My Mother Killed Me For Her Stepdaughter novel Chapter 1

After Dad died, Mom married his old flame, a greasy creep named Frank. He brought his daughter, Bethany, with him, and that's when my life went straight to hell.

“Mom, I want Annie to be my horse!” Bethany would squeal.

Mom, totally whipped by this kid, would force me to kneel and let Bethany climb on my back. It was beyond humiliating, but I took it, dreaming of escaping to college and leaving this whole mess behind.

Little did I know, a stupid mango would kill me way before then.

"Annie, your dad's gone now. I'm not getting any younger, and I need a partner, someone to help around here." Mom said, draped all over Frank on the couch, Bethany glued to his side.

"You need to be more understanding. We took you in from that orphanage, raised you all these years, you owe us gratitude."

I just nodded. What else could I do? I'd known since I was a kid that they weren't my real parents. Dad had brought me home from the orphanage when I was five, old enough to remember. Mom couldn't have kids, but Dad always wanted a daughter. Still, she'd always been cold, and after eight years, I was used to it.

I was trapped. "Don't worry, Mom, I'll cook after school, do all the chores." I plastered on a fake smile, terrified she'd kick me out.

Bethany tilted her head and grinned at Mom, all sugar and spice. "Mom, I want Annie to be my horse!"

Mom's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Of course, honey, anything for you." She snapped her fingers at me. "Bethany wants to ride a horse. Get down on your knees!"

"Mom..." My cheek throbbed, but all I got was a glare.

"Apologize to Bethany. Now!" She kicked me again. "Do it! When you're wrong, you own up to it!"

They were staring down at me, three against one, their smug faces making me feel about an inch tall. But where else could I go? I was just a kid.

So, I choked out the words. "I'm sorry."

As soon as I said it, I knew. I had zero dignity left.