Chapter 2

After my dad came back, I had clean bedding again.

That evening, the whole family went out to a restaurant.

In the brightly lit dining hall, my dad pulled out gifts he’d brought back from his business trip.

Three gifts in total, one for each of us.

Eleanor got a necklace; Madison and I got bracelets.

Eleanor's face was flushed with spring-like happiness.

“Thank you, honey.”

Madison sweetly said,

“Thank you, Dad.”

Only I didn't move.

My dad asked me, “Chloe, don’t you like it?”

I said,

“It’s not that.”

“Then why aren’t you wearing it?”

I looked at him.

This man, right in front of me, was so utterly oblivious.

He had never once noticed that the gifts he bought for me always ended up on Madison’s wrist.

He was like a blind man.

I curled my lips into a wicked smile.

“I like Madison’s.”

Madison froze for a moment.

Eleanor reacted quickly, immediately saying,

“Madison, sweetie, why don’t you swap with your sister?”

Madison snapped back to reality, smiling.

“Okay!”

She took off her bracelet and put it on me, sweetly saying,

“Chloe, so you like this style?”

I raised my arm, admiring it.

A potential conflict vanished silently. My dad chuckled, his face beaming with satisfaction.

Countless times.

For that smile of his, I had backed down countless times.

But this time, I wouldn’t.

I took off the bracelet and tossed it into the steaming fish soup.

“I find things other people have worn dirty.”

Soup splattered all over Madison, who leaped up, yelling,

“Chloe, you bi—”

Eleanor quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

I smiled.

Yes, she had to hold back.

A gentle, well-behaved student shouldn’t swear.

A kind, generous stepmom shouldn’t swear either.

The only one who could swear was my dad.

My dad’s face hardened.

“Chloe, what are you doing? Apologize to Madison.”

I said,

“No.”

My dad got angry, stood up, and raised his hand.

He wanted to hit me.

But he hesitated.

Eleanor, at just the right moment, burst into tears.

“It’s my fault, for taking your mother’s place. It’s normal for you to hate me, but what has Madison done wrong?”

Madison also cried,

“Chloe, please don’t be angry.”

My dad finally steeled himself, bringing his palm down.

“I told you to apologize!”

*Slap*.

A loud slap.

But it didn’t land on my face.

My dad froze.

Madison shrieked,

“Liam, what are you doing here?”

Liam was covering his face, standing in front of me.

After a moment of shock, I came to my senses and pushed him away.

“We’re not family. Why are you eating at our table?”

“Hypocrisy.”

I turned and walked away.

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