddenly flashed back to my previous life. On the same day, unlike Chloe, I was very upset about our parents’ divorce. Rather than choosing who to go with, I hoped more that they wouldn’t separate, and that we could continue living happily as a family of four. So I couldn’t make a choice at all. But Chloe was clever. She had always been afraid of our strict mom and knew that with her poor grades, she would inevitably be criticized if she went with mom. So she quickly grabbed dad’s hand. This way, I passively ended up with mom. Despite this, I still didn’t give up, privately trying to persuade our parents to reconcile. Unexpectedly, years later, I learned a shocking secret. The reason for our parents’ divorce was actually because of mom. Mom had fallen in love with a colleague behind dad’s back. 0
Facing this choice again, I was much more clear-headed. Since mom had betrayed dad, why should I try to reconcile them? Moreover, didn’t Chloe want to go with mom and welcome that kind stepdad two years later? I smiled slightly. I said to dad, “Dad, I’ll go with you.” Chloe, standing next to mom, curled her lips in satisfaction. Indeed, although mom was strict, she was a top student back in the day. Following her, she would, like in my previous life, work with our stepdad to mold Chloe into a well-mannered, universally praised young lady. As for me, I could only follow my stepmom and have my reputation ruined. But I accepted all of this willingly. Soon, our parents’ divorce proceedings were completed. Mom got the house as she wished, while dad drove me, with two suitcases, to the other side of the city. Jack, my dad, was a free-spirited person. After mom’s affair, he never showed any negative emotions in front of me and Chloe. Just like now, even though he had lost the house, he was excitedly arranging my room in the newly rented apartment. “Emma, dad will give you a good life.” I suddenly felt a lump in my throat. After all, I knew that right now, mom was dating that man in what used to be our family home. I’m sure Chloe, locked in her room studying, was still in the dark about it. I smiled at dad. I said, “Dad, Emma will make you proud too.” Compared to living in a family where I would be constantly slut-shamed, having a kind dad and an open-minded stepmom should make it pretty hard not to make them proud, right? 0
Two years passed quickly. This year, mom first announced her new relationship on Instagram. At the same time, she also proudly showed off her wedding ring, sweetly writing: “First year with Mr. Chen.” Yes, this man named Daniel Chen was mom’s affair partner from back then. However, she had left a long enough gap, so friends and family all congratulated her after the announcement. Including my sister Chloe. Chloe shared mom’s post, writing proudly: “Uncle Daniel is so nice, in a few days I’ll be calling him dad.” I couldn’t help but sneer. Uncle Daniel was indeed very nice. He had a respectable job, and people’s evaluation of him was always that of a righteous and steady gentleman. His students often praised him online. In my previous life, when I first met my stepdad, he showed a very likable and friendly demeanor, and interacted with me very appropriately. Of course, he would also gently guide me to change my bad habits, acting every bit the good teacher and helpful friend. How could such a good man not raise a well-mannered young lady? Chloe was overjoyed and specifically sent me a message to show off. “Sis, you know about Uncle Daniel, right? He even helps me with my homework. My final exam ranking has risen to the top ten in the class. You’re probably still around twentieth, aren’t you?” “Oh, by the way, the other day I saw dad dating a woman. People say when you get a stepmom, you get a stepdad too. Are you scared?” I coldly looked at the text she sent. In the end, I still didn’t tell her – Your beloved and admired Uncle Daniel is actually a habitual sexual harasser of students. So do you think he’ll spare you? 0
In my previous life, I met a senior student. Coincidentally, the senior knew my stepdad Daniel. The senior told me that stepdad was her high school math teacher. But in her senior year, he mysteriously resigned. “Do you know what everyone was saying about him?” she asked. I nervously asked the senior, “What?” So the senior lowered her voice: “He harassed female students and was fired.” At that time, I was so shocked I couldn’t even speak. This matter weighed on my mind, making me feel suffocated every day. Finally one day, I decided to talk to mom about it. Unexpectedly, mom didn’t take my side. She immediately called stepdad over. Stepdad pointed at my nose and scolded me for having ulterior motives. “Emma, haven’t I been good to you these past few years? Is this how you repay me? Do you have a conscience?” I shook my head helplessly: “I don’t have bad intentions, I just think mom and I have the right to know the truth.” Hearing this, stepdad smashed the teacup on the coffee table with a “bang”. Blood seeped from his fist as he gritted his teeth and said to me: “The truth? The truth is that I was falsely accused back then! I voluntarily resigned to clear my name, otherwise how could I still be a professor now?” After he finished, he took a deep breath and looked at mom: “It seems your daughter has never considered me family. I think it’s time to reconsider our relationship.” That day, mom slapped me twice. Stepdad slammed the door as he left, and mom cried all night in the living room. I didn’t know what I had done wrong. But mom still said those words that made me feel like I had fallen into an ice pit: “Emma, apologize to your stepdad, or don’t come back to this home!” I looked at mom in disbelief, crying as I returned to school that night. With the help of my senior, I contacted the victim of the sexual harassment incident from years ago. In the end, it was verified that it had indeed happened. My stepdad Daniel Chen was truly a hypocrite with the face of a gentleman. The reason he acted so righteous in front of people was nothing more than to win a good reputation. In Chloe’s eyes, I was receiving a quality education from a distinguished professor and strict mother, walking upright and sitting properly, which is why I could marry a good man. But she didn’t know. During the seven years of living with my stepdad, I had to endure almost daily slut-shaming from him and mom. Now, Chloe, are you about to experience it too? 0
