My mom is a well-known "Good Stepmom". She treats her stepdad's 3 children better than me. Even when 4 people got flu at the same time, she was afraid neighbors would gossip, only gave medicine to stepdad's children, let me suffer through it. She countless times touched my face and said: "Stella, being a stepmom is hard, can't treat them badly, otherwise mom's backbone will be poked rotten." "You will understand mom, right?" I understood many times, every time swallowed grievance silently. Until encountering police checking overload, rain pouring outside, mom again like before let me get off car to avoid. I stood still, because my leg was hit by stepbrother into a lame, couldn't walk more than half an hour. Mom annoyed, force dragged me off car: "You child stubborn what! Be sensible okay!" "Find a place hide from rain, wait rain stop hurry go home." I stunned in rain, this home is not what I want. ... Chapter 1 This heavy rain, it didn't stop. Water on ground already spread to my knees. Let me fall in rain water again and again. City street lights, hazy shining pitch black night. "Stella?" "Stella?" When I fell in water again, mom holding umbrella anxiously ran towards me. She always like this. Let me can't love. Also hate not thorough. Her small body like a piece of paper in wind, blown down in water. Rain blurred my vision. Until mom ran to my side, her face and voice then clear in front of me. She difficultly fished me up from water, saw my face full of resentment. Carelessly did thought work for me again: "I know you uncomfortable in heart, mom also no way ah." "You are my biological, they three are not." "But if treat them a little bad, whole world will know, how I still be human ah." "I know you suffered grievance, mom sorry you." Speaking to last two sentences, she cried thick. Full of helplessness of not being understood, and involuntary of being stepmom. I didn't utter a sound, under her support, returned to that home again. On dinner table only left leftovers. Even ginger water mom boiled for me to prevent cold, were drunk clean. Even trampled in cat bowl didn't leave a sip for me. Two stepsisters and stepbrother all don't like me. Surface polite to me, love ignore not ignore. Behind back they all say I am, living under others roof, only fit be their servant, even worse than dog. They also don't like my mom, but enjoy mom's good to them. Stepdad Frank sitting in living room watching TV, didn't give us an extra look. Only perfunctory said a sentence: "Back." He is very polite to me, no care no ask, no beat no scold. Like a just known uncle. But my mom loves him. Very love very love, even suffered many grievances, she also feels this is happiness running-in. Also exactly because love him, then after knowing stepdad original wife died of illness, regardless everything, even leave with nothing taking me also want divorce marry him. Mom said stepdad is her first love. If not because grandpa grandma blocked, their relationship wouldn't be so bumpy. Also exactly because love stepdad, she love house and crow treat stepdad's 3 children extra good. Mom supported me to bathroom, let me took a hot bath. Then brought me a cup of hot water, my stomach hungry rumbling. Just wanted open mouth say, mom I hungry. Then heard she say: "Not early, drink some water pad first, your second sister Brittany has neurasthenia, her room close to kitchen." "Can't hear a bit noise, tomorrow I get up early, then cook." Words to my mouth, swallowed back again. Since became stepmom, she always can consider everyone in family. But only can't consider me. She to be good stepmom, to not be gossiped. Even I got into Ivy League, she also because Big Sister Ashley a sentence: "We three didn't go college, if Stella goes, do you have to compensate us three brothers sisters each one college money." "Otherwise is you this stepmom biased!" Even my college tuition didn't need stepdad pay. Mom's salary enough for me go college. But she for fairness sake, also when couldn't take out savings satisfy Ashley's request. Crying begged me: "Stella you smart, even not read college later also can have way out." "Don't you love writing novels? Might as well write novels try, maybe this is your best way out." That was my first time resist her. Collapsed crying hoarse voice: "They can't go, that is they no ability test in." "I use my own mom's money go college can't I?" "Even you don't give me money, I can apply student loan myself." But no matter how I noise, mom always helpless crying. Even knelt to me, fierce slap own face. I then knew my acceptance letter was torn into pieces