Chapter 3: I don't need a Mother anymore

The car came to a screeching halt. The house stood tall and beautiful, just as she remembered it.

But what gave her strength was the employment contract tightly held in her hands.

For a moment there, she just stood still, a shiver travelling through her spine, thinking about the events that had transpired in that house.

Four years ago, she came into this house, thinking that she’ll always call it a home. But it gave her scars, too deep for one person to carry

Did she want to go inside?

No…fucking No…

“Sally ….”

The moment she entered the house, Susan moved forward and tried to wrap her arms around her.

But she stepped backward, looking at her coldly.

“No… need for pretending. I don't need a mother anymore. You already have Rita.”

The thought of her touching her made her skin crawl…thinking that she could ever think that she could love her.

There were days she yearned for her hugs, kisses, smiles…Gosh she wanted to lay her head on her lap and feel her warmth.

She could have done anything to earn it …but it was too late now.

This time she wasn’t here for them. She was here for herself. They should take their pretentious love and shove them in their asses.

Susan withdrew her hand, looking at her blankly. “You're home now. We've decided that you'll start living like one of us. Look at you, you aren't doing well.”

Sally sneered, shifting her eyes to tall silhouette besides her mother.

For a second, time stopped moving.

There he was!

Her dad… hasn’t said even a single word.

“I only came because of the job you promised me. Without it, I prefer not to stay closer to any of you.”

The whole room fell quiet, even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

“You’ll work start tomorrow morning. But now, there's something important that I want to tell you.” Mathew said, giving her no time.

“What is it?” Sally asked, impatience lacing in her hollow eyes.

The sooner she got to know what they wanted from her and why they had to send Billy to get her, the sooner she'd start minding her own business.

She didn't wish for this reunion to last long.

“It's Rita's birthday, and we're leaving in twenty minutes. We need you to clean up as fast as you can so that you can accompany us.”

That's when it hit her hard.

For four years, she hadn't celebrated her birthday.

No one called. No one texted.

Yet she was supposed to celebrate her enemy's birthday and keep a smile on her face on the same day she was released from prison.

“It’s very important for us to show a united family.” Mathew added, his complicated gaze pinning her on her spot

No wonder she was released a day before her scheduled date…just to make an appearance for her family’s sake.

When will they ever stop using her?

She let out a sigh.

Her gaze shifted toward Rita, who had been sitting quietly beside her motherr, gazing in to her eyes as if the whole world belonged to them.

She wouldn’t stop slamming on her wounded ego.

And she won’t let her trample on her ever again.

Rita hurriedly spoke up. “Dad, isn't it such a wonderful news that my sister was finally released on the same day as my birthday? We can celebrate those two things at the same time, right?”

Her chest clenched. Did they even remember that it was her birthday?

Her biological mother never forgot it.

Even if she had no money, she'd get her something… so that she wouldn't feel sad.

“I don't feel well… I don't think I'll be able to accompany you,” Sally came up with an excuse, walking away as if to climb the stairs.

“Dad, Mom… I think something happened to Sally while she was in prison. Look at her leg. She can't walk properly.”Billy grabbed her arms and pulled her back, the tight grip burning on her scarred skin, making her wince in pain.

That was when all of them turned their attention to her.

Before she could speak up, Rita said, “Oh no, Billy. I think you weren't keen when Sally came to our house. She already had that limp. So, it's nothing new. “

Billy took like a minute to study Sally… his eyes darkening.

Sally couldn’t believe that he was believing the lie. When she came to the family, she was perfect …it’s just that they never saw her.

“Of course… I've never looked at her closely. Now it makes sense.” Billy was deep in thought. “I thought someone beat you in prison.”

No…they didn’t just beat her …they almost killed her.

“It turns out this is how we found you?” Billy added. “And here I was, feeling pity for you. I was even planning to find the best specialist to treat your leg.”

“Don't…” She said, not expecting his concern to last. “It's not your obligation, and I haven't complained about it.”

“But what about the scars on your face? She never had them,” Susan stressed, her eyes fixed on Sally's hands and face.

For a moment there, she looked worried.

May be, she was just hallucinating in a broad day light.

“Sally …she will never ever love you.”

“That is part of being in jail, but they will disappear soon,” Rita explained. “It's nothing big. She'll clean up, apply some ointment, and everything will be fine.”

“Mom, don't worry. The best thing a mother could do for her child is give her a little discipline.” Rita caressed her mother's cheeks. “I have a very nice ointment, I imported a few days ago. Don’t worry, I’ll give it to her.”

“Just keep it. I didn’t ask for it.” Sally spoke before her mother could say anything.

The physical scars weren't her problem.

But the mental scars were the ones they would never repair.

“Anyway, let's not waste any more time. Let's get to the venue fast,” Mathew said, looking at his wrist watch. “Make sure you join us. Try to make a good impression, or you can forget the internship at the company.”

A few minutes later, they walked into a lavish party.

Rita was all smiles, while Sally stood far away from the crowd, looking at the gigantic cake at the front.

She'd never seen anything like that… She'd imagined that they'd spend a fortune on it.

If she could be given that money, she’d disappear from their lives.

Mathew hit his glass, and the crowd's attention turned to him.

“My beautiful daughter is now turning twenty-two years old, and I invited you all to witness this moment with me. She has been the best thing that has ever happened to us.”

What about her?

Who would celebrate her birthday?

For the first time since she walked back into this family, tears trickled down her eyes. Not because of the cake… but just the way Susan smiled at Rita and the way Mathew kissed her cheeks to wish her a happy birthday.

“You all know our story. Rita isn't biologically ours, but we love her so much. We don't regret that they were switched at birth because we still raised a very outstanding woman.”

Then Mathew looked at her side.

“Unlike my real daughter, who has been nothing but trouble. Well… she's still my blood, and I took her back even when she sent my mother into a coma.”

The only hope she still had was that her grandmother would wake up soon and vindicate her.

Sally lowered her head as murmurs filled the room.

While Rita smiled and received kisses, she received insults and sickening looks.

When she couldn't take it anymore, she made a decision.

She walked up the stairs and took the microphone.

“You all condemned me, and yet you don’t know my side of the story. I never tried to kill my grandmother, but no one believed me. Why would I even harm her when she was the only one who accepted me when I returned?” She asked.

Mathew whispered in her ear, “Stop talking…”

She ignored him and continued.

“I just found my family. Why would I kill one of my own?” In your view, who would be willing to eliminate my grandmother? “

Rita clenched her first, trying not to make a scene…

Sally let out a shaky laugh

“The one who feels her position has been threatened or the one who has just arrived and only hoped to know her family?