I met Aunt Holly. Dad sat nervously and shyly beside her as he introduced her to me: “Emma, this is your Aunt Holly. We just met recently. You’re grown up now, and dad doesn’t want to hide this from you.” I looked at this fashionably dressed woman in front of me. In my previous life, I had only met her a handful of times. Apart from seeing her once at her and dad’s wedding, most of the time my stepdad wouldn’t let me see her. The reason was very bizarre. Stepdad said with disgust: “That woman doesn’t look like a good person. Our Emma should have less contact with her.” But on my birthday, Aunt Holly waited for me at the school gate and gave me a set of branded cosmetics. I remember it clearly, Aunt Holly with her big wavy hair and thick red lips, patted my head and said: “Emma has grown into a young lady. Take Auntie’s gift, I hope you’ll become even more beautiful in the future.” That day was also the happiest day of my 18 years as a girl. Unfortunately, when I got home, this set of cosmetics was discovered by my stepdad. He said: “Wearing makeup at such a young age, are you trying to attract men’s attention?” The psychological shadow from my previous life still made me afraid. But Aunt Holly seemed to sense my emotions. She spoke first, warm and sincere: “Emma, you’re so pretty. Auntie likes you, do you like Auntie?” Me: “…” Dad laughed sheepishly and patted Aunt Holly: “What are you doing? You’ll scare my Emma. She’s slow to warm up to people, we need to take it slow.” After saying that, dad stroked my head and gave me a reassuring look. Actually, I could see that dad had been watching my reactions the whole time. But dad is human too, he needs companionship and love. And Aunt Holly is not a bad person. So the next second, I smiled at Aunt Holly and said: “Auntie, you’re very pretty too. I like you.” I saw that dad and Auntie were both stunned. Dad’s eyes turned red, and he lowered his head to eat a couple bites of food. Aunt Holly, overwhelmed with emotion, took out an exquisite box from her bag. “Emma, I won’t say those polite words for our first meeting. This is a gift Auntie prepared for you, do you like it?” I took it and opened it. What met my eyes was actually – a set of lingerie. I held back my sobs. Memories suddenly flashed back to my previous life, the third day after stepdad came to our home. At 13, I was just beginning to develop as a girl. Not thinking much of it, I hung my freshly washed underwear on the balcony. But stepdad suddenly came to me with a dark face. He threw the underwear at me: “Emma, I’ve only been living with you for a few days, shouldn’t you be more careful?” 0
To others and Chloe, it seemed I had lucked out with a once-in-a-century good stepdad. He always looked at me with righteousness, never overstepping as a stepdad, and worked hard to strictly educate me for my future. But if they knew that I could never appear at home with exposed wrists and ankles, what would they think? Even more terrifying was that mom was lovesick. Stepdad’s voice caught mom’s attention. She came out of the room, and the first thing she saw was the underwear on me. Stepdad pointed at me, as if he had found backup: “Emma is not a little girl anymore, how can she still be so careless? Hanging such private clothing openly on the balcony, what will others think of me? I’m a professor!” I was bewildered as I processed stepdad’s words, momentarily speechless. And I thought mom would help me. She definitely wouldn’t blame me. Unexpectedly, after hearing stepdad’s words, mom also turned her resentful gaze towards me. Then, she launched her first humiliation against me. “Emma, put away your dirty things!” “Is this how I taught you? If I see you displaying these things again, don’t blame me for getting physical!” I stammered, wanting to speak, but didn’t know how to defend myself. I was just a 13-year-old girl! What kind of things are these things? Now that I have a stepdad, do I not even have the right to wear underwear? Am I that indecent? That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I even started to be brainwashed, wondering if I had really crossed a line? So from then on, I avoided public areas when drying my clothes. I thought, this way stepdad and mom wouldn’t be uncomfortable, right? But it wasn’t like that. Similar things kept happening over the next ten years. When I had my period and went to the bathroom frequently, stepdad saw the tissues I threw in the trash can and made a fuss, calling my mom to look. He accused me: “Who told you to put these things here? What will I think when I see them? Emma, you really have no manners!” Mom chimed in: “You’re a girl! Girls should know how to respect themselves. Your uncle is a professor, isn’t it disgusting for him to see these things?!” I talked back at the time: “Mom, you’re a woman too, and so is uncle’s mother. Tell me, what does this have to do with self-respect?” The next second, a loud slap landed on my face. This slap was actually from stepdad. I covered my face, tears gushing out. Mom just watched, unmoved.
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