Mistaken

~•ANASTASIA’S POV•~

My feet remained stuck to a spot as I took deep breaths while watching my stepmother and stepsister from the corner of the room.

Standing here wasn’t going to solve anything, especially when my grandmother was lying on her sickbed.

“Just go to them already. It’s going to be fine; they will certainly help. She’s their family," I mumbled to myself, finally forcing a step forward. In no time, I was standing before them.

Lucinda was the first one to look up, her nose crinkling into irritation. “Why the hell are you standing in my way, you stupid girl?” Her cold, deep voice almost made me flinch, but it was softer than the scary expression on her face. She always looked this way whenever her eyes were on me.

A low, mocking laugh came from my Lucy, my stepsister, before she spoke. “It is obvious. She is here to beg again. Such a miserable pain in the ass.”

Ignoring her, I turned back to my stepmother, my voice almost a whisper. “For—forgive me, mother…”

“Huh? Stupid idiot. My mother is not your mother!” Lucy snapped at me, giving me the same irritated look on Lucinda's face.

"Mo.. ma'am.." I stammered, squeezing my eyes tight while summoning the courage I needed.

I had no other option but to take their insults. It was either this or my grandmother dying.

"I..I.."

“If you have nothing to say, I appreciate that you get out of my sight," Lucinda chimed in, taking a sip from the wine she was holding. “Quit being a parasite!”

"It's grandma," I blurted out. “She needs your help.”

“Knew it!” Lucy exclaimed, rolling her eyes and accompanying them all with a hiss.

As usual, I continued to ignore her. Years of experience in their hands had made me give up on trying to speak for myself.

Doing that was a trap. A huge one that would only get me into the type of trouble I was too poor enough to not escape.

What mattered right now was the life of my grandmother, and I was willing to do anything to save her, even if it meant having to endure a round of torture from my stepfamily.

“The doctor says she's in a very critical condition, and she needs to be operated on,” each word came out louder than the previous, boldness seeping out of me.

"And? What does that have to do with me? Do I look like a surgeon? Scratch that! Do we look like we work in a hospital?” Lucinda queried with a meaningful tone, keeping her gaze on me.

"Ma… ma…” I breathed, lowering my head a bit. “Ma’am, please can you help me with money for the treatment.."

“Enough of this madness. What money? Have you given me any to keep for you?!” Lucinda yelled, cutting me short.

She had always been wicked, but for some reason, I expected she would consider it since this was her late husband’s mother and a matter of life and death. My granny would die if I delayed further.

"But…" I spluttered.

“But what?" Lucy interrupted, turning to Lucinda. “Mom? Why are you still entertaining this stupid girl? I can’t stand it.”

“Can’t stand her either, love. You should know that by now. She irritates me.”

They both talked about me like I wasn’t there, though it didn’t stop me.

“If father had been alive, he would have paid her bills. You are living off his money, please just a little percentage is what I ask for. Grandma is going to die if we delay further.”

I could never understand why they were this mean and wicked. Lucinda had treated me like a slave ever since my father died. They turned me into an outcast of the family, but I never said a word about it. I never complained. I chose to stay quiet, but right now this was about my grandma's life. I could not stay silent when I knew they had the money needed for her surgery.

“Your father is dead, Anastasia. There's no money, we used all of that for his funeral…" she replied, flashing a wicked grin at me.

I knew she was lying. They barely spent anything on dad’s burial. I remembered it like it was yesterday. Lucinda had made me drop out to work out the money used to buy dad’s coffin while Lucy kept attending school.

No! Enough was enough! I couldn’t let them continue to treat me this way.

“Have you no iota of conscience, Lucinda? This is your Kate husband’s mother we are speaking of?” Each word rolled out of my mouth before I could even think. “You are going to give me the mo…”

Slap!

I never got to finish my statement, before the hot sting pain met my left cheek.

“Have you gone mad? How dare you call me by my name? How dare you question me? How dare you speak to the person feeding you in such a manner? Have you gone insane?!” Her eyes widened, her brows heaving upward.

“Mama, Ana-stupid-Stacia has surely gone mad. Punish her or she might try this again,” Lucy whined.

“But…” I stammered, tears trickling down my face.

“Shut it, you little piglet!" Lucy yelled from where she was sitting comfortably. “You seem to have forgotten your place right, you daughter of a whore.."

Here they went again. Attacking my innocent mother.

“Get out of my sight. Your grandmother can rot in her sickbed for all I care. If you feel so desperate to save her, go and hawk your body like your tramp of a mother. We are done here.”

Both mother and daughter remained unbothered, sitting comfortably on everything my late father and mother built. The biggest mistake my father made was bringing her into this house.

I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall, then I turned and walked away from them. From this house. I couldn’t remain here.

..

..

..

Well, I've always known I'd end up like this one day, walking on the streets like a stray. It was bound to happen one day, just that this time, Lucinda didn't throw me out the way I had imagined.

My father had died just a few months ago, and Lucinda's behavior towards me changed drastically. Together with her daughter, they treated me like a slave. I was made to eat only once each day and when they wanted to punish me, I was made to fast throughout the day.

Not for once did I disrespect them or fight for my right. Not for once did I ever raise my voice on Lucinda. The times I ever only tried to defend myself was with Lucy and somehow she managed to lie about it to her mother, who would punish me without hearing my side of the story.

For the first time, I went to them for money, money for the mother of the man for whom they were enjoying a lot of benefits, still…

I was still lost in my thoughts when a black, highly-tinted jeep stopped in front of me in a screech and a bunch of hefty-looking men hurried out, walking towards me. “Lady Scarlet!”

“Lady Scarlet,” I muttered, blinking my eyes. Who? Was I the one they were referring to?

"Lady Scarlet.." the man called again, and before I could even say anything, they charged at me. “Did you really think you could run from the boss?”

They were indeed referring to me. I didn’t understand why but I knew I needed to run, only problem was that my legs failed to move.

"Grab her and make sure she doesn’t escape this time.”

"W.. what are y..ou… ha!!! Let me go!!" I yelled as soon as I was grabbed by two of them. “Why—are you—grabbing me?”

“Quit the pretense. This boss is mad at you. Get ready to pay for this cheap stunt you pulled!”

Huh? What the heck was he talking about? Was this some kind of mistaken identity? Who the hell is lady scarlet?

“You better let go of me!” I continued yelling while struggling to lose myself from their grip. That was a massive failure. Considering that I barely ate, how was I supposed to overpower these ridiculous huge men?

"Get her into the car…"

“No please. This is a huge mistake. You are mistaking me for someone else, please let go of me…" I tried to explain.

No one was listening.

They bundled me against my wish, and in no time

the car began to move.

I didn’t stop fighting. It was useless anyway.

Before I could process what was going on, the voice of one of the men filled my head. “Boss, we just found her.”