by Brittany's cat. Mom begged me not noise, begged me not let her hard got family have crack. I finally didn't go college. Not only lost future, also lost leg. Even stepbrother Caleb, because driving without license reversing car broke my leg. She also because afraid I make matter big, Caleb go jail, afraid this family can't maintain. Force with death, not allow me call police. She said this home is her life, Caleb also counts her biological child. If because me went jail, not only Caleb hate her, also will affect her relationship with stepdad. After another despair, I only felt, she is not their stepmom. She became my stepmom. Chapter 2 Next day, I indeed cold fever. Whole body weak paralyzed on bed. Mom morning came look me. Hurriedly put a cup of hot milk and egg on my bedside table. See I burned severe, prepared Tylenol for me again. She very hurried. Hurried to talk with me no time look me straight. "Stella, I go work, you sleep more." "Fever a while can retreat, home hand to you." This home only I one idler. Just because I am lame, can't find suitable work. Except writing novels at home, is responsible for whole family food clothing living. Noon my phone ding ding pop messages. In family group chat, Brittany first sent @me: Little sister, I want eat lotus root meatballs today. Not pass 5 minutes, Ashley @me: Stella, night make a braised fish, your braised fish last time not bad. Half hour later Caleb @me: Little sister, you make a braised pork, then mix two cold dishes, hard work. Below message he sent a Venmo. Every time red packet only $6.6, he beautiful name said meaning six six big smooth. This time presumably also. I didn't accept red packet. Also didn't reply anyone's message. After searching city info whole morning, I booked a cheapest train hard seat to Portland. Time set at 3 days later morning. Also used an afternoon time, wrote last letter to mom. Every write a word, kinship bond all couldn't help let my nose sour. Dark, I fever again. Shrink in quilt shivering. Don't know when, came door open sound. Then is a swarm of complain sound. "Why pitch black, Stella not at home?" "What time already, cold pot cold stove meal not made." "What meaning ah? This is strike? Who provoked this grandaunt again." Mom and stepdad came back. They three complain sound bigger. "Worked whole day, tired dead, back even a hot meal can't eat!" "What meaning ah, don't want cook just say clearly!" "Isn't part of this family! Clearly is each do own duty matter, even a meal not make!" Brittany suddenly voice sharp, anger full: "Clothes not washed ah! Also underwear ah, one not washed!" "Underwear how can put so long time, will grow bacteria ah! Mom you say say your daughter ah, what exactly she mean ah!" "My this underwear new bought, $30 a pair only wore once, like this how I still wear ah." Mom good voice good air comfort them: "Stella not intentional, maybe fever uncomfortable, I go look." Stepdad also fake look fake appearance said: "Alright, all say few words." Mom steps hurried walked into my narrow room. Turned on light, dazzling light instantly lit up whole dark room. I still dizzy lying on bed. "Stella what happen to you? Is uncomfortable?" Mom concern sound carried few points ask crime. Speaking she pulled open quilt over my head, very naturally reach hand test my forehead temperature. "Fever again, took medicine?" "Mm." I faintly responded. Room door came Caleb complain sound: "Mom, what our family eat tonight ah, I about starve dead." Just showed point concern to me mom, busy go coax him: "What you want eat, I make now." Ashley mumble a sentence: "What time already, wait you make want eat at night ah." Mom busy fawning propose: "How about our family go eat Hot Pot, didn't you want eat hot pot two days ago? Today I treat." This word out, home heavy atmosphere completely disappeared. Each happy up, couldn't wait pull mom go restaurant. Stepdad fake asked a sentence: "Stella not go?" Brittany yin yang weird air said: "Isn't she uncomfortable, fever people usually no appetite, if she want go eat hot pot then explain she is pretending." So I again was left behind. Like an outsider, not suitable attend their family gathering. Tears again unpromising wet pillow. Brain will uncontrollably emerge, 10 years ago mom not remarried, she loved my look. That time she to me, was hold in palm afraid drop, hold in mouth afraid melt. I had to accept reality. She now already not my one person mom. When they ate full drank enough back, I hungry stomach pain, curled in quilt. Mom brought a cup of milk put my bedside table again, maybe afraid angry. She