Chapter 4
After Tyler got taken away, my life turned completely dark.[]
Someone stole my school uniform and cut it up. My food was always rotten and gross.[]
When I got dizzy from being so hungry, I had to dig through the freezing trash cans.[
I kept calling that phone number I knew by heart on the payphone.]
It was always busy.
On Christmas Day, I was shivering in my bed and found out someone had ripped out all the stuffing from my only blanket and filled it with garbage.[]
I gritted my teeth and sold my long hair–the only thing I had worth anything–for a few coins.[]
My hands were shaking as I dialed the number again.[]
This time, someone actually picked up.
Mom,” my voice was all scratchy, “Merry Christmas…“[
I could hear a baby crying really loud on the other end, and Mom singing softly.[]
“Shh, don’t cry sweetie, Daddy’s here…..“[]
Uncle Gabriel was laughing: “Come here, let Daddy hold you.“[]
I held the phone tight, pretending I was in that warm, happy room with them.]
“Who is this?”
My voice broke: “Mom, I miss you so much. Can you please come see me?“]]
When she heard how upset I sounded, her whole tone changed: “I’m way too busy to deal with you!“]]
Saly
“Could you maybe send me some money? I had to sell my hair just to-
She cut me off with this cold laugh:[]
“How can you not have money? Gabriel donated an entire building to that school for you!“[]
I finally started crying for real
“Stop that crying!” Mom suddenly yelled at me. “Don’t you know today is your baby sister’s one–month celebration!“[]
Uncle Gabriel took the phone, and his voice was ice cold now too:[]
“You’re old enough to stop acting like such a baby. Don’t call so much. I’ll visit when I have
ume.”
Right then, I finally got it.[]
They were a real family now![]
And I was just some outsider they didn’t want around.[]
The line went dead.
I walked back to my freezing dorm room and used the last bit of strength I had to light a little white candle I’d been hiding.[]
The tiny flame flickered in the darkness.
I whispered to it:[]
“Happy ninth birthday, Aria.“[]
After that, I stopped calling. And Uncle Gabriel never showed up like he promised.[]
I learned to keep quiet and swallow all the bullying, just hoping I could survive until graduation.[]
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Chapter 4
But then I inherited Mom’s looks, and that became my new crime.
When I got straight A’s, the girls got jealous and spread rumors that I was sleeping with teachers to get the
answers
early.
They burned my back with curling irons, threw my textbooks in the toilets, and poured red ink all over my chair.]
I never said a word. Just took it all.[]
Because I knew nobody had my back.
Then one day, Mom suddenly showed up.
I frantically threw on my only decent turtleneck to hide all the scars and burns.[]
My heart was pounding. Maybe she was finally here to take me home.[]
She looked perfect as always, barely glanced at me, then said coldly:[]
“Come with me to the hospital. You need to save your sister.“[]
My little sister had leukemia.[]
She needed a bone marrow transplant.
Mom was too old now another pregnancy would be really risky.[]
And Uncle Gabriel would never let her take that kind of chance.[]
So I was the only one who could save my sister.[]
…D
In the cold hospital hallway, they wheeled me toward the operating room.]
For once Mom’s voice was soft, but every word still hurt:[]
Aria, raising you wasn’t easy. Now it’s time to pay me back.”
Grandma’s voice was ice cold:[]
“That psychic was right–you were born cursed, nothing but bad luck for this family. Giving your bone marrow to save the baby is how you finally do something good!”
When I stayed quiet, Mom’s voice turned nasty:[]
“What’s with the attitude? God, you look more like your father every day–you’re both exactly the same!“]
“I should’ve had an abortion when I found out I was pregnant. Would’ve saved me years of headaches!”
My whole body went stiff.[]
She never wanted me. Not even before I was born.
She hated my mob boss dad.[]
Hated that he cheated while she was pregnant. Hated that he made her look like an idiot in front of everyone who mattered.[]
And she hated me for ruining everything.[]
But what was she supposed to do back then? She was young and had no power.[]
So she had me and made me into her weapon for getting back at everyone.[]
Now Mom finally got what she wanted–she was back on top. From scandal to society queen.[]
But what about me?]
What happened to that happy family she used to promise me?[]
I closed my eyes and gave up fighting: “Okay. I’ll do it.“[]
was supposed to be so smart, right? I’d read enough medical stuff to know what bone marrow donation could do to someone my age.[]
Chapter 4
But what other choice did I have?]]
All I ever wanted was to be Mom’s kid.]]
I was lying there on the operating table, waiting for them to put me under.[]
Mom was looking at me and for like half a second, maybe she felt guilty.
That’s when the doctor came rushing in holding some papers:[]
“The new test results are back–this girl is only a half–match with your daughter.“]
Mom looked confused. “But they’re both my kids, so that makes sense, right?”
The doctor shook his head:[]
“We did some digging on that mob guy–turns out he was basically sterile. No way he could’ve fathered any children!“[]
Mom just froze, staring at him like he’d slapped her. “Then who’s-“]
Day” “E
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