“Jennifer, your mother has been gone for so long. How can the dead be more important than the living?”
With a frightened expression, Lydia said timidly, “Dad, it was my dog that did it by accident. I was planning to apologize to Sister, but she ran downstairs and attacked me before I could say anything, I didn’t even have time to speak before she threw a vase at me…”
She lifted her bleeding arm and looked at Dad, eyes full of pity. “Dad, maybe Mom and I should move out…
“Animals don’t know better, but don’t you?” Dad glared at me, raising his hand and delivering a harsh slap
I forgot to dodge. He seemed surprised, too, for a moment
But in the end, he didn’t say anything. He turned and took Lydia to tend to her injury.
I watched their backs as they walked away, and after a moment, I felt the stinging pain on my cheek.
I raised my hand to my swollen face, and as my tears fell, I let out a bitter, mocking laugh.
I knew it then–there was no place for me in this family anymore.
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Outl
In the middle of the night, I was suddenly awakened by the sound of crying and screaming.
Just as 1 sat up, someone kicked open my bedroom door from the outside.
My stepmother rushed in, sobbing. Before I could even react, she slapped me hard across the face several times.
“How could you be so cruel?”
“Wasn’t it enough to hurt her during the day? Do you want to kill her?”
She threw herself into my father’s arms, crying loudly. “She knew Lydia was allergic to peaches but still deliberately spilled peach juice all over her bed and pillow.”
“She wanted to harm our daughter!”