coax child like said: "Wait your illness good, I also take you eat hot pot." Every time is wait wait wait. Ashley fed my bought dried strawberries to dog, she said next time buy for me. Brittany wore my skirt saved稿费 (royalties) long time bought, without a greeting on herself, she said next time buy for me. Caleb took my laptop bought for writing novel play game, she also said next time buy for me. But Mom, next time in your mouth, forever is a illusionary lie. I didn't utter sound, she gratified across quilt touched my head: "Still biological good, can understand me, my Stella ah, really sensible." She paused, feeling sighed: "Stepmom hard do ah, you can understand mom, I really very gratified." But Mom how much you gratified, I have how much heart sour. Chapter 3 Sick for about 2 days, I finally better. Tomorrow going leave, looking at old and few clothes in closet. Suddenly found, I have no luggage to bring. Just happen also weekend, they didn't work. In living room discuss Caleb marriage matter. I didn't participate, also felt atmosphere heavy. Stepdad said: "New marriage house down payment at least need $300,000, me and your mom savings barely enough help you pay." "Wedding gift $180,000, also three gold money, you are biological siblings, can help a hand still want help a hand." Ashley first state: "My savings not much, only can out $20,000." Brittany also unwilling said: "I also only have $20,000." She suddenly towards my room deliberately raised volume: "Our family not have a writer ma, everyday crackle crackle knock keyboard at home, royalties definitely not few." Her tone sarcasm full. Before said I idiot dream, earned royalties not enough eat shit also she. Mom believed her words, bitter mouth mother heart came my room wipe tears: "Stella, stepmom hard do, your big brother marry, me this stepmom definitely have to help, you are his sister, we all one family." "Can you take point royalties out? Count I borrow yours also okay, okay?" She every time use my money help them three, all say borrow, but didn't return once. "I no what royalties, a month just $2,000, and unstable not enough myself spend." "Little sister, all one family, you don't hide hide tuck tuck, I not believe you a month just $2,000, unless you show us account." Ashley don't know when leaning door window standing at door. Stepdad they all came, everyone eyes examining me. Mom to please them, face to face require me: "You show account to me." To let them dead heart, I showed bank account and website account all to them. After they confirmed my royalties just this bit, each look me eyes overflowed contempt. Brittany yin yang weird air ridicule: "You no that ink water, still want eat writer this line rice, this not simply is day dream!" Anyway I tomorrow going completely leave, didn't fight mouth war with her. They continued discuss Caleb wedding gift matter. Finally was my mom and stepdad decided loan $100,000, solve this matter. Then is three gold jewelry problem. Mom went cabinet took a 30g Gold Bangle left by my biological father before death. Also a 50g Small Gold Bar. Dad gave these to me time, that time I only 13, Mom said I age small, she help me save wait grow up return me. But now she said: "Take this go exchange new, now gold price expensive, buy now too not worth." I instantly came fire, excited rushed over snatch: "This is my Dad left for me! You no right take my things give him!" Mom didn't expect my reaction so big, unhappy scold me: "I later buy for you again, now your brother marry is urgent matter, also big matter!" She not return me, and directly handed to Caleb hand, instruct him: "Quick take exchange! Quick!" I rushed over to snatch, blocked dead by mom: "Stella Jiang, you understand point matter okay!" I completely collapsed, past grievance in a moment turned into anger, crying shouted at her: "You not their stepmom! You are my stepmom!" "I hate you, you today if gave things to him, you no me this daughter!" Mom stunned a bit, follow come is a heavy slap fanned on my face, and rage sound: "Roll! Roll out!" I no hesitation picked up laptop limped walked. Behind came her manipulate my voice: "Rolled, then forever don't come back!" She didn't know, I have this plan. Mom was at third day, didn't hold breath called me. But respond her forever is power off prompt tone, she suddenly panicked. This time stepdad panic ran back: "Community gate a girl hit dead by car, can't see face but a lame all say is Stella? You quick go look is it?"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "390647", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel