My Mother Killed Me For Her Stepdaughter novel Chapter 2

"There you go, Bethany, be the bigger person. Some people are just born to be abandoned, you know?" Mom actually patted Bethany's head while twisting the knife in my gut.

Bethany, the angel, forgave me. They praised her like she'd saved the world. Then Mom shooed me away. "Go on, get out of here."

I dragged myself to my room, but Bethany blocked the door. "Mom said this is my room now."

She was so smug, so entitled. She could be because she had Mom and Frank wrapped around her little finger.

I looked around, lost. "Mom, where do I sleep?"

She pointed to the cramped, dusty closet next to the kitchen. Great.

Maybe if I was just obedient enough, things would get better.

I woke up early, cooked breakfast, cleaned up. Mom sliced some mangoes and put them on the table. Bethany's request, of course.

She tossed a measly slice at me. "Eat. Be grateful Bethany likes mangoes."

I couldn't. I was allergic. "Mom, I can't. I'm allergic. Give them all to Bethany."

Frank snorted. "Allergies are mostly in your head. If humans can eat it, you can too. You just need to build up a tolerance."

Mom lapped it up, shoving the whole damn mango at me. "He's right. Eat up. You're acting like a princess. Don't be so ungrateful."

Dad had always warned me, never touch mangoes, it could be deadly.

"Mom, please, I can't. I'm serious, I could die!"

"You are a walking curse! Bethany gets hurt on her first day here! Get up, you lazy good-for-nothing!"

"God, I can't even look at you. You probably killed your own father, and now you're after Bethany! Get out!"

Her stiletto heels dug into my ribs, over and over. My insides felt like they were being shredded. My eyes were swollen shut, I could barely breathe, and the mango was doing its worst.

I clung to her leg, desperate. "Mom, please, take me to the hospital... I'm dying..."

She just laughed, a cold, heartless sound. "Go on then, die! See if I care. Your dad spoiled you rotten, that's your problem."

Bethany, arm in a sling, nestled into Frank, looking fragile. "Mom, maybe Annie just doesn't like me. I don't know what I did..."

"She did it on purpose! She wanted to cut off my hand! My life would be ruined!"