Chapter 1

My mom hates me. If it wasn't for me, my mom and dad wouldn't have divorced. After she remarried, she was kinder to her stepdaughter than to me. She let her stepdaughter bully me at school, let her carve scars on my back with a knife, and ignored the bloodstains on my clothes. In the end, she even let her take pleasure in setting me on fire. But mom, do you remember how you cried when others bullied me and wanted to stand up for me? Mom, what can I do to make up for my sins and ease your hatred?

I got home at nine on Friday night after school. In the large villa, only the living room had any sound. Mom was holding Fiona, watching TV. Both of them were smiling, looking warm and harmonious. I stared at them greedily, unable to remember the warmth of my mom's embrace. Maybe I stood there too long, so mom turned her head and glanced at me with disgust. I clutched my backpack strap and gathered the courage to speak: "Mom, don't you want to ask why I'm back so late?" She continued watching TV, ignoring me. My throat tightened, but I stubbornly tried to talk to her even though it felt self-destructive. "Fiona didn't wait for me after school, she told the driver to leave, and I didn't have money, so I walked home. It's 25 kilometers, and my feet hurt." "Mom, I'm also very hungry. You forgot to give me money last week. I borrowed from classmates to get by. Could you not forget next time..."

"Slap!" Before I could finish, mom slapped me. My cheek stung with pain. Dizzy, I nearly fell, and the pain in my stomach sharpened. I was too hungry and too tired. Embarrassed to borrow too much, I had only eaten one meal a day for a week, going to bed hungry every night, my stomach in knots. I looked up through blurred, tear-filled eyes at my mom's beautiful face. "Adeline, are you blaming me or Fiona?" I bit my lip, not answering. Maybe I did resent Fiona, but I didn't dare to blame mom. I had no right. Mom seemed to see what I was thinking. She looked down at me. "You have no right to blame me or Fiona. Your food, clothing, shelter, and tuition are all paid by her dad, my husband." "Even your biological father didn't want you, and I was willing to take you in. Fiona's family accepted you, and you should learn to be grateful." Fiona consoled her with a smile, "Alright, mom, don't be angry." She turned to me and apologized perfunctorily, "Adeline, I forgot to wait for you after school. I'll remember next time." "Didn't you say you're hungry? Go to the kitchen and eat." I silently put down my backpack and went to the kitchen. As expected, there was nothing but leftovers. Fiona and mom had already eaten, and the rule for the housekeeper in Fiona's family was to only buy fresh ingredients for the day, even for fruits and eggs. The fridge was empty except for a few bottles of cold water. I took one, downed half of it. Luckily, today's trash bag was relatively clean, so I ate some leftover food from it. If I wake up early tomorrow, I can catch a freshly made, hot breakfast. It's okay, it's okay, Adeline. I silently cried while washing my hands, returned to the living room, and picked up my backpack. "Mom, I'm going upstairs." Mom didn't spare me a glance.